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The Apprentices

the sixth year at Hogwarts

List of Contents

In-laws and Others
Surprising News
Perfect Prefect's Aids
Not(t) Quite a Date
Professor Balloon
Arch for Arch's Sake
New Potions
Achilles' Heel
Paper Planes
Air Strike
Rehearsals
Halloween
The Secret and Ancient Society
Fatal Fate
Circe Reborn
Bubble Bath
Premiere
Christmas Presents
The Magic of a Muggle-Shop
Unwrapping
Mr Snowman
Dangerous Books
NEW! Secretum Philosophorum NEW!
NEW! Elementary, dear Severus! NEW!
Prefect Badge(r)
Table Turns
Show-Off Percy
Destination, Determination, Infusion
Divining Rods
Unseen Apparating
Back to the Roots
NEW! More Than Just Runes NEW!
Hating Slytherins
Comic Snape
Signs and Portents
Tarot
Grim Ending
On the Warpath
Struck By An Arrow
Slytherin Against Gryffindor - Not in the Pitch
A Lovely Pet
Ravenclaw versus Gryffindor - In the Pitch
Evil Weevils
NEW! Practical Defence NEW!
A Map
Cupid Magpies
Please Meet Nice Professor S.
Cook Cooked Up

In-laws and Others

Anne sat on her trunk at Platform 9 ¾ . “Hello Anne!” A familiar voice called for Anne. Anne turned around and saw Mr Weasley. “I knew you would be around very early although you must have been pretty late last year.” Anne smiled. “This is another of my sons. Percy. He started at Hogwarts two years ago.” “Yeah with Patience’s little brother Oliver.” Anne said knowingly. Mr Weasley nodded. “And those twins over there are Fred and George. They’ll start this term.” Mr Weasley pointed at two boys who were standing next to his wife. Obviously they were Weasleys – red hair.

Anne remembered the children of the Weasleys. She had got to know them in her first year at Hogwarts. “Charlie asked me to say hi to you – last year and of course this year as well. He’s very busy with his dragons but he loves his job. How do you do Anne?” “I’m fine, thank you for asking. I passed my O.W.L.s last term.” Anne informed him. “Your parents dragged you away so fast at the end of the last term that I hadn’t time to even say hello to you.” Mr Weasley said in a caring voice. Anne smiled. “It’s hard to have two girls in two different schools and both arrive on the same day. One in Cumbria and the other in London.” Anne reminded him. Mr Weasley nodded. “Don’t tell me, my children keep my wife and me busy all day long.” “DAD!” Percy called his father. He gave Anne one last smile and turned to help his son who tried desperately to get his trunk at the very end of the platform.

Anne sat on her trunk again. She watched the Weasley twins playing tricks on some of the Hogwarts students. She hadn’t to wait too long until Patience and later Hengist arrived. “That’s typical, just when we have carried our luggage in one of the compartments Mr Alret arrives. You could have arrived earlier we certainly were in need of another hand.” Anne scolded him jokingly. “You should have asked Greg. I think he’s looking for you. Maybe he wants to present you to your future parents-in-law.” Hengist replied with a broad grin. “That’s not funny. I don’t want to meet people who are supporters of...” Anne couldn’t finish her sentence because Patience had performed the quietus spell on her.

Just in time because Greg entered their compartment. “Hello Anne!” Greg greeted her. Anne didn’t answer – she couldn’t thanks to Patience’s spell but she wouldn’t have answered anyway. Greg waited for a reply. “She has lost her voice.” Patience explained. Greg consoled Anne. He took her in his arms. Patience and Hengist tried not to giggle. Anne gave them an angry look. “My father wants to meet you, Anne.” Greg explained and dragged Anne out of the compartment and out of the train. Patience and Hengist watched the show through the window.

Greg’s parents didn’t look to nice. They were both very skinny and pale. Greg’s mother had dark hair while his father was blond. Their eyes stared. Anne gave them one of her ‘nice to meet you’ smiles. Greg had put his arm around her shoulder. He seemed to be telling his parents that Anne had lost her voice. They seemed to ask question. Anne shook her head vigorously. Greg smiled. “They check their new daughter-in-law, I’d say.” Hengist whispered. “Poor Anne.” Patience sighed. “It’s better that she can’t talk. She looks a little furious. I bet she would at least have shouted at them twice if she could have!” Patience remarked. Hengist nodded. “Look!” Patience exclaimed pointing at Mr Weasley.

Mr Weasley approached the Nott family. He stopped and put his hand on Anne’s shoulder. He led her away from the Notts and directed her way back to the compartment. Patience pointed her wand at her and whispered “sonorus”. “I don’t like Greg. He just thinks I do!” Anne burst out. “I know that his family are...” Anne didn’t finish the sentence because she was afraid that Patience put the quietus spell on her again. “She keeps him as a spy.” Hengist threw in. “A Slytherin spy? Anne you don’t know that that can be very dangerous. It’s not a game. The Notts certainly won’t appreciate their son to hang around with somebody like you. Tell him to leave you alone before it is too late.” Mr Weasley advised her. Anne sat in one of the seats she had turned away from Mr Weasley. “Patience...” Mr Weasley started looking at Patience. Patience nodded. “I’ll take care of her. She’ll be glad to get rid of Greg.” Patience whispered. Mr Weasley nodded. He left the compartment.

“Won’t you tell us anything about his parents?” Hengist asked carefully. “Just as arrogant as Greg. An besides those were his father and aunt,” Anne spat. “Anne, I don’t understand why you’re making such a big deal of it. You don’t even like this Greg.” Patience scolded her. Anne remained silent. “Let’s change topics girls.” Hengist suggested. Anne didn’t react and Patience wasn’t in the mood for talking either. “Well, if you don’t want to talk. Hengist how have your holidays been? Thanks for asking Hengist. I enjoyed them. I went to Liverpool to the Beatles museum to be precise. Oh the Beatles, I didn’t know that you liked the Beatles! Oh, Hengist, everybody likes the Beatles. Is that so?” Hengist kept talking to himself about the Beatles.

Anne looked at Patience. She grinned. Patience nodded. Anne took her wand and pointed it at Hengist. “Quietus!” Anne said. Hengist went on talking – well his lips kept on moving but no sounds came out of his mouth. Hengist looked at Anne. “Think of all the things we could do to him now that he can’t scream!” Patience threw in jokingly. “I guess the Malignant Magpies wouldn’t do harm to one of them.” Anne intervened. She de-charmed Hengist. “At least you two are talking again.” He sighed. “Poor Hengist!” Anne consoled him. “He has to listen to all our problems and we turn his volume down.” Patience added laughingly.

“Well, right. And coming to that, I’m ready to be your consoling friend again. When did your O.W.L.-letters arrive?” Anne grimaced, but Patience laughed. “In mid-July, as yours will have, too, no doubt,” she replied. Hengist nodded gravely. “And, dear friends, let’s check how we all fared.” “We passed, does that suffice?” Anne asked carefully. “No,” both Hengist and Patience said. “Okay, okay, now what do you want to know?” Anne sighed, crossing her arms. “Worst subject?” Patience asked. Hengist groaned. “D’you really want to know?” “Yes. I have three to choose from. My worst subjects were Care of Magical Creatures, Astronomy and Divination,” Patience revealed. “Divination? Really?” Anne said surprised. “Yeah, I can’t explain that. One day I’m complete rubbish, and the other I can see things I never dreamed of,” Patience sighed.

Anne nodded grimly. “Yes, well, my worst subjects were History –“ She was interrupted by a little shriek. “Sorry, Patience, not everyone adores Binns as much as you do. And Herbology, no big surprise there – if all my plants die, how can I expect good grades?” Hengist chuckled. “Right you are, I screwed up in History, keep your hat on Patience, in Defence Against the Dark Arts and in Divination.” “Why you two took up that subject will ever be a riddle to me,” Anne remarked casually. “Okay, my best subjects were, listen raptly, my friends, Astronomy, Charms and Transfiguration,” she went on. “Great!”, Hengist congratulated. “Mine were Care of Magical Creatures, Charms, Herbology and Muggle Studies.” “Oh, booh!” Patience laughed. “You shouldn’t receive any grades in Muggle Studies – your parents are muggles!” “Get it off, Patience, what did you do best?” Hengist asked her.

Patience smiled mysteriously. “The Magpie subject, Transfiguration, of course, and Charms, and History… Oh, right, I almost forgot – Potions.” “What?!” Anne exclaimed, nearly dropping the cauldron cake she had just unpacked. “How did you bribe Snape?” Patience scowled at her. “I don’t have to bribe Snape,” she said with dignity. Hengist shook his head in silent thought.

At that moment, Fred and George entered their compartment. “Hi, we’re Fred and George.” They introduced themselves. Patience grinned looking at the two boys. “Weasley, I’d say.” She added. The two boys nodded happily. “I’m Patience Wood and those are Anne Symmons and Hengist Alret. Why don’t you come in and take a seat?” Patience invited them. “Anyone want a toffee?” Fred asked innocently. Patience and Hengist took a toffee each. “Take one for that cat too.” Anne suggested. She hadn’t taken a toffee and she knew why. After Patience had given a her a reproachful look – chewing the toffee – little explosions could be heard from inside her mouth. Hengist wasn’t luckier. Out of his mouth came a sound that resembled that of Moaning Myrtle.

“Where did you get those fun toffees?” Anne asked. “You can’t buy those!” Fred told her. “Not yet – that is.” George added. “We’ll open a joke shop Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes!” Fred told her proudly. Anne gave them a big smile. “Well, that sounds like a great idea. Seems you’ve entered the right compartment. May I present to you the famous Malignant Magpies – Hogwarts’ trouble maker and I’ll have to admit detention collector number one.” Anne introduced Patience and Hengist, who had recovered from the toffees, and of course herself. Fred and George grinned broadly. “We knew that. Percy told us about you. Seems he doesn’t like you too much.” George confessed. “That’s why we entered this compartment.” Fred said happily. “We think it’ll be more fun if you’ll show us Hogwarts.” George whispered mystically. Patience looked first at Hengist and then at Anne both nodded.

Surprising News

The Great Hall was magnificently decorated with the huge banners of the four Hogwarts houses. The students filed in. “Great God, I so much hoped he wouldn’t be here this year!”, Patience groaned at the sight of Slytherin Roland Banks. “Why?”, Hengist asked innocently. Patience looked at him in disbelief. “What do you mean with why? He’s stupid, he’s ugly, he’s a Slytherin – and I so much hoped he got under a huge lorry in his holidays!” “Well, that’s pretty much what I wished for Mungus, but…” Hengist took the very ugly toad out of his pocket. Catherine shuddered. “Cathy, it’s Mungus. Don’t you like him?”, Hengist teased her. Catherine pulled a grimace. “Put this ugly beast away, will you?”, she said in a rather high-pitched voice.

“Yeah, funny, isn’t it? We have a new prefect, see!”, Anne said, pointing at Ghewyn Rhys. Hengist almost choked and straightened his robes a bit. “Have a look, Anne”, he invited his friend. She looked at him and nearly fell over her feet. Patience caught her in the very last second. Then she also looked at Hengist’s robes. “Oh dear!”, she gasped. “Yes”, Hengist said almost guiltily. “I received the letter in the last week of the holidays, containing this badge and the announcement I was to be prefect of Gryffindor house.” “Then do please explain why you haven’t been in the prefect’s compartment. And why you didn’t tell us at all!”, Patience demanded a bit angrily. Hengist blushed a bit. “Well, in the first meeting I didn’t want to spoil anything”, he apologized.

Anne snorted. “Balderdash! You are our friend, it was your duty to tell us you were now a prefect – which brings certain privileges, as I must remind both of you!” Patience grinned. “And maybe it’s really good, because if one of the Malignant Magpies is prefect…” She trailed off, but Anne and Hengist caught what she meant. By now, they had taken their seats at the Gryffindor table. “Hey Percy, won’t your twin brothers be sorted soon?”, Hengist asked before the very strictly to the rule acting boy could get wind of the Malignant Magpies. Percy nodded. “Yes, and I do hope they will be in Gryffindor.” “That’s what I hope as well”, Oliver Wood muttered, “if they aren’t like Percy!” His sister grinned only. She knew Oliver wasn’t too fond of Percy Weasley.

“Who’s this little woman up at the teacher’s table?”, Mike Flatley asked. “I bet it’s the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher”, Anne supposed. Patience looked at her. “Oh my god, she won’t be able to survive a single lesson with the Slytherins”, she said worriedly. “And just look at this loathing look Snape gives her!” Anne didn’t even look at Snape. “Yeah, I guess he doesn’t like her, for he wants this job so badly he could kill for it. Bad wizards do something like that sometimes.” “Anne!”, Patience exclaimed reproachfully. But she hadn’t had time for further talk. Dumbledore got to his feet to welcome the new first-years. They were led into the Hall by Professor McGonagall, and odd enough, above their heads floated the whole crowd of ghosts. Suddenly giggles rose in the Hall. There was Peeves amongst the other ghosts! That was the first time anyone saw the poltergeist in the Hall. The Bloody Baron, the Slytherin Ghost, was next to him to keep him down.

Nearly Headless Nick, the Gryffindor ghost, floated down and took a seat opposite of Anne and Patience and next to Hengist. “Now, have you had pleasant holidays?”, he asked friendly. “Yes, wonderful”, Patience said. Oliver coughed. “Wonderful? It was horrible! We visited some old relative up in Lothian. And if I say old I mean old!” Nick chuckled. “That’s not really shocking for someone who is almost 500 years dead”, he reminded the boy. Oliver grinned. “Sorry, I forgot. But they all had cobwebs in every corner and if Patience didn’t know the…” He received a good kick under the table and fell silent. Anne looked questioningly at her friend. “If you didn’t know what?”, she whispered, but Patience pretended to listen to the Sorting. Even Nearly Headless Nick seemed concerned it was something unlawful.

In fact it was. Out of a book of the Restricted Section (Patience had found a way to read all her favourites there without being seen because of taking Bethesda with her and blaming her for all inconvenience and noise) she had learned the three unforgivable curses and loved to use the death curse on spiders. That was nothing anyone should know. It would have roused suspicions of the worst kind, since Voldemort hadn’t been dead or whatever he was now for long. Filch brought in the stool and the dirty old Sorting Hat. The faces of the first years clearly showed their puzzlement at the Sight of this hat, which contained the minds of the four founders of Hogwarts. As soon as it was placed upon its stool, a rip opened and it began to sing:

You think I am a normal hat?
Simply broad-rimmed, black as a bat,
Pointed for a witch’s delight –
Well, maybe you are not that right.
A thousand years from now to count
I still will dwell here and around.
My mind is ready-witted, clear,
To Sort the First-Years I am here.
You may be wondering by now
Where you will belong and how
This Sorting Ceremony will proceed:
Just put me on, I’ll take the lead!
If you are brave, have nerve and heart,
Your chivalry sets you apart,
Then Gryffindor will be your house!
If you are patient, like a mouse,
Just, loyal, true and nice
Then Hufflepuff as a choice were wise.
Or maybe you are clever, as clever as can be,
Your wit will be for Ravenclaw, to that you will agree.
Now mention those who long for power,
Whose cunning and ambition in this hour
Will place them into Slytherin!
Now let me see which house you’re in!

Everyone clapped and cheered the hat which bowed several times and then fell silent and rigid again. McGonagall enrolled a parchment and began to read the names of the First-Years. The Sorting continued. The Weasley twins were sorted into Gryffindor as well as a black girl named Angelina Johnson and a boy with dreadlocks called Lee Jordan. “A nice crowd”, Nick said contentedly. “I hope the feast will begin soon, I’m starving, and Mungus isn’t such a nice decoration of an empty plate, is he, Cathy?”, Hengist asked, pretending to take Mungus out of his pocket. Ghewyn shot him an angry look. “You are a Prefect by now, Hengist, so behave like one”, she hissed. Patience and Anne burst into laughter. “Yes, Hengist do behave like a prefect”, Patience begged giggling. Hengist pretended to be offended, but forgot about that soon when the plates filled with delicious food.

After all plates had been cleared, Dumbledore rose to hold his usual speech. By the end of it he turned to the blonde, young woman at the teacher’s table. “And may I introduce our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher? This is Professor Holly Balloon.” Silence. Everyone was obviously considering if this had only been a joke. The ghosts started clapping politely. Some of the students joined in, and after some time the whole Hall applauded. “That was not her real name, was it?”, Mike Flatley asked carefully. Hengist shrugged. “Seems Dumbledore thought it was her name, and she didn’t object, so most probably it is her name”, he answered. “We’ll get to know that when we’ve got our first lesson”, Patience said. “And now all up and into your beds!”, Dumbledore said and shooed them out.

While filing out of the Great Hall, Banks, Vargas and Cook managed to get out at exactly the same time as the Malignant Magpies. “Wow, Wood, managed to look even worse by now!”, Roland sneered. Patience tried to ignore him but it was really hard to do that. “Yes, she really gets ever uglier. Resembling this ugly toad of Alret’s, hum?”, Ramon Vargas joined in. Hengist grinned. “You weren’t too happy about my little Mungus at the Express last year”, he reminded the Slytherins. It was obvious they didn’t like that at all, and as Patience still pretended they were talking Chinese they walked away. “Points lost to these idiots”, Patience said between her teeth. Hengist patted her shoulder. “Well done, little one”, he soothed her. Anne nodded. “Yes. Though I’d have loved to see you taking points off their house for insulting Patience. Because, as a prefect, you can do that!” “But if I do it too often and at too ridiculous occasions they will take that right off me. I’ll rather use it when it is really necessary and vital!”

Perfect Prefect’s Aids

When Anne and Patience were getting ready for bed in their dormitory, Patience suddenly exclaimed: “I’ve got a brilliant idea!” “Keep quiet,” Catherine complained. “Sorry,” Patience cheerfully apologized. “Anne, listen!” Anne’s head poked out of the curtains around her bed. “My ears are open to every word you say,” she grinned. Patience nodded. “Fine. We should help our dearest prefect Hengist.” “Sure. Any idea?” “Yes,” Patience began, but Ghewyn’s sharp voice cut across her: “Keep quiet both of you, or I’ll have to take points off you!” “Okay, okay, keep your hat on, dear Ghewyn,” Anne murmured. “Tell me tomorrow,” she said to Patience who looked definitely taken aback. “Night, Anne,” Patience said and cuddled into her cushions.

The next morning her idea seemed to have ripened. “Anne, we have to make an announcement at the notice board,” she said when the two girls were heading down for the Common Room. “For what? Guided tours for would-be pranksters?” Anne asked amused. Patience shook her head. “No, to support Hengist!” “Morning ladies, I don’t need more popular support,” Hengist said from behind them. Patience jumped. “You can give one a fright!” “Yes, that’s why I was chosen to be a prefect – shocking little girls!” Hengist joked. “Okay, listen, Hengist, we really want to make your job easier, and it would be easier if we kept everyone from… doing pranks,” Patience revealed her plan, beaming proudly.

It was clear from her friends’ faces that this idea would not get much popular support. “What?” Patience asked puzzled. “You want to stop everyone from doing pranks?” Anne repeated. “No, not everyone, just the first-years and those easily scared off,” Patience replied amused. “C’mon, I’m not going to stop our fun!” Hengist laughed. “You hypocrite!” Patience pouted mockingly. “I’m not a hypocrite, I’m helping my friend.” “Okay, and how do you want to manage that?” Anne asked interested. “Writing a poem, of course. If you want to, you can make the Gryffindors learn that by heart.” Patience smiled maliciously. “And I tell you, this will be fun to do!”

In the evening, Mike Flatley stopped in front of the notice board. He stared at a piece of parchment, read, and burst into laughter. “Oy, Brian, come over! You have to read that!” Brian Cullen shuffled over, gently pushing a first year girl out of the way. He chuckled reading the announcement. “Not the worst idea, mate,” he told Hengist who was just passing. “Huh? Oh, that. Thanks!” Hengist grinned. “So you’re going to stop, er, ‘pranking’,” Mike said amused. Hengist raised an eyebrow. “I won’t answer that,” he said cryptically. The poem read as follows:

Detention!
by the Malignant Magpies

What happens when you cross the line
Set by teachers, both strict and fair?
You sure will be made to repine.
So of this deed – BEWARE!!!

This is a guide to who does what
If pranks were performed to him.
So listen up, attentive lot,
Who has which evil whim.

The teacher who is our first
Example to be set
Is also definitely the worst.
Right – the son of a bat.

Detention with him means working hard
Down in the dungeons cold
So don’t play pranks here, just be smart
And put yourself to a hold.

No less strict, but very much more fair
Is old McGonagall.
Unless you like lots of fresh air
Quit ‘pranking’ once and for all.

The other teachers, rest assured,
Will overlook quite much.
Some even become enamoured
To real good pranks as such.

Detention with Hagrid means no harm,
Just like a walk in the park.
Filch will strain the muscles of your arm
And you’ll only return in the dark.

So now you’re warned, be good and nice!
And do not look up to us.
Then you will never need any lies
And no-one will make a fuss.

"Are you sure that’ll work?” Fred asked sceptically. Anne shrugged. “Shall it? It was simply fun to write this!” Patience nudged her. “Yes, it will work. Beware of Snape and McGonagall, and play intelligent pranks on the other teachers, and you’ll do fine,” she sternly told the Weasley twins. Fred and George laughed. “Sounds okay!”

Not(t) Quite a Date

Hogwarts was the same as ever. The same teachers apart from the new teacher for Defence Against the Dark Arts. The Malignant Magpies stuck to their favourite victims Roland and John. And they did a great job in showing Fred and George around the castle. Soon the two boys knew many secret passageways and hiding places.

Patience and Hengist thought a lot about getting rid of Greg. Anne didn’t seem to think about that. Occasionally she disappeared talking with Greg. “Look, she leaves with Greg again.” Hengist whispered. Patience nodded. They were sure that nothing would happen because Snape followed the two wherever they went. “You know one could think that he is in love with her.” Hengist whispered. “He introduced Anne to his parents that sounds a lot like love to me.” Patience remarked watching Greg and Anne leaving the Great Hall. “I wasn’t talking about Greg.” Hengist whispered and indicated to Patience to look at Snape. Snape hurried out of the Great Hall. Patience shook her head. “That would never work!” She remarked.

In the meantime Anne and Greg had left the castle. They sat on the stairs in front of the big door. “Greg there’s something I wanted to tell you for a long time.” Anne started. Snape stood behind the door which wasn’t closed properly so that he could listen without any difficulties prepared to intervene when he felt it to be necessary. The best part was that he could watch the two. Greg put his arm around Anne. “I wanted to talk to you as well.” Greg started. “I have a boyfriend, Greg.” Anne burst out. This confession was so surprising that Snape almost fell out of the door and Greg’s mouth fell open and he forgot to close it again. Anne put Greg’s arm off her shoulder and stood up. She entered the castle. A bewildered Snape stared at her. “Been eavesdropping again, professor. You heard the good news no more night time patrols to stop possible visits.” Anne whispered in passing. Anne was very relieved. She had gotten rid of Greg and Snape as well which the next days proved. If it hadn’t been for another detention...

Professor Balloon

"Uhoh, we’ve got Defence Against the Dark Arts today“, Mike Flatley remarked after throwing a glance at his new timetable. “What is so bad about that?”, his best friend Brian Cullen asked. “Well, we’ve got that new teacher”, Mike shrugged. Hengist almost choked. “And you’re afraid of her?”, he asked in a disbelieving tone. Mike cast him a look of deep despise. “Just a thought”, Hengist grinned. “Well, after all, this year’s gonna be great”, he added, stroking his shining prefect badge lovingly. “Oh, Hengist, are you a prefect?”, Anne mocked him. He smiled at her. “Yes, my dear, and you have to obey me if I want to.” Anne burst into laughter. “I can’t believe it”, she said finally. “That’s what Ghewyn told Catherine last evening in the Common Room”, Hengist replied, grinning by now broadly. Patience shook her head. “She really said that? I do see why the teacher’s made her a prefect!” “You’re only jealous”, Hengist said casually. “Hengist, I’m not. Not one teacher would have given Anne or me the job as a prefect, really!” Patience’s eyes sparkled. “Though I can’t see why they chose you!” “Good question”, Hengist replied, helping himself to another muffin.

“What did you think of our new teacher?”, Anne asked. Hengist tried to speak but Patience told him he shouldn’t do so with his mouth full. “Percy the perfect scowls at us”, she added. Oliver, her brother, caught that and grinned broadly. He had never really liked Percy Weasley. Now that Oliver, in his third year, was Quidditch captain, he had less than ever in common with the ever-silent Percy who only learned and yearned for good marks. He never even bent a rule – something Oliver would do easily, following the example of his sister Patience.

The Gryffindor first-years who had eavesdropped as usual (because listening to the Malignant Magpies was sometimes really useful, as Oliver had told them pretty soon), chuckled. There were two Weasleys as well, Fred and George, Percy’s twin brothers. Patience had said something about them having the potential for being great mischief makers. Anne and Hengist had told her she should wait until they proved their potential, but after all Percy had already said to them (scolding them every single minute, in fact) told the trio that the Weasley twins would be worthy Gryffindors.

Hengist had by now finished his muffin and began: “I don’t know what to think of her. She looks less like a teacher and more like a student to me.” Anne agreed. “And she seems pretty unsure. That won’t help her much, I fear. By the way, have you seen Dicket at the feast? He couldn’t take his eyes off her!” “Nay, Anne, nonsense, not Emerson Dicket!”, Patience threw in. Anne didn’t react. “But talking about not taking the eyes off her: Snape looked at her very intensely.” “And you’ve been watching Snape very intensely!”, Hengist grinned. Anne stared coolly at him. “I’m over with that ridiculous phase”, she said rather haughtily. Neither Patience nor Hengist believed her. “Oliver, behave yourself”, Patience warned her brother in a whisper when she passed him. She had noticed something in the pockets of Oliver’s robes. “Looks like a fake wand of Zonko’s”, she smiled. “I bet I know who he’s going to play a prank on”, Anne giggled and looked back at Percy Weasley. “That boy’s really so different from all Weasleys I know”, Hengist sighed. “You couldn’t believe it if he hadn’t had this fiery red hair.” The three friends laughed.

“Wonder what we’re going to do today”, Patience said thoughtfully, placing her books on a table in the middle of the room. Anne and Hengist took seats next to her. As usual, Brian and Mikes sat in the back row. Ghewyn, straightening her robes, chose the middle seat in the front row. Patience grinned. “Hey, Ghewyn, d’you think prefects get even better grades?” Ghewyn only sneered. “What was the name of this new teacher?”, Hengist asked, staring distractedly out of the window where a Ravenclaw sixth year was hurrying over the lawn. “That’s David Bantam, the Ravenclaw keeper”, Patience whispered. “I know”, Hengist answered. Patience frowned. “He isn’t that good”, she said, considering the dreamy look on Hengist’s face to be pure admiration for Quidditch talent. Anne coughed. “If you look to the front you’ll have a pretty good look on our new teacher”, she said under her breath. Patience and Hengist turned away from David Bantam.

In front of the class stood an almost fragile looking young woman with long silvery blond hair. She wore blue robes which matched the colour of her eyes. “Gush, she looks a bit like Glenda”, Anne mouthed disgustedly. Patience shook her head but wisely kept silent. “My name is Holly Balloon”, the new teacher said in a surprisingly deep voice. Mike and Brian behind the Malignant Magpies had a strong fit of laughter. After all, the name of this teacher was ridiculous. Ghewyn turned to shoot them an angry look which didn’t impress them at all. Hengist sighed and turned as well. “Stop it if you can”, he whispered. Mike stared at his prefect’s badge and grinned. “Aye, sir”, he retorted. “Wow, I’m impressed”, Anne said under her breath.

Holly Balloon walked through the class by now, calling out their names. “Now will you please open your books. We will start with curses this year.” That sounded not so bad at all. Preston hadn’t been too keen on teaching them curses – no doubt that was connected to his being a Death Eater and now in Azkaban. The last term had been horrible concerning Defence Against the Dark Arts. After Patience and Anne had been helping to get Preston sacked, they had alternately McGonagall, Flitwick, Sprout and Snape. As neither knew really what the other had done all had been more or less chaotic. “You are now in your sixth year, and I think you are old enough to get to know the really dark arts”, Professor Balloon started.

She had the attention of the whole class. “Can anyone name me the curses known as the Unforgivable Curses?” The Gryffindors looked at each other. How were they supposed to know. Patience had gone pale. Anne looked at her. “What is it?”, she asked. Patience’s hand rose trembling. Anne gasped. Hengist shook his head. Ghewyn, Catherine and Nelly turned to stare at her. “Yes, Miss Wood?”

“There are three Unforgivable Curses”, Patience began in a very low voice. “Could you kindly speak up a bit?”, Holly asked gently. Patience swallowed and seemed to gather strength to go on. “The first one is the Imperius Curse. You can influence people to act according to your wishes and control them completely. The second one…” Patience looked at the young teacher to see if she should go on. Holly Balloon nodded encouragingly. “The second one is the Cruciatus Curse which tortures people without leaving any signs. And the third and worst one is the Killing Curse.” Patience didn’t need to explain what that was for. Holly Balloon smiled. “Excellent, Miss Wood. You will kindly read the chapter on these curses now and make notes. I want everyone in this class to be ready to test one of the curses on one of these beetles.”

The teacher took up a glass of beetles and showed it to the Gryffindors. They bent over their books. “I guess you should tell us something”, Anne murmured reproachfully in Patience’s direction. “I know”, she whispered. Hengist came a bit closer to be able to hear better. “I have been to the Restricted Section last term.” Hengist grimaced. “True. I know, the antidote for the poeta curse.” “Yes, and some weeks later as well. I wanted to read that book on the medieval witch. And as nothing happened that night when I did so, I thought I could dare to do it again. And so I looked up some curses and found the Unforgivable ones. Well, and then I tried to practise them. On bees, on other insects. The killing curse on spiders.” “So that was what Oliver meant!”, Anne said rather too loud. “Do you have a question, Miss Symmons?”, Professor Balloon asked her. “No, no, it’s okay”, Anne answered quickly. “Please concentrate on the curses. They are not easy to learn.” Hengist gave Patience a questioning look. She shrugged. “I didn’t think it so difficult”, she said calmly.

That was what Holly Balloon caught. She frowned. A pupil who already knew the curses, had actually learned them. Practised them, probably. She had to inform Dumbledore. But not now. First she needed to know how much this Patience Wood did know. “Okay, now we’re going to try. Miss Dean, will you start please?” Nelly stood up and walked to the beetles. She chose one and put him onto the desk. The she pointed her wand at it and said “Imperio!” The beetle whirled around but nothing else happened. “Was that all?”, Brian Cullen asked annoyed. “I wanted to make it tap-dance”, Nelly said apologetically. “Yes, it isn’t that easy”, Balloon smiled. “Mr Flatley, what about you?” Mike strolled to the front and pointed his wand at Nelly’s beetle. Then he took it down again. “Which one, professor?”, he asked. “Try the Cruciatus Curse, if you please.” “Crucio!”, Mike bellowed. The beetle stood on its front legs, but nothing else happened. “Well, I guess it didn’t work properly”, Mike said awkwardly. “No, unfortunately not. Miss Wood, the Killing Curse.” Patience got up. The poor beetle was obviously trying to recover. But it was doomed to die. Patience pointed her wand at it and calmly intonated “Avada Kedavra!” The beetle fell flat onto the desk. It was dead. The silence in the classroom could have been cut with a knife. “I believe this is enough for today”, Holly Balloon said quietly. “No homework in the first lesson.”

The Gryffindors packed their things and walked out. “I promise to be very careful if I see you point your wand at me”, Brian said, trying to joke but failing miserably. “I would never use it on humans!”, Patience said defensively. “Miss Wood, a word with you!”, Professor Balloon called. Patience walked back to the classroom. Anne and Hengist followed her of course but were sent away immediately by the professor.

“I think we need to see the headmaster”, Holly Balloon stated. Patience nodded miserably. “And I will of course inform your head of house.” “Professor McGonagall”, Patience said almost inaudible. “Good. Follow me please.” Patience thought of the other times she had been at Dumbledore’s office. She wondered which sweet would be the password this time. “Marzipan pig.” Patience had to repress a giggle even though she was very aware of the severity of this situation.

Dumbledore was already waiting for them. “Minerva will soon join us”, he said and indicated two chairs in front of his desk. Patience and Balloon took their seats. “So you knew the Unforgivable Curses and were even able to perform the most difficult one?” Dumbledore’s voice didn’t sound that warm this time. “I taught them to myself last term”, Patience explained. “I have been to the Restricted Section at night, at first only to read an interesting biography of a medieval witch.” “Julianna Rosenfeld”, Dumbledore said. “Yes.” Patience looked surprised. “Well, this book is in the Restricted Section because Julianna was an expert in the Unforgivable Curses. I presume you wanted to know more about them after reading the biography.” “That’s true. And then I wanted to know if I were able to perform these curses. I would never use them on humans! I have tried them on insects, mostly spiders…” McGonagall by now had entered the headmaster’s office. She looked very stern. “This isn’t something to play with, Miss Wood”, she said.

Patience turned to face her. “I know. I… I just didn’t think of that.” “Professor Balloon, you may go now”, Dumbledore said firmly. He waited until she had left the room. “Minerva, I think we have to tell her something.” McGonagall looked shocked. “We can’t, she’s too young!” “True. Only part of it, the rest she will get to know when it is time. Patience. It is generally very dangerous to know and perform the Unforgivable Curses. For you it can be fatal. Never use them in moonlight, if you have to use them on… spiders.” He smiled a bit. “And something else I must ask you for: Do not look things up in the Restricted Section, unless they are antidotes against harmless curses.” The twinkling in the headmaster’s eyes told Patience he very well knew about the poeta curse-affair.

McGonagall sighed. “And I must ask you for not telling your friends. You may tell them you were told never to use the curses and conceal your knowledge as far as possible, but not a word else. Understood?” McGonagall’s tone said clearly it was better to nod and not say a word. “And now follow me, you have Transfiguration.” Patience did as she was requested.

Anne and Hengist were waiting for her. “What happened?”, Anne asked in a whisper. “Not now”, Patience answered. It wasn’t wise to talk during Transfiguration. “We will start with human transfiguration this term”, McGonagall began. The Hufflepuffs looked cast down. No wonder, they were always way behind the Gryffindors. “We will start with transfiguring small body parts into other things. Only by the end of seventh year you will be taught how to transform completely. If anyone of you manages it, you may become animagi.”

Excited whispers rose. “Silence, please!”, McGonagall said calmly. “Concentrate on your little finger and try to transfigure it into a pencil.” Patience and Anne exchanged an amused look. “And the second John King has managed to have a pencil-finger, we will help him to have a needle-finger”, Anne smiled evilly. Patience shook her head. “Maybe next lesson, not today”, she said. Anne shrugged and began to concentrate on her finger. It wasn’t as easy as it seemed. No one managed to transform his finger completely. Some had a mine sticking out of the nail, some had no change at all. Patience was frustrated and declared this would be her ultimate try. She pointed her wand at her finger. And then it happened: Her finger became a pencil. Anne and Hengist grinned. They both tried as well – and managed it. “Wonderful!”, McGonagall beamed. “Twenty points to Gryffindor. Retransfigure your fingers, you may leave!”

Anne dragged Patience outside the second they had left the class. “And now tell me what has happened!”, she demanded. Hengist came out as well. “Oh, look who is there!”, he said. Anne looked exasperated. “Hengist, no one wants to see David Bantam just now. Patience!” “Yes, okay, okay. I was told never to do it again, to conceal my abilities. I simply wonder how I shall conceal it when the whole school seems to know!” Patience threw her hands up dramatically. “No one knows. Only us. And as you very well know, Gryffindors stick together. I’ll see to that”, Hengist announced grimly and marched off, obviously wanting to tell his classmates to keep silent. “I just hope he doesn’t meet Bantam again, he might get distracted”, Anne grinned. Patience frowned. “I don’t think so. I mean, he simply admires him for Quidditch, doesn’t he?” “Does he?”, Anne asked pointedly.

Arch for Arch’s Sake

Another day had passed by in almost complete normalness. The Malignant Magpies had almost been bored, however, one person stepped up to save the day: Sebastian Cook. “Six years of this and now I start getting bored.” Patience announced. Anne just thought that day to have been – well, not one of the most exciting in her lives, however, she was quite fond of the quiet life Hogwarts occasionally offered to its students and stuff. Hengist had never felt boredom since he had joined Hogwarts school for witchcraft and wizardry. Each day to him brought more excitement than others would meet with in their whole lives. “It’s so boring.” Patience repeated. “Maybe now we will face a little bit of excitement. Look who’s coming. If that is not our archenemy…”

“My name is not Arch!” Cook protested. “Thought you could at least remember my name. In fact Sebastian Cook is a name you should remember.” He added having remembered who he was talking to. “Well, then Magpies meet our Sebastian-enemy.” Hengist introduced him again. “And look who’s here, it’s our Roland-enemy.” Patience declared pointing at Banks who had joined them early enough to have witnessed the incident. He was still thinking about the idea behind it. “And oh what a surprise, there comes our Ramon-enemy!” Anne exclaimed almost running towards him and congratulating him to his friends. “Who has allowed you to call me Ramon?” He snapped. “Can you imagine that, she called me Arch!” Sebastian reported. “What?” Ramon said not knowing what was going on.

Anne approached him at last. She put her arm around his shoulder and led him away a bit. “Yes, imagine to break with the boredom of this day we hoped to find some entertainment with our archenemy Mr. Cook, thanks to your companion’s intelligence and quick mind he was able to show us our mistake addressing him as Arch and to identify himself as Sebastian. He could not be replaced by anyone.” Anne concluded and withdrew her arm. Vargas who at first had liked this new closeness to a girl had drawn back when he had heard what she had had to say. He knew perfectly well that it was impossible to save the situation and so he decided to remain quiet.

“I told them that my name was Sebastian, Ramon.” “No, you only said your name was Sebastian. You did not say it was Ramon as well.” Patience protested. “But it is Sebastian and not Sebastian Ramon, Wood.” Sebastian tried. “Wood, indeed, maybe he is a relative of yours.” Hengist thought aloud. “Why would I!” Sebastian retorted. “The gods save me from that!” Patience agreed pathetically putting her hand to her forehead. “Stop it Sebastian.” Vargas prevented him from continuing this silly conversation he had gotten himself into. He turned. “And you shut up as well.” He warned the Malignant Magpies. The Treacherous Trio left.

“Now, if that hasn’t been an event that will go down in the annals of Hogwarts’ history!” Hengist stated. “A story you can tell your grandchildren.” Patience agreed. “And you will end in: I’ve been there that day and he was talking to me. Pity we didn’t take a picture.” Anne sighed. “Why?” Hengist wanted to know. “Because nobody will ever believe us this.” She continued her way. Patience shrugged. “Maybe she’s right.” She followed her. Hengist didn’t want to be left behind and so he decided to follow them as well.

New Potions

Anne grudgingly accepted she had to keep up Potions, and so sat down next to Hengist and Patience. It was late in October, and the dungeons were especially cold. “This is the most awful thing to do,” Anne complained. “Doing Potions and having to do this in the NEWTs!” “Who knows what useful things we’ll get to know in those last two years?” Patience remarked cheerfully. “Useful? We haven’t done anything useful so far, and I can’t see for what potions will ever be useful,” Hengist snorted. “Useful for… You-Know-Who,” Patience grinned. Ghewyn turned, looking white. “You’re not working for You-Know-Who!” she hissed. Patience stared at her. “No, I’m not. Of course I’m not! I meant the Slytherin trio!” She had to laugh about Ghewyn’s face. “Honestly, who would want to work for You-Know-Who?”

The discussion was cut short by the entrance of Snape. He seemed so angry that Patience was sure he was still thinking about the moral lesson he had given the Magpies. “We will do two different potions today,” the professor announced. “Two?” Banks asked audibly. “Yes, two, Mr Banks. You are preparing for your NEWTs, and you will have to know loads more than what you have put into your heads so far – if anything will fit into your heads in addition to the tiny crumbs of wisdom you gathered!” Snape turned and almost pushed some glass phials to the ground. Patience grinned. “What is he up to, making the dungeon explode?” she mouthed. Hengist shrugged. But there was no time today for private conversations. Snape’s potion recipes turned out to be on a level that made everyone groan. “I do not think you will understand both potions at once, but try to get them as right as possible. Start now!”

Patience frowned. Suddenly she saw that both potions worked in a parallel way. She nudged Hengist. “Look,” she said, pointing out how similar the mixtures were. Hengist stared at the recipes. “Honestly, I wouldn’t have seen that!” he said impressed. “Miss Wood, Alret, keep your chats for later – or did you take a spoonful of Gossipium accidentally?” Snape asked from behind them. “No, for I started doing Vincetoxicum,” Patience answered calmly. Snape’s lips curled. “Indeed, and why should you do the reverse order?” “It is easier. If I do Vincetoxicum first, I will just have to add some basil and take the other herbs out of the mixture to get Gossipium,” Patience explained. Snape stared at her. “Do me the favour and go to the front to finish your work there,” he spat.

Patience was startled. There was no reason to punish her! But Snape had his reason. How could a student in 6th grade be able to do these complicated potions so easily? Snape, while walking on through the class, watched Patience closely. She was evidently absorbed in her mixtures, had already carefully bottled a sample of Vincetoxicum and was now brewing Gossipium – no doubt both mixtures would work perfectly well. Snape intended to test them tonight with some colleagues who had volunteered. When the lesson had ended, the students were totally exhausted. Only some had managed to brew both potions. So Snape had some twenty bottles of Gossipium, but only 5 bottles of Vincetoxicum. He smiled savagely. Just as he had thought it would end!

In the evening Dicket, Flitwick, Kettleburn and Snape met in the staff room. At the last minute the headmaster arrived, too. “Am I too late? Did you start?” “No, headmaster,” Snape answered. Dumbledore rubbed his hands gleefully. “Then let us begin!” Snape took up two of the bottles standing on the table. “The clear liquid, gentlemen, is Vincetoxicum. If it is done correctly, it will knock you out for about a minute.” Dicket sighed. “Severus, admit that you like seeing us unconscious!” “On the contrary, Emerson, I think that nobody will be unconscious unless you test this bottle.”

Dumbledore took it from Snape and examined the name written on it. He chuckled and gave it back. “The other one?” Kettleburn asked in his raspy voice. “That is…” But Snape could not finish the sentence. Dumbledore cut into his words: “Gossipium, my absolute favourite!” The headmaster beamed at his colleagues. Dicket hid his grin in pretending to cough. Flitwick looked just as excited as Dumbledore, and Kettleburn was clearly at a loss. “Was never good at potions,” he grunted. Snape smiled slightly. “It causes you to talk about anything. And everyone. In short, it causes you to gossip.” “Exactly. I remember an extraordinary incident at the Wizengamot-assembly of 1971 when Bathilda Bagshot accidentally swallowed some Gossipium and then told everyone what she had heard about him or her. I know that she told me that young Cornelius Fudge was afraid of me and fearing Hogwarts would one time be opposed to the Ministry.” Dumbledore chuckled again.

The others exchanged glances. “Yes, can we start?” Snape asked, handing bottles to everyone. “I beg you to drink Gossipium or what the students consider to be Gossipium first.” “Did you make them brew both things in one lesson? That’s cruel, Severus,” Emerson grinned, opening the bottle labelled ‘Roland Banks’. “Cheers,” he added. Nothing happened for a few seconds, but then Flitwick began to giggle. “Did you know that Sybil Trelawney predicted that John King would die?” “Not very good, is it?” Snape muttered and wrote down that the potion was too weak. The others showed no reaction at all, except of Emerson exclaiming: “For heaven’s sake, Severus, I know that you can make the damned things taste better! Give me something that looks more like Gossipium. That thing here, for example.” And with that he snatched the bottle labelled ‘Patience Wood’.

Snape tried to stop him, but it was too late. “Ha! I heard that students were telling each other Holly Balloon would not stand a day in class. Poor girl, but she does look fragile.” “Emerson!” Snape said sharply. “Yes, and you, Severus, are considered to be still in league with the Dark Lord. Heaven knows, you don’t do anything to stop these rumours!” “Emerson, drink that and shut up,” Snape ordered unnerved. Emerson drank the antidote and shuddered. “Okay, that should receive full marks,” he said. “Yes,” Snape said between clenched teeth. Dumbledore laughed. “Don’t be angry, you rarely have a student capable of doing such things.” “Such and other things,” Kettleburn laughed. “These Magpies are really great. How boring life would be without them,” Flitwick agreed.

Snape went on writing down his remarks on the potions and the others either sat there waiting or gossiped happily. When all bottles were tested, Snape sighed. “Now to the less agreeable part.” “C’mon, Severus, that last bottle was so horrible, this Vargas or what’s his name should be punished for trying to kill teachers,” Emerson complained. Flitwick nodded. “And that Cook bottle was even worse.” “I had Alret’s,” Kettleburn said. “Didn’t work but tasted well.” “Yes, that would be because Miss Wood helped him.” Snape grimaced. Dumbledore laughed out loud. “Give me Miss Wood’s Vincetoxicum.” Snape looked doubtful. “Do as I say, Severus. I’m curious to know if she can really brew potions as well as it seems.” Snape pushed the bottle over to the headmaster and gave the other bottles except one to the three men. He himself kept Vargas’ bottle as he was sure it would not work. Emerson grinned. “On the count of three,” he joked.

Kettleburn swallowed the contents of the bottle at once. He closed his eyes, waiting to fall over. Nothing happened. Flitwick dropped forward for a moment but was awake before he had really been unconscious. Snape drank his potion, but as he had expected, nothing happened. “At least he tried,” he murmured. Dumbledore cleared his throat. “Not very successfully, Severus, please keep that in mind when giving grades.” Snape nodded sulkily. Emerson drank his potion and immediately fell over like a stone. If Flitwick had not been quick enough to conjure up a cushion, the mark on Emerson’s forehead would have been spectacular. They had to wait for some minutes before he was awake again. “Not bad, the stuff,” Dicket mumbled drowsily when he at last was up again.

”It’s surprisingly good,” Snape said frowning. “Headmaster, would you please drink yours?” Dumbledore did as he was asked and waited for any effect. Nothing. “And this is absolutely impossible!” Snape exclaimed. He looked at the labels. One said “Roland Banks”, the other “Patience Wood”. “The idiot must have changed the labels and hoped to get through with it,” Snape groaned. “And now I have to take points from my own house!” Emerson laughed about his obvious dilemma. “Well, teach your Slytherins how to cheat without leaving a trace!”

Achilles' Heel

 “As all sixth years you will perform a play this term.” Professor McGonagall announced in the Gryffindor common room. It wasn’t exactly an hooray which echoed out of the student group, then again, it was one hooray finding its origin in Patience’s mouth. Everybody turned to look at her. “what?” She asked. “Be that as it may…” Professor McGonagall continued. “…you will perform a play. You are to work with the other houses deciding which play to choose and dividing the different roles and tasks among yourselves. The performance will take place around Easter. You will meet the other houses in the Great Hall after dinner tonight.” “This announcement was brought to you by the voice of Doom.” Anne said when professor McGonagall had left again. “Honestly, am I the only person to be happy about this?” Patience wanted to know. Hengist stood up and looked around the common room then sat down again. “Yes, at least you’re the only of our year with a happy expression on her face.” “I don’t understand you. It’s theatre!” She said. “You don’t understand. It’s with the Slytherins.” Anne replied. Hengist nodded silently.

After dinner they found out that they were not the only house not entirely happy about this event.” Hengist, now we must decide either we seize our chance and take over the total control of the play or we stay out of it as much as possible.” Anne whispered into her friend’s ear. Hengist considered the two possibilities for a moment or two. +a was basically right. There were only these two options. The worst one was that they would fail, however, with three people in for the play the chances weren’t as high as with less people. And in fact he didn’t look forward to be pushed around by a Slytherin. “Control!” Hengist whispered into Anne’s ear. She nodded and smiled at him.

All the house teachers were present. Professor McGonagall was the first to raise her voice. “as you will know what this is all about we would like you to volunteer for the committee which will decide about the play.” McGonagall hadn’t nearly finished her sentence when Anne’s and Hengist’s hands shot into the air. Professor Snape whispered something to McGonagall but she shook her head and noted down the two names. Patience turned towards her two friends and smiled.

Later on in the evening the three were discussing the topic. “Romeo and Juliet.” Patience sighed. “Crab.” Anne replied. Both Patience and Hengist looked at her in surprise. “I mean, what would you learn from that?” She protested. “That love is everything.” Patience replied. “As I said, crab.” Anne concluded. “I want Hamlet.” Anne hadn’t finished her sentence when Patience spoke again. “But I can’t play the lead in Hamlet.” “Rubbish, you wouldn’t be the first female Hamlet.” Anne contradicted her. “And anyway. Hengist and me will decide this.” And with that the topic was closed to Patience.

However, Hengist and Anne continued their discussion and several names of playwrights fell, like Marlowe, Shaw, Beckett and the famous wizard writer Barthlomiaow. In the end they had no idea whom to choose and so they went to bed. The next morning the two exchanged a couple of conspiratorial words and separated again. Anne went straight to the library while Hengist went to have breakfast. It was a beautiful Saturday morning and not many people were awake yet.

Anne was quite alone in the library and could do her research. After an hour, however, she couldn’t stay in the library any longer if she didn’t want to explode. She ran to the Great Hall where she met Patience, Hengist and his extended breakfast. “Hengist told me you went to the library without having breakfast?” Patience scolded her friend and poured her a hot chocolate. “That doesn’t matter now.” Anne decided. “Listen, what I found out…” “Well, Miss Symmons, please do tell us what you’ve found out. You didn’t – by chance – make up your mind on the play already?” These cold words could originate from nowhere else than professor Snape’s mouth. Anne turned to look at him. He scanned her but as usual wasn’t able to detect anything in her. “As you will know, professor…” Anne emphasized his title, though it was rarely used by her. “…this is a decision I will take together with Hengist, therefore I cannot have decided anything.” This time it had been the ‘I’, which she emphasized. “So, what did you find?” He wanted to know. Anne stared at him. “I was asking a question, Miss Symmons.” “I found a solution for our charms’ homework.” Anne lied perfectly. “Want me to demonstrate it?” She added raising her wand and not exactly pointing it away from the teacher. Professor Snape left without another word.

“You cannot point your wand at a teacher, Anne!” Hengist scolded her. “Shut up, prefect.” Anne snapped. “Miss Symmons!” McGonagall sounded very sharp. “Oh dear, what have I done.” Anne sighed under her breath. “Yes, professor.” She said. “You might not be aware of this but it is forbidden to threaten a teacher with a wand.” McGonagall told her. “But, I didn’t threaten him. Nobody could I daresay.” Anne replied innocently. “Don’t think I cannot look through you, Miss Symmons. What was it all about?” The teacher interrogated. “I told to my friends that I had made a discovery in the library and professor Snape asked what it was and I told him it was a spell and asked him if he wanted me to demonstrate it to him.” Anne retold the incident. Patience and Hengist nodded. Professor McGonagall left their table.

“Honestly, threatening professor Snape, if I wanted to do that, I would poison him, thinking about it again, he surely eats bezoar flakes for breakfast.” Anne mused. She helped herself to some pumpkin juice. “But I told you, you couldn’t do that!” Hengist reminded her friend. “Yes, Mister Perfect, ah, sorry, Prefect.” Anne snapped back. “You’re getting worse every year, Anne, and I wouldn’t be surprised if you managed to get kicked out of Hogwarts!” Patience said. “Yes, be that as it may, before I am thrown out of this institution, I have to tell you…” Anne stopped herself and made sure no one was around to listen except of her two friends. She bent forward. “…our dear Severus played in one of these performances.” Patience and Hengist grinned. “And if that wasn’t enough. He played Achilles in Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida. He is the total loser. More blood than brain as one character describes him.” Anne had to stop for her own grin grew to become a laughter.

“But how did you come across this information?” Patience wanted to know. “Hengist and me had agreed to do some research, while Hengist will check out certain plays I went to find out about previous performances here at Hogwarts.” Anne explained. “The last couple of years didn’t promise to be too interesting since we have already been around, so I went back into the past and professor Snape was the last of our teachers to leave Hogwarts – as a student, I mean. I had never heard of the play so I read a bit about it and it turned out that Achilles was a loser.” “Then will we do Troilus and Cressida in honour of our dear professor?” Patience wanted to know. “No, definitely not.” Anne replied. “I mean, I will definitely object to it.” She added.

“Any idea which plays you gonna check out?” Patience asked Hengist who as a reply shook his head. “I would have a few suggestions…” Patience started but was suppressed by both Hengist and Anne. “My dear, you could have applied for the committee as well, but now, it’s too late.” Hengist declared. “But I want to play the lead character!” Patience insisted. “We could perform Lassie!” Anne suggested. “Or we could do Waiting for Godot! And Godot never shows up.” Hengist said. “That’s not funny!” Patience complained. “C’mon, Patience, We’ll find a nice role for you.” Anne promised and Hengist nodded.

As promised Hengist went to check out some plays in the library. He jotted down brief summaries while Anne shared her findings with him in the same way. In the end they came up with one choice. “But I think not everybody will understand it. And the other one was more beautiful just because it rhymed.” Anne said. Hengist nodded. “But in the other one there isn’t any challenging part for Patience. And in fact I think this one is funnier.” Hengist told her. Anne nodded. “Still, do you think we are allowed to change some things?” She wanted to know. Hengist nodded. “At least we can ask.”

Professor McGonagall stared at her two students. “You really want to do some changes?” She asked again. “Yes, professor, of course, you and the other teachers can read what we wrote and decide then. If you don’t approve we will take the original play.” Hengist told her. The teacher nodded. “Very well, do your changes and inform us as soon as possible.” McGonagall said. “As for the general choice that will be alright and it shall be announced to your fellow sixth years. All of you are to keep it as a secret as you will well remember from the last couple of years.” Anne and Hengist nodded.

The next night and day was spent doing some editing and performing changes in the not-yet named play. Tuesday evening, when all the house teachers had read and approved of the play the scripts were handed out to the students. Patience had already decided on her role and yet she had to wait until the next Friday to apply for it. Friday arrived and as Anne and Hengist had thought there were not many people wanting to take acting roles. It was easy for Patience to secure the female lead while Hengist and Anne seeing that no one else was prepared to direct it, applied for this job, too and got it.

“Brian Cullen as Benedick?” Anne asked in disbelief. “Mike Flatley as king!” Hengist shook his head. “Roland Banks as the best friend of my future husband!” Patience complained. “Yeah, gives us loads to criticize!” Anne announced. “But Stella is a poor creature!” Hengist mused. “Who would have thought he would apply for it!” Anne threw in. “Vicky as servant!” Hengist laughed. “Vargas as judge!” Anne complained. “Well, we will have to work with what we got.” Hengist sighed. “Let’s just be happy that most Hufflepuffs work on the scenery!” He added. “But we could have done with some more Ravenclaws in the play!” Patience told them. Anne leaned back. “I’m still not over it. Achilles…!” “If you’re an actor it is not important what you play but that you play!” Patience told her. “…the loser!” She added. “It is great no matter what role it is. You feel a king playing a beggar. You feel a winner playing a loser. Acting is magic. There is nothing above it. There is nothing comparable to it. You grow with every role even if you’re only second tree to the left. You cannot do anything more personal than acting because you will always enclose a part of yourself. And every role will become a part of yourself and with it the immortality of acting itself.” Patience lectured. “That son of a bat.” Anne said and shook her head. “Good night, you two. ‘Tis certain, greatness, once fall’n out with fortune, must fall out with men too.”

“She’s not an actress!” Patience decided. “No, she isn’t. She is too much an admirer of reality and play will always seem to her like a betrayal.” Hengist mused. “But is it still betrayal if it tells you that it is not real?” Patience asked. “Is it no longer betrayal if the betrayed knows about the deed?” Hengist asked back. “But, what for did she get involved with this project then?” She wanted to know. “She’s not an actor. She chose the play and she will direct it. Those are two very real assignments. She’s not part of the play and acting but above it. She will be quite satisfied with it. She will delight in bossing you around!” Hengist said. “Good night, tomorrow will be a long day. First meeting with the directors and other actors.”

Anne had been awake since six. She had enjoyed an early breakfast and was prepared to direct God creating a new world. Hengist was not quite as early, however, he managed to be ready until nine when the two had decided to meet. “Now, how does one direct a play?” Anne asked looking at Hengist. “Uh, how should I know?” He replied in a surprised sort of voice. “Brilliant, we’re two people not knowing what to do.” Anne concluded. “We will need a good strategy.” “Why don’t we just tell them to play and then criticize whatever we don’t think good enough?” Hengist suggested. “That’s not fair. You have to at least give them sort of an idea what you want them to do.” Anne reminded him. “Well, we want them to act, don’t we?” He said. “That’s a good point.” Anne said and scribbled it down on a piece of parchment. “And how should they act?” She asked. Hengist stared blankly at her. “Naturally!” Anne suddenly threw in and put it down on her parchment not waiting for a sign of agreement from Hengist.

At ten everybody involved in the play met in the Great Hall. “Hello everybody!” Anne declared at ten on the spot. “This is Hengist and I’m Anne. We’re gonna direct you and your playing during the next couple of weeks. We’ll put up a schedule today trying not to overwork anyone or ignore somebody else. But first some general comments.” She stretched out her hand towards Hengist who gave her a piece of parchment. “We want you to learn most of your lines by heart, especially as it will get closer to the performance. As soon as they are ready you will have the chance to act in your costumes. Any questions about that?” She looked around but nobody seemed to be particularly interested. She took the next piece of parchment and put it back. Hengist passed her another one. “About your acting. We want you to be as natural as possible. Don’t pretend to be these persons, be these persons! We don’t want anyone to show off. Do the best you can.” In the meantime Hengist had managed to throw down the other pieces of parchment. He looked through them to find the next one.

Anne waited impatiently. “We, put this down so we could always come back to it if someone has any questions – if Hengist ever manages to find all of them again.” She pointed at a parchment which had floated far away from the table. Hengist got it and it was the right one. “We want you to understand what you’re acting. You will see that we performed some changes. These are approved of by the teachers and we hope you will approve of them, too. If you cannot agree with anything or have a question please come to us – that’s what we’re there for. Hengist.” She handed things over to Hengist who took her place on the table while she sat down on the chair behind it. “We would like to give you some guidelines, too.” He hesitated and stretched out his hand. Anne looked at the parchments and selected one. “Don’t be funny if it isn’t in the play. Don’t be serious if it isn’t in the play. In short, don’t do anything which isn’t in the play.” Anne had the next parchment for him. “Don’t change your lines. They are supposed to rhyme and by that you would do even more damage than we have done!”

“Please…” He read from the last piece of parchment. “…be always on time. We need you because without you this won’t work. Apart from that, stick to your own business and trust us for you don’t know either what we’re doing.” Patience applauded this little speech. Next they started to prepare the schedule. Those with big parts had to meet every week, the others with smaller parts had more time for leisure, however, those who had only little time were Anne and Hengist. But they had known this before and come up with the times of the week when they didn’t do any work for school anyway. “Wednesdays at six in the morning?” Roland asked. “Others get up at five to practice Quidditch.” Anne reminded him. “But this is not Quidditch!” He replied. “Listen, no one is keen to come to that meeting. So stop complaining and show up!” She had intended to tell him to shut up, but had changed her mind. When everybody was more or less satisfied with the schedule. It was almost time for the meeting with the other participants. In between they had managed to put in a bit of lunch. Otherwise Hengist would have quit the job immediately.

They were quite kind to the future artists for they only told them to keep it romantically and yet realistically, though Anne in general thought this was impossible. It was sort of a challenge for anyone. The creators had to put down their ideas on paper and present them to Anne and Hengist before they could enlarge them. They decided to do the landscape of Sicily. And on the interior of the buildings they had varying thoughts. Hengist and Anne didn’t care much who did what as long as the things were done and therefore left them to themselves. “You know something…” Anne asked when they were on their way back to the dormitory. “We’re dead tired.” Hengist yawned. “Yes, exactly.” Anne agreed and yawned, too. 

Paper Planes

As usual, Professor Binns bored his class into stupor. He had done for ages, and he would go on, even now, after his death. “This is killing me,” Hengist groaned and began to fold up an odd bit of parchment. Patience was listening and taking notes, as usual, but Anne also was in need of something to cheer her up. Binns was droning on about some incidents where muggles had been killed due to dark magic and poisonous odours during trials. “In 1577, on the Black Trial of Oxford, Roland Jenkins was put on trial because of treason, and he was convicted, but never had to go to prison. Someone had put a tiny ball of Stinking Stepstone in the court building. By the time the room was full of people, the gas filled the air, killing 300 attendants at once and 200 after a time of suffering,” the ghost professor informed his bored class. Hengist had finished a perfect little plane and grinned, showing it to Anne.

Anne frowned. “What is that good for?” “It can fly – I’m the master of paper planes!” Hengist boasted. Patience turned to them. “Stop that – it’s getting interesting,” she hissed. Anne and Hengist had to stifle their laughter when at exactly that moment Mike’s head dropped onto the table with a loud clunk. “In March 1730 a similar incident happened at Taunton, to where some prisoners, apparently accused of theft, had been brought from the prison of Ivelchester. One of them was the wizard Hieronymus Priestley, who wanted to get free by the use of Suffocating Solution. He set the gas free, killing 100 muggles, including the judge, the advocate and the sheriff, but he himself could flee from the poisoned court,” Binns said in a voice that remained steady even through relating the gruesome tale.

“One of the most horrible trials was that of Old Bailey on May 11, 1750. 200 prisoners had to be brought to the judge. They had been perched together in two small rooms. In one of the rooms we know that the witch Evelyn Pricegoat let loose a Stinking Stepstone balloon she had hidden under her skirts, killing three advocates, a sheriff and more than 140 persons in the audience. Unfortunately she had used the wrong gas and killed herself too – by accident, of course.” Binns reacted to the sounding of the bell with the words: “Homework: Write an essay on the use of Stinking Stepstone and Suffocating Solution to escape trials. Discuss why witches and wizards have been able to escape conviction most of the times.” Binns glided out through the wall, and the class began to awake from their temporary stupor.

The Malignant Magpies packed their things hurriedly and went out. Hengist let go of his paper plane and it flew elegantly over some metres, dropping rather awkwardly onto Banks’ head. “Uh-oh,” Anne murmured. Banks turned, the parchment flyer in his hand, looking for anyone who might have sent it. Hengist waved at him. “Hey – give it to me, it’s so perfect I want to use it again,” he said. “Hengist! No!” Patience groaned, tugging her friend’s sleeve. Banks looked at the plane in his hand, then at Hengist, and an evil smile spread upon his face. “No,” he said and crushed the parchment, tossing the crumpled ball back to Hengist. “Now use it again, Miss Alret,” he sneered. Hengist looked at the ball he had caught with no difficulty at all. “Well done, Banks – you’ve defeated some old bit of parchment,” he muttered, smiled at Banks and followed Anne and Patience.

“What did you want to proof, that Banks can crush you like that parchment?” Anne asked him furiously. Patience had her arms crossed and looked angry. “No. Actually… Listen, girls, I’ve had an idea. What if we made a kind of, um, project out of this?” He held up the crumpled parchment. Patience couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “I’d say that project does exist: crumpling up your old notes!” Anne gave her friend a reproachful look. “No, Hengist you won’t get off by such stupid jokes. I’m thoroughly…” “That is no joke,” Hengist cut across her. “I’m deadly serious about this. I want to do a project with some chosen few. Build paper planes, enchant them a bit, and make them follow other chosen few!” Anne frowned. “That sounds not the worst idea,” she admitted. Patience looked around, then hissed: “Shut up, both of you!”

“Are you waiting for an extra invitation to enter the classroom?” Emerson Dicket asked amused. “No, sir,” Patience assured him, smiling. Dicket grinned. “In, you three rascals. Severus, we’ll talk later!” For Snape had been with Dicket and now glared at the Magpies. “You would have lost Gryffindor some points if that had been my class,” he said under his breath. Patience turned in the door, smiling at Snape, too, but Anne dragged her inside before she could say another word. “What did you want to tell him?” “That we would never think of missing even a second of his precious lessons,” Patience said innocently, taking her book out of her bag. Hengist snorted and Anne rolled her eyes. Muggle Studies went by quickly as usual, as it was far too interesting to dream a lot. Muggle Studies was always a relief on Monday afternoons, after the double term of History of Magic. “Besides,” Hengist remarked, “it’s the last lesson in the day.”

The Magpies walked up to the Gryffindor Common Room to drop their bags. Hengist sat down at a table. “Aren’t you coming to dinner?” Patience enquired. “Oh, I will, just a second…” Hengist mumbled. Then he finished writing, went to the board and put the parchment on it. The sign read:

Everyone interested in doing something worthwhile shall contact the Malignant Magpies.

Anne shook her head. “And you do think that will attract people?” she asked sceptically. Hengist smiled. “Sure.” They went down to the Great Hall, and sure enough, only some minutes later Mike and Brian hurried towards them. “What’s that worthwhile thing to do?” Brian enquired, sitting down next to Patience. “Ask Hengist, I have no idea,” Patience said, shrugging. Hengist laughed. “The Common Room, after dinner, then I’ll inform all those interested,” he promised.

The group assembled around the Magpies was not numerous, but they were all enthusiastic of doing anything else but studying: Mike, Brian, Oliver, Fred, George and Lee. “Women are underrepresented,” Anne stated, her mouth twitching. “Doesn’t matter, you’re vital,” Hengist soothed her. Anne beamed. “You’re a dear,” she said. “Well, ladies and gentlemen, our mission is to build an aircraft fleet and send it to its targets.” Hengist had the pleasure of seeing totally perplexed faces. “It’s easy, guys, so calm down,” he grinned. “We need to build some parchment planes….” “Excuse me. Planes?” Fred asked. “Yes. Aircrafts. We need to build one each. Choose a worthy target, bewitch the parchment so that it floats on its own accord and then enjoy the effect. Mind calling them back before the person attacked gets too grumpy,” Hengist ordered.

“Will you show us how these planes are built?” Mike asked. “Sure. Anne and Patience have already seen me doing this, so… Make way for the others, please, will you?” Patience and Anne grinned and stepped back. “You’ll build the planes, of course – I can’t,” Patience commented. Brian turned. “That’s man’s work anyway,” he teased her. Patience beamed at him. “And Anne and I will choose your targets – that’s woman’s work!” The two retreated to a table nearby and began compiling a list of names, on top of which were Vargas, Cook and Banks. But they added others as well. “I’m all for putting Snape on it,” Anne said dreamily. “Only if you want to commit suicide, Anne,” Patience laughed. “Okay, okay… Then Flitwick, he’ll love that.” “True.” Finally they presented the list to the boys who had finished with their paper planes. Oliver’s looked a lot like a broom, but it flew best of all of them. “You could even use it on your Quidditch pitch model,” Patience said approvingly.

Her brother nodded. “Yes. I’d love to use it on Marcus Flint,” he said. “The Slytherin captain. Good idea,” Brian agreed. “He’s on our list,” Patience nodded, crossing him off and writing down Oliver’s name. “Who else?” “We take on Vargas, Banks and Cook,” Anne said, pointing to Hengist, Patience and herself. “And what about us?” asked Fred. George nodded vigorously. “You – yes, why not? Fred, how would you like to send your plane after…” “Actually, we had our own idea,” Fred interrupted Anne. “Okay,” Patience said, looking up. “Yes, we wanted to, that is, Lee and we wanted to do different people at different times. So they can’t track us down.” Mike applauded. “Good thinking,” Hengist nodded. “Yes, very good. We thought Flitwick might like paper planes, too,” Patience reported. “We do the teachers, no problem,” Brian assured her. “Then that’s done. Now, we’ve got some work to do – homework, I fear,” Hengist stated. The others groaned and protested, but they all went to their work.

Air Strike

The next morning at breakfast the little group of students who were in the plan exchanged winks and smiles and meaningful glances until their fellow Gryffindors asked them what was going on. In fact, Ghewyn Rhys in her position as Prefect asked: “Are you going to lose us another twenty points or so?” “No,” Patience replied curtly, not interested to go deeper into the matter. Ghewyn, however, was not easily put off: “Hengist might not live up to his new office, but I do, and I intent to stop all pranks before they happen.” “That means,” George Weasley pointed out, “you have to have the ability of being in more than one place at the same time – I never knew you were that good, Ghewyn.” Snickers and giggles followed, Ghewyn blushed and said nothing more. “Okay, have a nice day, all of you,” Anne wished those sitting near and left the Hall, followed by Hengist and Patience.

Brian and Mike called after them no to hurry too much. “It’s Charms first,” Patience shouted over her shoulder. Brian and Mike looked at each other and nodded. “Okay, that’s a reason to hurry. See you, Ghewyn, and I hope you’ll enjoy lessons today,” Mike said sweetly. Ghewyn glared at him, but Nelly whispered something into her ear and Ghewyn stayed silent. Outside Marcus Flint was turning on the spot, ever faster, while a tiny parchment broom-plane circled around his head. He tried to catch it, but every time he had his fingertips on the plane, it zoomed away to the staircase. Patience looked up the stairs and saw her brother leaning over the banister, grinning. “It’s enough,” she mouthed and Oliver nodded. The plane zoomed neatly into his hand and he pocketed it. “That’s really fun, Hengist,” he stated. “Yes. Have you seen anyone else bothered by something flying?” “No. Sorry. But the day has just begun,” Oliver laughed. “I have to dash, Binns is boring but doesn’t like students to turn up late!” With that he was gone, and the Magpies continued towards Flitwick’s classroom, where they took their usual seats.

The class turned up, and soon after the bell had rung, Professor Flitwick entered. “Good morning, class. Today we will…” But he did not get to finish what he was about to say, for at that moment a parchment plane flew past his face, dangerously close to his nose. Flitwick looked after the plane when a second one began doing somersaults next to his right ear. Laughter erupted, and Flitwick began to watch the planes with some interest. “Maybe I will change the topic for today,” he said, smiling broadly. “That’s an excellent example for a Flying Charm. Where do those little beauties come from?” Brian and Mike raised their hands, both beaming.

The planes were circling the classroom, occasionally stopping on a table or a head – suspiciously often on Ghewyn’s head. “Well done, Mr Flatley, Mr Cullen,” Flitwick told them. “Anyone else who can do this?” To nobody’s surprise, the Magpies raised their hands. “I thought so. Well, class, divide into five groups. Each one of our five specialists in aviation will show you how to do the trick. A nice project indeed,” Flitwick smiled, rubbing his hands. Everyone agreed it was one of the best Charms lessons ever when they left the classroom. “We’ve earned Gryffindor five points,” Hengist said proudly. “We’ve got a free lesson,” Anne stated satisfied, then groaned thinking of some essays she still had to write. Patience patted her arm sympathetically. “Come one, this will be a nice day. Oh yes,” she suddenly said in a strange tone, pointing at some well-known loathed heads in front.

Three tiny planes began their attack on the Slytherin trio. Banks immediately began to wave them away like midgets, but it didn’t work. Hengist was a good pilot: his plane flew away and came back at full speed, turning inches before it hit Banks’ nose. Patience’s model narrowly escaped destruction in Cook’s pranks, and she let it zoom back to her before Cook had a chance to turn and see where it came from. Only Vargas was quick enough to detect the source of the attack. “Of course,” he said coldly. “You wanted it like that.” He dropped his bag and pulled out his wand. Cook and Banks stared. “Er… Ramon, we’re not supposed to do magic in the corridors,” Cook reminded Vargas timidly. Vargas sneered only. “They are,” he pointed out, jerking his chin towards the Magpies who by now had put away their planes and looked completely innocent.

“Stop,” Vargas said when Anne passed him. “Why should I?” she asked arrogantly. Vargas pointed his wand at her chest. ”Because I am armed, and you…” He couldn’t finish his sentence. Instead of jinxing Anne, he keeled over flat on his face. Cook and Banks fumbled for their wands, but Hengist and Patience told them not to try. “Full body bind,” Anne grinned. “Let’s leave before the effect wears off.” But once they had turned a corner, they encountered the Weasley twins. “That was pretty cool,” Fred acknowledged. “Not advisable to copy this,” Hengist murmured. “Actually, I’d have had to report ourselves to Professor McGonagall.” “Oh, poor Prefect Hengist,” Patience smiled, patting his shoulder sympathetically. “Listen, want to see something really great?” George eagerly asked. “Look through the keyhole, okay?” he added, then the twins entered their classroom. “History of Magic,” Patience said. Then it dawned on her and Anne at the same moment and both dashed for the keyhole, colliding promptly. “Ouch!” “Sorry!”

Hengist checked there was nobody around and took his wand out again to widen the keyhole. “Better, girls?” he asked with mild irony in his voice. They had no chance to see what was going on with Binns and the Weasleys’ planes. “What are you doing here?” asked a stern voice from behind them. Hengist quickly shrunk the keyhole, but it was not quick enough. McGonagall raised her eyebrows. “I sincerely hope you are not planning yet another prank. I thought you would be old enough by now to have outgrown this phase,” she said. “We try,” Anne assured her. McGonagall looked sceptical. “I advise you to leave for whatever lesson you have. Go now.” The Magpies hurried away, glad not to have been detected earlier. “I bet when she comes across Vargas…” Anne began, but Patience shook her head. “Vargas will be up again. But he’ll be fuming.”

Vargas was indeed fuming, but still able to devise a plan. He went straight to Snape’s office, sending Cook and Banks to class to excuse him. Snape was there, luckily, and he called Vargas in. “What is it, Ramon?” he asked, folding his hands on top of a dusty folio. “Cook, Banks and me have been attacked by magical flying objects this morning,” Vargas reported truthfully. Snape frowned. ”Magical flying objects?” he asked. “Yes sir. And we believe they were sent at us by the Ma… By Symmons, Wood and Alret.” Vargas smiled. Snape got up. “Interesting indeed. Can you prove this?” Vargas thought briefly of telling he had been hexed, but then, knowing he had begun the fight, refrained. “I don’t know – maybe you could search their things?” Vargas suggested smugly.

Snape blinked. “I’m afraid this is no option. We have to wait. Provoke them whenever possible – there will be an occasion when you will have more witnesses than just Sebastian and Roland.” Snape nodded thoughtfully. “Go now to your class, Ramon. Leave the rest to me.” When the boy had left, Snape smiled triumphantly. He would have them sacked – this year he would finally manage to get them sacked!

When the teachers met in the staff room for a break, Dicket reported of their lesson on paper planes. Snape stared at his friend. “Dicket, you taught them how to build these things?” he asked dangerously calm. Dicket grinned. “Yes. It was fun. And they liked it.” Flitwick suddenly looked alarmed. “Is there a problem, Severus?” he piped up. Snape turned to the tiny professor. “Yes, there is. A student came to me to report he had been attacked by such a … paper plane.” Dicket and Flitwick exchanged glances. “Ah. There are… many possibilities who could have done that,” Dicket said. Snape shook his head. “Actually I don’t think so.” “More than you would think,” Flitwick contradicted him. “For I taught Flying Charms today. And there were loads of students….” “Gryffindor students,” Snape said at once.

Flitwick nodded reluctantly. “It’s limited to exactly three students,” Snape concluded, grinning viciously. Dicket’s brows furrowed. “I am sure you are obsessed by getting them expelled – I tell you, it’s the worst thing you could do. Remember what Dumbledore said!” That worked. Snape blinked and swallowed. It was true. The Headmaster would never want to expel these three students. “But they will be punished nevertheless,” Snape said finally. Flitwick sighed and Dicket rolled his eyes. “Talk about a crusader,” he muttered and left.

He walked to his classroom, murmuring to himself, when he saw a small group of students talking and laughing. “..and the planes went right through Binns, and he looked up, and they zoomed back to the window – it was so funny – especially because Binns never stopped talking!” Fred was just telling the Magpies, Mike, Brian and Oliver. Lee added: “And then, when George had his plane back, Fred and me started ours, and they circled Binns, and the whole class was laughing while Binns was droning on!” They all laughed loud. Dicket cleared his throat. “If I were you I wouldn’t boast about this – and burn the planes,” he said.

The students swivelled around. “Professor Dicket!” Hengist exclaimed. “Did you…?” “Yes. I warn you: Professor Snape is on the war path. Burn the planes and lay low for a while – or I guarantee for nothing!” Dicket looked at each one in turn. “Besides, paper planes might be reckoned as muggle artefacts,” he added carefully, addressing the twins and Lee Jordan in particular. “Yes. I thought you would know what this means. Have a nice day!” Dicket nodded to them and walked on. “What did that mean?” Oliver asked puzzled. “The Protection of Muggle Artefacts Act,” Fred said at once. George nodded. “Our dad works in the Ministry and he deals with breaches of this act. You must not bewitch muggle artefacts, that’s what it’s all about.” “You can go to Azkaban if you’re not really careful,” Fred added. They all exchanged frightened glances. “Better we put an end to this. Let’s see if we come up with a better idea,” Mike resolved. So the planes simply disappeared from Hogwarts, and Snape never had the chance to punish the Magpies.

Rehearsals

It was one of their Wednesday morning six o'clock rehearsals when Anne almost fell asleep. “Is this boring or is it me?” She whispered. She had to nudge Hengist to get an answer. He had fallen asleep as well. “What, oh, quite good.” He applauded. “BREAK!” Anne called. “Come, we need a bit of fresh air.” She dragged him outside of the classroom. “Excuse me!” Banks called after them. The two turned around. “I’m not satisfied with the part I’m playing.” “Good.” Anne replied. “We’re not satisfied with it either.” Hengist added. Roland smiled. “He could do with a little more heroism.” He said. “He could do with a little more acting.” Anne snapped back. “You knew what the part was all about. Claudio is the…” Anne stopped trying to find the right word. “…complete idiot.” Hengist finished. When tired he could be sort of nasty. “Thank you!” Anne said.

“When you tell the judge that you did not come to marry her we think you ask him for a pound of tomatoes.” She went on. “The girl you love has betrayed you. You’re angry. You can hardly hold yourself back!” “More of that after the break!” Hengist decided and dragged Anne away. Before going outside they stopped in the Great Hall. Next to Patience they sat down. “What is it like?” She asked because though she was in the scene, too, they had decided to divide it in two parts and rehearse it separately. “Much ado about nothing!” Anne sighed. “Roland is driving us mad.” Hengist added and helped himself to a second breakfast. “Quite as usual.” Patience commented. “No, this time it is worse for we have to listen to him.” Anne complained. Patience grinned. “There comes professor McGonagall.” Hengist whispered and hid himself behind a glass of pumpkin juice. “Miss Symmons, Mr. Alret, how are things going?” She asked fixing her eyes on Anne. “Quite exhausting, professor.” She said. “You do rehearse quite a lot. But professor Flitwick told me delightedly how brilliantly you managed to do the new charms. Professor Snape informed me that you were doing as little as always. I myself am quite satisfied with your performance in transfiguration. So what about the play?” She asked again. “Some students do better and some worse.” Hengist replied since it was Anne’s turn to sip juice now. Professor McGonagall sat down next to them. “Mr. Alret, am I right to assume that you’re not quite satisfied?”

“I wouldn’t put it like that…” “Some people simply are not made to act.” Anne interrupted him. McGonagall looked questioningly at her. “Roland Banks, for example, he can make anyone fall asleep when he utters his: ‘No, I did not come to marry.’” She reported. “I assume that you will have to find a new person for his part then.” She told them. “Professor Snape will torture us if we fire one of his house.” Anne reminded the teacher. “Professor Snape might be biased at times but he is a great lover of art and therefore, I think, you will have his support. But you can always play it badly if you prefer that!” These were the last words of professor McGonagall before she raised and walked away. Hengist got up as well. “Where are you going?” Anne asked and ran after him. “Killing Banks, we won’t have to worry about his acting then.” He said.

“Now that we’re all back, we would like to see the last scene again.” Hengist informed them. He was prepared to kill Banks with one wave of his wand. “Before we do this, we will show you what we want!” Patience, who had secretly followed them, said. “Are you mad?” Anne snapped under her breath. “No, but you should never ask for anything you cannot do yourself. You’re the judge.” Hengist and Anne followed her to the front. “I will be Leonato and Hero; and Hengist is Claudio. Hit it Anne!” Patience ordered. “You came here, my lord, to marry this noble lady called Hero?” Anne said. “No, I did not come to marry!” Hengist went on. He was quite enraged. “Judge, to be married to her, no?” Patience as Leonato continued jovially. “Lady Hero you have come to (pause) be married to this noble Count?” Anne asked. “To marry, to be married to.” Patience as Hero replied. “Now, if either of you has found any inward impediment why you two should not be conjoined in, well, this holy marryment I charge you search for any point.” Anne said half-officially half-jokingly. “My Hero, do you know any?” Hengist asked seriously. “I know of none, my lord, I swear.” Patience replied innocently. “Noble Count, do you know any?” Anne sounded rather worriedly. “To make his answer I will dare…” Patience as Leonato replied half-laughingly. “O, I hate what men dare to do and I hate too what men may do and I hate what men daily do they are not knowing what they do!” Hengist burst out. Everybody clapped at the end of this and the three took a bow.

“Oh no, we’ve got a visitor!” Hengist whispered. “We cannot fire Banks.” Anne added. They returned to the director’s table where Professor Snape was waiting for them. “Bravo.” He said. “Why don’t you do the whole play by yourself. Why share the glory if it could be all yours?” He added. “We just showed them what we wanted.” Patience snapped back. “Yes, Miss Wood, I forgot you’re one of the directors, too.” “Leave it Patience!” Anne said. “And not a man, for being simply man, has any honour, but honour for those honours that are without him, as places, riches, and favour, prizes of accident as oft as merit, professor.” She added. For a moment it seemed that he had looked paler than usual. “We all have our parts and try to do the best we can. And we do more: We try to help each other. For arrogance as you will well know is punished by the Gods!” She reminded him. For some seconds he stared at her evilly. Just when Anne thought she couldn’t bear his gaze any longer he stopped. “Let’s see then what you have done so far.” He finally said. “We’re all with you now. Go ahead.” Hengist said.

As they played the scene again it was quite obvious that Snape was not about to join the Roland Banks fan club. He moved uneasily on his place. The others were great, everybody had to admit that but Banks wasn’t brilliant. Before the scene was finished Snape had left. “BANKS!” Anne called happily. She looked at Hengist to assure that he agreed with her. He gave her a single nod. “Yes?” Banks asked. “Don’t take it personally but get yourself together with the boys with minor roles and change.” She told him. “Why should I?” He asked in surprise. “Because otherwise you will be out of the play.” Hengist informed him. “I’ll tell professor Snape that you don’t want to have me in the play.” He complained. “We want you in the play. We only don’t want you to play Claudio.” Hengist explained. Banks walked off without saying another word. “We’ll call it a day for today!” Hengist decided. Anne gave the others a sign and they walked back to their common rooms. “Seems we will have to spread the word that a new Claudio is needed.” Anne sighed.

On their way back to the Gryffindor common room Patience cleared her throat. “What was your conversation with Snape all about? It didn’t make much sense to me.” Anne grinned mysteriously. “Well, but it did to him. Those were his lines during their performance some hundred years ago.” “Did you read the whole play?” Hengist wanted to know. “No, just what Achilles is saying.” They all laughed. “I think you’re really giving him a bad time!” Patience sighed. “Hey, he started the whole thing!” Anne defended herself. “But you’re more mature than him.” Patience scolded her. “No, I’m not.” She protested. “Miss Symmons, a word with you!” They heard a sharp voice call. Anne turned around and faced professor McGonagall. “Yes?” “Professor Snape just talked to me…” She started. “Yes, I think I was quite…straightforward to him.” Anne whispered apologetically. “He told me that you had a good idea about what you were doing. He only hopes that you will remain firmly on the ground – with both your feet.” Anne swallowed. “And I must add that I hope the same – for your own sake.” “Yes, professor.” Anne replied. “In fact, I do hope that of all of my students.” The teacher looked at Patience and Hengist who both nodded. “Good. I was also told that you were in need of a new Claudio. May I suggest Donald Rump?” Anne nodded. “He will come to the next rehearsal.” The teacher added and walked away. “That was a close one.” Anne sighed. “I told you!” Patience said. “Yes, we know you did.” Anne snapped. “For we have ears to hear!” “Yes, but you don’t listen!” Patience complained. “Girls…” Hengist sighed. “…nothing has happened so could you please be peaceful?!” “Sorry.” “Sorry.” Both girls said.

Halloween

Patience woke up with Bethesda sitting on her bed and staring at her. “What’s wrong?” Patience yawned – until she saw what was dangling from her cat’s mouth. “Argh!” Patience shrieked. The other girls woke up at once. “It’s very, very early in the morning – and it’s a Sunday,” Ghewyn complained with a huge yawn. “My cat doesn’t know that,” Patience replied. She shooed Bethesda out of the dormitory and climbed back into her bed. After all, it was still very, very early on a Sunday morning!

Some two hours later that day, Anne and Patience went down for breakfast – according to Nelly, it was still too early for a Sunday morning, but that meant a nearly deserted Great Hall and a quiet breakfast. At least that was what Anne and Patience had bargained for. Indeed there were barely thirty students scattered on the four tables in the hall, and there were only three of them at the Gryffindor table so far. Not even Hengist was there. “Strange, there’s food on the table but no Hengist around,” Anne remarked. Patience nudged her but giggled as well. It seemed as if Hengist was constantly eating something – which never made him less skinny than he was. “I wonder where Fred and George are,” Patience said, looking for the Weasley-twins. “Innocently in bed?” Anne suggested. “No way,” Patience said at once.

“Well, wherever they are – want a toast?” Anne asked. Patience took the offered toast – and dropped it with a shriek. “Today you seem very easily excited,” Anne grinned – until she dropped the basket with the toast in shock. Every head in the hall turned towards the door. Even the teachers that were there – Flitwick, McGonagall, Snape, Holly Balloon and Emerson Dicket – jumped to their feet. In the door stood a monstrosity. A monstrosity wearing a Ravenclaw uniform. “I’d understand if it was a Slytherin,” Anne whispered, making Patience smile in spite of herself. “But why him?” she wondered aloud. Slowly the strange monster walked forwards, its face stretched in an eternal toothless grin and the hollow eyes that were usually lit by candles. Ashraf Bagoony, Ravenclaw’s brilliant Quidditch Seeker, had got a new pumpkin-head.

Some of the few who had been up early ran to fetch their friends. Patience thought briefly of waking Hengist, but when she had made up her mind to go, he came in anyway, stopping dead on the threshold. Patience hurried to him. “C’mon,” she urged him and tugged at his sleeve. “What has happened to Ashraf?” Hengist asked. “Is he now part of the decorations?” Patience stared at him. “What did you say?” she asked perplexed. “I thought he was part of the Halloween decoration,” Hengist replied and shrugged. “A bad joke, I know.” “No – brilliant – I mean, not as a joke,” Patience said and dragged Hengist towards Anne. “Anne, we must find Ashraf’s head!” “It’s a pumpkin, Patience,” Anne reminded her friend. “I know – and there are loads of them in the castle today – and somewhere must be Ashraf’s head,” Patience tried to explain herself.

Hengist frowned. “I think I see,” he slowly said. “You think that Ashraf’s head has been replaced by a pumpkin, and the real head sits somewhere in between decorations.” Patience nodded. “Clever, Miss Wood – or only clever because it was your plan?” said a voice from behind. Anne bit back a sharp answer to Snape’s remark. “It wasn’t my plan,” Patience calmly told the potions master. “It seems to be your style,” Snape smoothly pointed out. “Oh no. If it had been one of your house, sir – that would be our style. I happen to like Ashraf,” Patience boldly said. “Thanks,” said a muffled, squawky voice from inside the grinning pumpkin. Snape swivelled around. “Mr Bagoony, perhaps you had better go to the Hospital Wing,” he suggested. Ashraf shrugged. “I don’t see the point – Madam Pomfrey can hardly pull off the pumpkin, can she?” “No,” Snape replied heavily. “So – can we set out to retrieve his head?” Anne asked the professor. “Yes, you are allowed to do that, Miss Symmons.”

The Magpies set out with Ashraf running along beside them. “How shall I ever play Quidditch again with a pumpkin for a head?” he complained. Patience sighed. “Can you see?” “Yes,” Ashraf replied. “Can you use your hands?” “Sure!” “Well, then, where’s the problem?” Patience asked reasonably. A Seeker depended solely on broom, hands and eyes. “The pumpkin is the problem,” Anne said dully. “Why?” Patience asked. “Because a bludger would smash it even more easily than a head made of bones,” Anne explained. Patience and Hengist looked at each other. “Oh dear,” Hengist whispered. “I wish I knew who was behind that,” Patience said. “Well, who is likely to try this?” “What is it?” Ashraf threw in, ignoring Anne’s first question. “A switching spell, I’d say,” Patience thought aloud. “Exactly, Miss Wood”, said a breathless Professor Flitwick who passed them in the corridor. “We are all looking for your head, Mr Bagoony, don’t you worry too much,” he turned to Ashraf.

“But a switching spell means the head must be somewhere – can’t we just summon it?” Anne suggested. “A brilliant idea – but why shouldn’t the person who was able to perform such a complicated switching spell not be able to transfigure the real head into a pumpkin?” Flitwick retorted. “Maybe it’s not such a brilliant idea to run heedlessly through the castle,” Hengist remarked. “Let’s find an empty classroom for a council.” Flitwick offered to call the staff who were searching to the Transfiguration classroom. The Magpies and Ashraf were there before any teacher turned up. “Maybe your head has been just transfigured,” Patience wondered, carefully touching the pumpkin with a finger. It felt exactly like a normal pumpkin. “Whoever did this is a really talented wizard,” Anne remarked. “Conclusion: it wasn’t Banks,” Patience promptly commented. “Nor Cook,” Hengist added. “But….” Anne said but left the sentence unfinished as the teachers entered. “We’ve come up with this,” Hengist began. It seemed as if the Gryffindor prefect had become head of the search.

Even Dumbledore himself smiled only and let Hengist take charge. “Either we have a combination of a Switching Spell and a transfiguration, or only a transfiguration, or only a switching spell, in which case the head should be somewhere in the castle,” Hengist summed up. Dumbledore nodded. “We thought of that as well.” “But we cannot possibly summon the head – if it is just transfigured, we might kill Ashraf,” Patience pointed out. “And we can’t summon pumpkins as well, obviously,” Anne added. Silence greeted their words. “Do you have any idea who is behind this?” McGonagall enquired. Snape sat a little straighter, as he still was suspicious towards the Magpies. “Not really, no,” Patience answered cautiously. “And if you just told us who is likely to be able to do such spells?” McGonagall prompted hopefully. “I don’t think we’re qualified for that,” Hengist quickly said before Anne or Patience could begin listing names. Dumbledore nodded satisfied. ”But we have a good idea. Minerva and I have jotted down a list, with the help of Bartholomew. Here it is, will you have a look?” Dumbledore produced a parchment and the Magpies began to read.

Some names were completely unlikely, and to their delight they found their own names as well. “You may test our wands if you want to,” Anne offered seriously, holding out her wand. “We know there’s a spell to make all the past spells visible,” Patience added and took out her own wand. That seemed to convince Holly Balloon. “You’re innocent, you three,” she said. “But I have an idea about who you suspect,” she added. Hengist raised his eyebrows. “Who?” he asked. “Ramon Vargas,” Holly said and smiled shrewdly. A short pause followed, then Snape said harshly: “Nonsense.” “Just because he’s in your house, sir, he can still do this,” Anne murmured hotly, but Dumbledore gave her a warning look. “He is on our list,” the headmaster calmly stated. Flitwick nodded. “Mr Vargas is quite talented with his wand.” “And then there’s the fact that Ravenclaw are right now better in their Quidditch match results than Slytherin,” McGonagall reminded Snape with a kind of relish. “So you think he might attack the Ravenclaw Seeker?” Snape asked and took a deep breath, trying to look as disdainful as possible. “I think so, yes,” McGonagall calmly answered.

They thought about that possibility for a while. “We must find the head first, anyway,” Emerson Dicket finally said. “Of course. I already ordered the pictures to conduct a through search through the castle. We should be informed soon,” Dumbledore told the others. Indeed they had to wait only for a little time until a small boy and a dog came bounding into the picture of Merlin on the wall. Merlin had been sleeping and now complained loudly about the ‘noxious prat’. “Sir, sir, we’ve found the head,” the boy panted and jumped up and down in his excitement. “It’s up in the Astronomy Tower, and there are candles all ‘round it, sir!”

Ashraf was out of the room before anyone could stop him, so the Magpies dashed after him, followed considerably more slowly by the teachers. Up in the Astronomy Tower they found a silver plate all surrounded by wax candles. On the plate sat Ashraf’s head, eyes closed. It was a gruesome sight. Patience shuddered. “That’s really brutish,” Anne said disgusted. Nobody did anything until the teachers came up to them. “And now?” Ashraf asked. Dumbledore carefully took up the plate. “Now let us go to the Hospital Wing.”

Madam Pomfrey at once left the bedside of a feverish young Hufflepuff to examine both head an head’s owner. “It’s a miracle there’s been no damage,” she wondered and checked the head again. She frowned. “Sir, would you take a closer look?” Dumbledore bent down and looked at the head. Ashraf groaned. “I want my head back,” he said sadly. “It’s not a head,” Dumbledore finally announced. “It’s a transfigured pumpkin!” The headmaster turned to Professor McGonagall. “Minerva, that’s your area of expertise.” McGonagall took out her wand and pointed it at the head. Suddenly there was a pumpkin sitting on the plate, exactly like that Ashraf was wearing on his shoulders. “Oh no!” Ashraf wailed in despair. “And what about the real head?” Anne anxiously asked. “It sits on Mr Bagoony’s shoulders,” Dumbledore replied quietly. McGonagall nodded. “We can now retransfigure it,” she said.

Everyone stared transfixed at Ashraf when McGonagall pointed her wand at his head. Everyone, except of Hengist. He had sneaked out of the Hospital Wing and now ran downstairs. Anger was burning inside him, and he knew that he would find the culprit. He found Vargas standing in the Entrance Hall, chatting with Rosemary Holmes, and watched by Banks and Cook. Over Vargas’ head dangled a huge spider as part of the Halloween decorations.

Hengist blasted the supporting strings away, and the spider fell with a loud thud right onto Vargas’ and Rosemary’s heads. “Ouch!” shrieked the girl and dived out under the huge legs and body. Vargas pushed the spider away and looked wildly around. Hengist was facing him. “So you thought that was funny, Miss Alret?” Vargas asked and grinned. “Much funnier than your joke, I’m sure,” Hengist hissed furiously. “Why, it’s trick or treat, and this time it was definitely trick,” Vargas smoothly explained and turned to go. “Not so fast,” Hengist bellowed and pointed his wand at Vargas. “You threaten me? Here?” Vargas couldn’t believe his eyes and ears. “I accuse you, Vargas, that’s what I do – you wanted to get Ashraf to lose the next Quidditch match, didn’t you?” “Oh, fie, why should I? Ravenclaw will lose anyway!” Vargas laughed derisively. “Oh no, they wouldn’t. They’ve got a strong side this year, believe me. And you couldn’t bear the thought of losing for one time, could you, Vargas? But Ashraf refused you the treat – and so you played that trick!”

A crowd had assembled and watched open-mouthed the encounter of the Gryffindor prefect and Ramon Vargas who was known to be dangerous. “Er… Hengist, I thought it wasn’t wise to cross the plans of that one,” Fred Weasley nervously whispered. Hengist ignored him simply. “And if I did, where’s the problem?” Vargas asked back. “Well, what did you do?” Hengist asked. Vargas frowned. “You just told us all that I allegedly transfigured Bagoony’s head into a pumpkin!” “No, he didn’t,” said Dumbledore from upstairs. Every head swivelled towards the headmaster who calmly stepped downstairs.

“Clever, Mr Alret,” he told Hengist who pocketed his wand and stepped back. “Mr Vargas, you can imagine that I cannot ignore this incident as I have so many before. I will write to your parents, and you will receive three weeks of detention with Mr Flich and Hagrid alternately. Slytherin will lose 50 points as well.” Indeed fifty green stones flew out of the great hourglass in the Hall. “You may all go now, the show is over,” Dumbledore finally addressed the crowd. Most people grinned and left. Hengist waited until everyone was away, then took out his wand again to re-attach the spider to the ceiling. “Happy Halloween,” he muttered.

The Secret and Ancient Society

“You know we might get chucked out for this?” Hengist asked concerned. “You know how many times we’ve been nearly chucked out?” Anne retorted amused. “I just wanted to point out that one time might be the decisive one,” Hengist defended himself. “Oh, just shut up and chances are we don’t get caught,” Patience reminded her friends. “Here it is. Let’s go.” She took a huge volume out of a shelf in the Restricted Section. “Right,” Anne muttered and tapped the book with her wand. It seemed to vanish, although Patience could still feel its weight in her hands. “That’s absolutely weird,” she marvelled. Anne grinned. “That’s magic, my dear.”

Giggling, the Magpies left the library. It was three o’clock in the morning, and not even ever-vigilant Madam Pince was awake. “We’re lucky that no teacher suffers from insomnia,” Hengist thought aloud. At exactly that moment steps approached them. Quickly, the Magpies hid in an empty classroom, but left the door slightly ajar to see who was passing. “Do mine eyes deceive me?” Hengist muttered, but the girls nudged him and he fell silent again, watching the scene. There was caretaker Filch, accompanied not by Mrs Norris, but by Madam Pince.

“Alright, this was a nightmare,” Patience said when the strange couple had disappeared behind the corner. “Yes, but unfortunately we all had the same hallucination,” Anne said. “Dear me, imagine they have children one day!” “Stop it,” Patience told Anne with a shudder. “Well, that was close enough for me to be really glad to see my bed soon,” Hengist grimly stated and opened the door wide. “After you, girls.”

This time they reached Gryffindor Tower without another interruption and bid each other goodnight. Patience hid her invisible book under her bed, knowing the charm would wear off before they were awake again. Then she lay down. “Patience?” Anne whispered. “Yes?” “Do you think Madam Pince will find out it was us who nicked the book?” Patience grinned. “She will be furious with herself for not being there in the first place – I bet Filch will be the one to be punished first, not us.” They both giggled.

 

In the morning, Argus Filch did not look as if he had been having an argument with his lady love. “Should we gossip it around?” Anne wondered. Patience grimaced. “No. Nobody would believe us anyway, and how to prove it?” Hengist shook his head. “You are unbelievable – of course we keep shut up about this, or else we’re in deep trouble.” “And why should that be, Mr Alret?” “Because… erm… because…” Hengist was quite at a loss as Snape had caught him unawares.

“Because we need to finish an essay for Professor Kettleburn and we need to go to the library right now,” Anne finished the sentence. “And why keep shut up?” Snape asked. Anne was on the verge of telling him not to be so nosy, but Patience softly trod on her foot and said: “Oh, the books on the subject might be away if we talk too loudly. Professor Kettleburn said we should choose the most interesting topic, you see.” It was even bordering on the truth, and Snape seemed to be satisfied. However, he stared into the Magpies’ eyes as if he wanted to read their minds. “I hope there is nothing worse,” he warned. “Oh, no, sir,” Patience assured him and even smiled at him. Snape raised an eyebrow and swiftly went to the teachers’ table.

Anne and Hengist relaxed visibly. “How can you talk so coolly with him?” Anne asked. “It’s the best thing to do, Anne. He loves taking points, and if you snap back at him you give him reason for that,” Patience explained. Hengist laughed. “Ah, basic psychology: make someone frustrated by denying him what he wants most.” “Yes, something like that – besides, he doesn’t believe us anyway, no matter we tell the truth or no,” Patience pointed out. Anne groaned. “He’s the one who should beware – someone will find out he’s a Death Eater.” Hengist and Patience wisely decided to ignore that jibe.

After breakfast, the Magpies went to the library – “just in case Snape’s following us”, as Patience put it. But they stayed just long enough to borrow three books on a random subject, then went back to the empty common room. “You know, this will be really trouble for us,” Hengist said. “You are getting as bad as Professor Trelawney,” Patience told him unnerved. “No, I just try to stay at school as long as it needs to get my N.E.W.T.s,” Hengist said sharply. “Stop it, both of you. We wanted to write an essay on dragons, didn’t we?” Anne asked reasonably.

Patience nodded. “I’ll fetch you-know-what.” She went upstairs, and Anne began to arrange parchment and ink on the table. “I think it’s enough when one of us writes,” she said. Hengist nodded mutely. “Hey, do you want to get a good grade for the essay or don’t you?” Anne asked. “We could just have asked Professor Kettleburn for the signature and got the book in daylight,” Hengist said. “Yes. We could,” Anne sighed, when Patience came back. “”hat?” she asked when she saw her friends’ faces. “We could have gotten the book in broad daylight,” Anne said. Patience grinned. “No. Didn’t I tell you what Joss told me?” “You did,” Hengist glumly replied.

“Joss says that this book has never left the library since it has been given to Hogwarts after its owner’s death. And now it’s here. Hullo, what’s this?” Patience had opened the book, and out of it fell an ancient library code and there was an envelop glued to the book. “Who’s that?” Anne wondered when she had picked up the yellow paper and looked at the photo of an old man who was winking at her. “No idea – what’s his name?” Hengist asked, craning his neck to read. “Auberon Jasper Wood,” Anne read aloud. Patience nodded. “He was to be given a copy of the book, because he had been friends with the author,” she said puzzled. “Wood?” Hengist asked. Patience shrugged. “Not necessarily one of my family.”

“With that address, certainly one of your family,” Anne suddenly said and showed Patience the library code. “That’s grandma’s address,” Patience said and frowned. “Hang on, dad once said something about his uncle who had been fascinated by dragons.” “Well, I guess that’s him,” Anne laughed. “Auberon Jasper… Hm. I should ask granny,” Patience resolved. “Wait, let’s look at the letter – it’s to all whom it concerns,” Hengist said. Patience swallowed. “After you,” she said. Anne nudged her. “It was your granduncle, so you have to read the letter. Go on, open the seal!”

While Patience fumbled at the seal, Hengist took the book and began to leaf through it. It seemed just the thing they had been looking for to write Kettleburn’s essay. In the very back of the book was a kind of mirror that formed the eye of a magnificently drawn dragon’s head. “Hey – look, I can see myself,” Hengist said and grinned. Anne shrugged. “Big deal, it’s a mirror.” But when she looked into the dragon’s eye it stayed silver and smooth. She did not see herself. “What’s that?” she asked and turned the book around. Nothing. “Have I become a vampire?” Anne asked only half-joking.

Hengist bent forward and pushed Anne’s hair back from her neck. “No vampire bites on your neck,” he stated after a scrupulous examination. “Well, that’s certainly good to know,” Anne said and rubbed her neck as if to feel for bites. Patience looked up. “Hengist – are you sure you saw your mirrored image?” she asked. Hengist looked into the dragon’s eye again. “Yes.” “And Anne didn’t?” Patience asked, but went on without waiting for the confirmation: “The letter is about Auberon’s friend, a Dr Ernest Drake, and he says that whoever can see his or her image in the dragon’s eye will be a Master of Dragonology.”

The Magpies stared at the book. Patience took a deep breath and turned the book around to have a look into the mirror. Nothing. Just silver blankness. “I can’t see myself,” she said flatly. “But – how?” Anne asked and closed the book again, shaking it as if expecting a spell to reveal itself. “Well, the letter says that the person who can see him- or herself in the eye will be a master of Dragonology, so there will be a spell that can judge about the person’s abilities,” Patience suggested. “A bit like the Sorting Hat,” Hengist interjected. “Exactly. I think they did it because they were both members of a Secret and Ancient Society, and the Master of Dragonology is the leader,” Patience revealed. Anne swallowed. “That’s why they kept the book a secret.”

“Most probably, yes. It says here that you can learn most about dragons when you keep one – and the Ministry says exactly the reverse.” “What – keep a dragon as a pet? Who can be that stupid?” Hengist asked. “Not you, certainly, you get bitten by Flobberworms,” Anne teased him. “That’s what gives me the shivers – you and dragons,” Patience added. Hengist sat up very straight. “Hey, I can be good with animals, really,” he said and rummaged in his bag. “Here – look at Mungus.” Both Anne and Patience burst into laughter. “Apart from the fact that you’re trying to kill Mungus every second day, you’re brilliant with him,” Anne told Hengist.

Patience opened the book again. “I think,” she said slowly, “we should keep it.” “What? Are you mad?” Anne asked. “It’s a family heirloom if you ask me. I bet I would have found the book before if it had wanted to be found,” Patience thought aloud. “Perhaps you’re right,” Hengist said. Anne looked at him. “Are you alright?” “Yes, I am. I just think Patience is right. This is her book. What does the letter say?”

Patience blushed. “Well, it says that this Dr Drake was looking for somebody worthy to be the next Master. Auberon says he himself had found somebody, but he hoped that one day a student at Hogwarts would find the book and be daring enough to look into the dragon’s eye.” “Or just nosy enough,” Hengist muttered. Anne grinned. “Or daft enough.” “Well, whatever,” Patience shrugged. “He also writes that he wants the finder to keep the book. And if he or she is not worthy to be a Dragonologist, the book shall be given to he person who is,” Patience finished. She smiled at Hengist. “It’s yours to keep. It’s rightfully yours. But don’t let a baby dragon loose in the sewers.” “What?” Hengist asked puzzled.

Patience giggled. “Here – somebody had a baby dragon in New York, and he couldn’t handle the dragon once it was a bit bigger, and then let it loose in the sewers and it caused loads of damage – the American Bureau for Magical Affairs had its trouble.” Anne laughed. “So, if there are noises in the drainage system here, we know that Hengist has let a dragon loose!” Hengist leafed through the book again – through his book. “How do I contact this Ancient and Secret Society?” he wondered. Patience smiled. “Most probably they will contact you.”

Fatal Fate

“I hate Divination,” Patience burst out, dropping a pile of books onto the table and collapsing into an armchair. “You had the chance to drop it last year,” Anne said crossly. Patience glared at her. “Thanks very much, that’s just what I needed!” “Peace, girls, some of us want to do our homework,” Hengist quickly threw in. “This reminds me of Divination again! Oh, this is such rubbish!” Patience furiously threw her divination book onto the floor and turned to her rune dictionary to do a translation first. “What is your divination homework?” Anne enquired, trying to calm Patience down. “It’s just a star chart, nothing special,” Patience sighed. “The annual horror-scope,” Hengist added. He had already come up with really awful ideas. Anne grinned. “I wonder…” “About what?” Patience asked. “Who will die this year,” Anne explained.

Hengist laughed. “Not me. Last year, it was Connor, but he’s still alive, so no harm done.” Patience smiled. “Maybe it’s you this time,” she suggested, then fetched a new book. “Oh, you’re going to write this essay for Binns?” Anne looked suddenly very interested. “Can I copy it?” “Part of it, of course, but make sure it does sound differently,” Patience agreed and set to work. It was about the special features of early modern Cornish witchcraft. Hengist had also abandoned his star chart and was now helpfully looking through one of the history books Patience had gathered. Suddenly he burst into laughter, so that everyone’s heads turned. “What is it?” Anne asked. Hengist grinned, climbed on his chair and whistled once. “Everyone, pay attention,” he called. “The prefect talks,” Fred chuckled. Hengist frowned at him: “Hold your tongue, young Weasley,” he said in a very good imitation of Kettleburn.

“Everyone listen,” he repeated, cleared his throat for effect and held up the book: “And shall Trelawney live? Or shall Trelawney die? Here’s 20,000 Cornish men, will want the reason why!” A short moment of silence followed, then roaring laughter. “That’s just wonderful,” Nelly applauded, wiping tears from her eyes. “And I know exactly what’s going to happen in the next Divination lesson,” Patience giggled. Anne made a sour face. “I wish I could eavesdrop,” she said longingly. “You will get a report,” Patience consoled her.

The whole class was whispering excitedly in the next Divination lesson. Maybe Professor Trelawney had never had such an interested audience than that day. “Good day, my dears,” she said in her usual airy-fairy way. “Before we do some revision of palmistry, we shall look at your star charts.” Everyone rummaged in their bags to fetch the charts, and Hengist saw distinctly that Patience erased something. “You’re not going to get cold feet, are you?” he whispered anxiously. Patience shook her head but said nothing. Trelawney walked through the rows, stopping here and there, and found nothing to disapprove of. That was no great surprise, as everyone had taken care to give her as much horror as possible. Hengist had even got away with drowning twice in one week. “Hm. I wonder how you’ll manage that,” Patience muttered, and Hengist nudged her gently.

“Now, my dears, choose a partner and practise your abilities in palmistry,” Trelawney announced. Brian turned to Patience. “What was that?” he asked. Others also looked accusingly at Patience. She smiled. “You just wait,” she said under her breath, and Brian nodded satisfied. Hengist began to scribble something down. Patience read it and nearly burst into laughter: “And shall Trelawney live? Or who shall then now die? Here’s a whole class of girls and boys, will want no reason why.” Patience took Hengist’s hand and turned it around. “I apologize beforehand,” she told him, bent over his hand and then called: “Professor! I can’t read Hengist’s palm – the lines are so… well…” Trelawney hurried over to the pair of them. “Hm. You should try again,” she suggested. “No. Professor, can’t I read your hand instead?” Patience begged, looking so innocent at that request Hengist secretly applauded her. Trelawney blinked. “Yes, I think you may, my dear,” she then said and sank down on the last puff at their table. Hengist leaned forward.

Trelawney extended her hand and Patience smiled mischievously when she bent over it. Her hair veiled her face completely. The whole class held their breath. “You have a very clear hand for palmistry,” Patience said, sounding quite delighted. Nelly began to giggle and quickly put her hand over her mouth. “Professor, I think…” Then, as quickly as if she had really been shocked, she jerked back her head, staring at Trelawney. “I cannot tell you!” she exclaimed and let go off Trelawney’s hand as if she had been burnt. Trelawney blinked completely puzzled. “Your life line,” Patience said, trying to choke back some false tears. The professor went chalk-white. Hengist frowned and put a hand on Patience’s arm. Somehow this prank was getting cruel. Patience took a deep breath. “Your life-line,” she repeated, “is extremely long!” Trelawney looked terribly relieved, and the class near to faint with laughter. “I… I think you should leave. It’s enough for today,” Trelawney said in a shaky voice. The class filed out. “Do you think she will quit the habit of telling someone he or she will die?” Connor asked hopefully. Patience looked sceptical. “No,” Hengist answered, “I think she will go on with it forever.”

Circe Reborn

Joscelin the Minstrel watched his three Gryffindor friends with suspicion. The dark, the sherry-coloured and the red head were bent over a huge leather-bound book that Joss knew to have been in the Restricted Section. He had not helped them this time: there had been no need to. Apparently Professor Flitwick had signed a note of permission. Joss wondered how the three friends had managed this. And now this whispered plot. Joss had a very good idea what this would be about – and who would be the victim. Secretly, Joss hoped he would get a glimpse at the outcome. To ensure this, he began to run through the pictures and enlist the help of all of his friends.

The Magpies had meanwhile found what they had been looking for – and even more. Hengist copied down two spells as quickly as he could, before Madam Pince swooped down on them: “The note of Professor Flitwick said you were to have the book for an hour – and that’s past now,” the librarian hissed, snatching the book away from the friends. “Alright, alright,” Anne mumbled and gave the others a sign that they should leave. Safely out of earshot from everyone, halfway down to Hagrid’s hut, the Magpies stopped. “Brilliant!” Patience beamed. Hengist nodded. “And even better, we can help Fred and George get rid of…”

“Help whom?” “Get rid of what?” The unpleasant voices caught the three from behind. “Been sneaking into the forest?” Patience asked tartly. “You wouldn’t dare to go in there,” sneered Vargas in reply. “Try me,” Patience said simply and turned around. “A woman – a word, Wood,” Vargas called out and smiled coolly. Banks and Cook sniggered. “Or – we could help you to the same favour as your little friends got,” Banks said. “Brilliant!” Cook answered in apparent mockery of Patience. “No thanks,” Patience said and tossed back her hair in an angry movement. “Let’s go,” she told Anne and Hengist who quickly followed her.

“These idiots,” Anne shouted out as they entered the hall. From behind a hanging emerged Fred and George Weasley, both looking very subdued. “Yes, you, too,” Anne fumed. “Who else?” Fred wanted to know. “Well, who?” Anne retorted. The twins looked at each other. “Vargas, Banks and Cook,” they said in one voice. Hengist nodded. “Yeah. And now to your little problem…” He took his wand out of his pocket. “What are you doing?” The Magpies turned slowly to face Professor Snape. Apparently all Slytherins had conspired against them that day. “Nothing,” Anne said innocently. Nothing worked worse with Snape. “Detention, Miss Symmons, Miss Wood, Mr Alret – and five points each from Gryffindor. I thought you’d stick more to the rules now you’re a prefect, Mr Alret,” Snape smoothly said and strode away. “Git,” Hengist muttered under his breath.

Helplessly the five Gryffindors watched fifteen red stones vanish from the huge hourglass. “And all that just because you two couldn’t keep your noses out of other people’s things,” Anne chided Fred and George. “Well, we though it would be funny to get some sneezing powder into the pyjamas of some Slytherins,” Fred said apologetically. “Theoretically, yes,” Patience sighed. “But have you looked into the mirror lately?” “No,” George admitted. “We don’t dare,” Fred added. “Good for you. Now, let’s find an empty classroom and get things back to normal,” Hengist decided and led the way. ”Things? Ears, you mean,” Fred muttered. Hengist grinned. “Yes. Ears. That spell’s really cool. We’ll keep it in mind. It would be so great to use this on Ghewyn when she’s trying to overhear some conversation.” “Yes! ‘Ghewyn, why are your ears so big’?” Patience giggled. “’That I can better hear you!’” Anne laughingly quoted the wolf of the fairytale. “It’s not funny,” Fred protested.

Hengist ushered them into the empty Transfiguration classroom. “Not for the receiver of the spell,” he agreed. “Sit down,” he then ordered Fred and George who complied at once. “Reducio auricula!” Hengist said and waved his wand towards Fred. Immediately his ears began to get normal again. “What’s the spell for swelling ears?” George wanted to know after Anne had freed him from the curse. “Er… we don’t think you ought to know,” Hengist evaded answering. “Besides, do you really want to use it that short after you’ve sported ears the size of Quaffles?” Patience asked reasonably. “No,” Fred answered thoughtfully. “I think we’ve got to find something new.” “Exactly,” Anne agreed.

The twins grinned and left. “No doubt they’re off to find a new spell,” Hengist groaned and re-pocketed his wand. “And what about the excursion into the forest?” he then asked. Patience took a deep breath. “I’ll go alone, tomorrow night. Well, not night, perhaps, but after sunset,” she said. “You won’t go alone,” Anne at once told her. Patience shook her head. “I shall. And you’ll see who will get off worst.”

Vargas was most happy to receive a tiny folded note through Potions that Thursday. He turned around and nodded briskly to Patience. “She will go tonight,” Vargas informed Banks and Cook in a gleeful whisper. Snape caught the words but said nothing. As always he ignored the Slytherins’ behaviour as best as he could. Swiftly he walked over to the Magpies, where Patience was giving Hengist instructions how to make the thick bubbling mass liquid again. “Miss Wood, no help for Mr Alret. And Mr Alret – I think you’ve failed this potion.” Snape lazily waved his wand – a bit too lazily perhaps, as suddenly not only Hengist’s cauldron was clean but also Patience’s. “Oh. Pity. You failed as well, Miss Wood,” Snape remarked and walked back to the front. Patience stared after him speechlessly. “Foul,” Anne muttered. “He’s so foul.” And at that moment Patience would have agreed from her heart.

All through lunch she was furious. Only when she entered McGonagall’s classroom she had to forget about Snape. After all, he hadn’t taken points from them, she told herself. McGonagall asked them to transfigure cushions into guinea-pigs. It was much more difficult to manage that than to turn guinea-pigs into cushions, as it turned out. John King as usual failed hopelessly. This was due to his own inability as much as the fact that his cushion every so often turned into a teacup.

By the end of Charms that afternoon, the sun was very low above the horizon. Patience knew that it was time to get ready. She ran upstairs to the dormitory and fetched her warmest cloak. Into its pockets she stuffed her wand and a tiny scratch of parchment. She nodded, then turned briskly on her heel and marched downstairs to the Common Room. “You’re not going anywhere without us,” Anne declared. She and Hengist were blocking Patience’s way. Patience grimaced. “You’re nuisances,” she said. “Maybe. But we’re not going to let you walk there alone,” Hengist coolly replied. “Alright, then. Count to one hundred, then follow me – and most probably the Slytherin trio as well,” Patience said. Anne frowned. “That was too easy,” she said suspiciously. Patience shrugged. “Take it or leave it,” she laughed and pushed Hengist gently aside to clamber through the portrait hole. Anne and Hengist looked at each other. “One,” Hengist began, “two, three…”

The Forbidden Forest looked very scary in the dim light. There were no stars above: only clouds that threatened the first snow of the year. Patience drew her cloak closer around herself. She waited before she entered the forest. Yes. Footsteps behind her, and whispers. So they were following her. She smiled viciously and made her way into the forest. In the darkness she lit her wand. The trees sheltered her from the cold a bit, and the manifold noises were at first nothing to frighten Patience: the crackling of little animals fleeing from her presence, the sound of breaking twigs beneath her feet, the rustle of dry leaves.

But as it got darker and Patience got deeper into the forest, the atmosphere changed. It was as if the trees themselves were alive and hostile. Looking for a good shelter, Patience ducked behind a holly bush and breathed “Nox”. Soon the sound of footsteps came up to her, and there they were: Vargas, Banks and Cook, all with their wands out and alight. “Where has she gone?” Cook asked bewildered and turned around on the spot. “I can’t see her!” Banks looked up into the trees. Vargas nudged him. “She can’t fly without a broom, remember?” Pondering on what to do, neither heard the faint rustle and the hiss that said “Ferra Verres!” Patience had to stuff her fist into her mouth to stop herself from giggling.

She had never known that her brother’s nickname meant ‘pig’ in Latin. Now she knew. And she saw that the spell worked. Three hairy, black-spotted pigs were standing in between the trees. New footsteps announced the arrival of Anne and Hengist. The stopped dead seeing the swine. “You did it,” Anne said hoarsely. Patience came out of her shelter. “Yes,” she said happily. Hengist took a deep breath. “You’re Circe,” he said awestruck. “That would make them Ulysses and friends – and frankly, I don’t think them heroes,” Anne commented. “Come, pigs, we’ll lead you to Hogwarts,” she then said. Together the Magpies lead the pigs to the lawn in front of the castle. “Let’s see how long it takes until someone finds them,” Hengist remarked and laughing, the Magpies made their way back, hoping that their fellow students had left them some dinner.

Unfortunately, their and the Slytherins’ absence had been detected. McGonagall was already waiting in the Entrance Hall. “Where are Mr Vargas, Mr Banks and Mr Cook?” she asked. “Still outside, I think,” Patience replied truthfully. “Hm. You may go and have dinner – but if we find out anything’s amiss…” McGonagall looked warningly at the Magpies. Hengist needed not to be told what would happen. Instead he frantically searched his pockets. “Hang on, I must’ve lost my wand,” he muttered. “Can I just go and look for it?” “You’ll have a hard time in the darkness,” McGonagall remarked. “I’ll go and light him the way,” Anne suggested. “Very well,” McGonagall agreed. Patience offered to come as well, but Anne told her to go into the Great Hall to reserve them some dinner.

When Patience went inside, hisses arose from the Slytherin table. “What have you done this time?” called Melanie Pallet. “Nothing,” Patience called back and took her seat next to Oliver. “Where have you been?” he asked his sister curiously. “Outside, I fancied a walk,” Patience answered. But the way she kept darting glances at the door told the Gryffindors that something was indeed amiss. Brian leaned over. “Did you manage to get at them again?” he wanted to know. Patience pretended not to have heard and busied herself with fastening a shoelace to hide her burning face.

Meanwhile Hengist and Anne had darted outside to undo the damage. But the pigs were not where they had left them. “We should’ve tied them up,” Anne moaned. “Where are they?” “You go left, I right,” Hengist decided and dashed off. Anne went to the left, following the path to Hagrid’s hut. Suddenly she heard the shrieking of a pig. “They’re here!” she called happily and ran towards the hut. Hengist came pounding from the other side. But before they could do something, Hagrid’s door opened and Fang jumped out, happily greeting the students. “Oh, you’re there. I thought… What are ye doin’ there?” Hagrid boomed, frightening the pigs which were happily digging their noses into the soil of Hagrid’s garden.

With a terrified squeal they fled into the forest. “Oh no!” Anne shouted and darted after them. “No time for explanations,” Hengist panted and followed Anne. Hagrid thought for only a moment, snatched his crossbow from the wall and whistled for Fang. He reached Anne and Hengist just as they were discussing where to find the pigs. “What’s wrong with them pigs?” Hagrid wanted to know. “They’re not exactly pigs,” Anne confessed miserably. “They’re Vargas, Banks and Cook,” Hengist added. Hagrid stared at them. “That’s the most stupid thing you’ve ever done,” the gamekeeper stated dryly.

Nevertheless, Hagrid helped Anne and Hengist to get through the forest. The pigs seemed to have hidden. “Ah, that’s no good,” Hagrid murmured. “Why?” Anne asked. “Obvious, isn’t it?” Hengist snapped. “Oh, yes?” Anne asked tetchily. “It’s bad for you, too – but especially for them. There are beasts in here for whom an inexperienced pig will be a feast,” Hagrid reported truthfully. He looked around. “We need help,” he said.

At Hagrid’s call, nothing happened, until suddenly hooves were pounding on the ground. Anne smiled, but Hengist shrunk back. “What is that?” he asked in a hushed voice. “Firenze,” Hagrid said and laughed softly. “Hallo Hagrid. What is it?” the handsome Centaur asked and bowed his head in greeting to Anne and Hengist. “Listen, ‘ve you seen some pigs in ‘ere?” Hagrid asked. Firenze frowned. “Pigs? Wild boars?” “No, real pigs,” Anne said and blushed. Firenze nodded. “I see. No, but I shall keep my eyes open.” “You couldn’t p’rhaps bring them to my hut?” Hagrid begged. Firenze laughed. “You take your students out of here, and I shall bring you the lost animals,” he promised and left after having reared on his hind legs playfully.

Hagrid brewed Anne and Hengist a cup of tea while they were waiting. It did not take long for Patience to arrive, with some bread and cheese for her friends. Hagrid added some cookies, which the students wisely refused to eat. “Where have they gone?” Patience wanted to know. “Into the Forest,” Hengist reported. Patience looked crushed. “I honestly intended no harm,” she said wretchedly. “We know,” Anne assured her. They waited for hours. It was way past bedtime when the grunting of pigs announced the arrival of Vargas, Banks and Cook in Hagrid’s garden. Hengist firmly grabbed his wand and leaned out of the window to retransfigure the pigs. There was no sight of Firenze at all. Muttering the counter-spell, Hengist pointed his wand at each Slytherin-pig in turn. Soon there were Vargas, Banks and Cook standing in the cabbage patch and looking rather stupid. “Where is she?” Vargas suddenly yelled and set off at a run towards the castle. Patience hung her head. “They’re talking about me,” she told Hagrid who chuckled. “You’ll be lucky not to get expelled,” Anne said glumly. Patience snorted. “I’ll pack,” she replied. “No,” Hagrid said firmly. “Where were they transfigured?” “In the Forest,” Patience answered, frowning. “And are students allowed in there?” “No, but…” “But you witnessed it from outside and went to help them – who’d expel you?” Hagrid asked and winked at Hengist who nodded. “Yes, exactly, and now we’ll return and stick to that tale.”

And so they did.

Bubble Bath

“Hengist! Hey, Hengist!” Oliver Wood raced around the corner to catch up with the Malignant Magpies and nearly crashed into them. “Whoa, Verres, steady,” Patience laughed. Oliver ignored her. “Hengist, can we talk? I mean, without anybody interfering,” he said. Patience giggled. “Oh, the men want to talk alone. Come on, Anne, let’s go.” She dragged Anne away. “We’ll keep a spare seat for you in Dicket’s class,” Anne called over her shoulder and Patience nodded vigorously. Both Oliver and Hengist heard them burst into laughter once they had turned the next corner.

“Well? You see, I need to get to the next lesson,” Hengist said. Oliver sighed. “Me, too, of course – it’s just… You’re now a prefect!” “Yes,” Hengist said surprised. So far he had not quite reconciled himself with his new office. “Erm… I don’t know if anyone told you about… erm… about the bathroom,” Oliver said and his ears grew red. Hengist laughed. “Yes. They’ve told us on the train when we came back. They said that, as prefects, we needn’t share the bathrooms with our fellow students.” Suddenly he frowned. “Oliver, how do you know?”

“Quite easy. I’m allowed in there, too, as Quidditch Captain,” Oliver explained and shrugged. “It’s only… I never saw you there, you know, and I thought you ought to know. I mean, the bubble bath is extraordinary, I think,” Oliver said. “You can even swim in there, it’s so big!” Obviously Oliver thought a private bubble bath swimming-pool as a kind of equivalent to a cauldron full of gold. Hengist smiled. “Right. I’ll try it one of these days.” “Good. But don’t tell my sister and Anne, they’ll want to get in there, too,” Oliver warned. Hengist nodded. “I’ll keep silent. I can keep secrets, you know.” Oliver looked relieved and dashed off to get to his class in time.

Hengist also ran to reach Dicket’s classroom before the Muggle Studies professor did. He was not successful. “Oh. Mr Alret. You really do turn up to honour us with your attention,” Emerson Dicket said ironically. Hengist murmured an apology and slipped into the seat between Anne and Patience. “What did Verres want?” Patience whispered. “Miss Wood, kindly listen to me and not to Mr Alret,” Dicket said harshly. “Wow, what’s got into him today?” Hengist marvelled. “Lovesick,” Anne remarked wisely.

“Now that’s enough. You’ll write me a nice essay about the use of electricity in a Muggle kitchen – to hand in by Monday,” Dicket thundered. Anne, Patience and Hengist looked deeply regretful. “Each of you,” Dicket added menacingly. “He’s growing more and more like Snape,” Hengist breathed, but withstood telling anything else when he saw Dicket’s furious glare. In silence the Magpies attended the remainder of the lesson.

 

In the evening, Anne began to gather material for her essay on electricity. “I could ask our neighbours,” Patience thought aloud. “Write them a letter and send it by owl-post?” Hengist asked her mockingly and groaned when she nodded, obviously convinced of her plan. “They’d get a shock, and you’d get a warning from the Ministry and probably get expelled,” Hengist pointed out to Patience. “Right. Okay, then. Poor Professor Dicket,” Patience sighed.

“I can’t really pity him – an essay about electricity, with everything else we’ve got to do, honestly,” Anne scoffed. She looked livid. “Well, Anne, he’s in love and he thinks he doesn’t stand a chance,” Patience reasoned. “Big deal. If he gets a likeness of the son of a bat he’ll stand even less a chance than now,” Anne retaliated. Patience thoughtfully tipped her chin with her quill’s end. “You know, perhaps we need to get them into a more romantic surrounding. Seeing each other only in the castle and in the staff room can’t be good.” “Other people get together even here,” Anne pointed out.

Hengist swallowed. “I think I do have an idea,” he said tentatively. “Really? Tell us,” Patience said excitedly. Hengist leaned forward. “But you’ve got to keep quiet about this,” he warned his friends. Anne and Patience nodded. “Silent as the grave,” Anne promised. “The prefects’ bathroom,” Hengist whispered mysteriously. “A bathroom?” Anne asked in a tone that clearly conveyed her scepticism. “Yes. It’s a got a huge swimming pool with bubble bath, you see,” Hengist explained. Patience grinned. “Aha. Bubble bath.” “Well, that sounds better than the staff room, right?” Hengist defended himself.

“It does. We need to see the room, though,” Anne stated matter-of-factly. “Impossible,” Hengist said at once. “Why?” Patience enquired curiously. “Because it’s the prefects’ bathroom and you’re no prefects,” Hengist said smugly. “Hardly our fault,” Anne said tartly. Patience nodded. “And anyway, you never said a word about such a place,” she added. “That’s because I haven’t been there,” Hengist revealed and blushed. “So how do you know it’s a romantic place?” Anne asked slyly. “I thought it was, according to what Oliver said,” Hengist said in a low voice. “Okay. We want to see the room, and we will decide after that,” Anne decided. Hengist looked deeply uncomfortable but knew that, against the combined forces of Patience and Anne, he hardly stood a chance. “Tomorrow night, then,” he said curtly. “Fine,” Anne agreed and returned to her essay.

 

The following evening Hengist waited in front of the portrait hole. After a while he began to pace to and fro. What were the girls thinking? First they ordered him to wait as if he was a house-elf, now they let him wait for ages. Finally the hole opened, but out came Brian, Mike, and Catherine. “We’re ready. What’s the password?” Mike asked brightly. “Which password?” Hengist asked flabbergasted. “Anne said there’s a party in a special bathroom tonight,” Catherine said and laughed. “A brilliant idea of yours, really. I wish all prefects were as cool as you are.” Hengist frowned.

When the hole opened again, he was little surprised when he saw Nelly, Connor, Jack and Anne. “Where’s Patience?” Hengist asked her. Anne shrugged. “When I last saw her she invited Ghewyn. I left. It got a bit loud.” This had to be the understatement of the century, since Ghewyn’s voice was clearly audible from outside. And she was furious. “Guess you should tell us the password, or she’ll cancel the party, the old hypocrite,” Brian laughed. “Hypocrite?” Hengist asked distracted. “I saw her and Basil going into the bathroom only last night,” Brian shrugged. Catherine squealed with delight. “Really? Tell me more!” “Password, Alret,” Brian commanded.

“Pineapple,” Hengist said through gritted teeth and glared after his classmates who strolled away laughing and chatting – Anne amongst them. Hengist sighed deeply. What had he done to deserve this? The hole flew open and a furious Ghewyn cornered him, shrieking: “You traitor!” “Hey, I didn’t say there’d be a party,” Hengist said, but found it increasingly difficult to speak. Ghewyn’s sheer presence was intimidating. Patience, white-faced, clambered out of the hole. “I wanted to stupefy her – I missed, sorry,” she told Hengist. “Get her now!” Hengist begged. Patience looked scared and shook her head. “No. I’d… I’d better go.” And off she ran, as if Ghewyn was following her.

Hengist struggled and managed to get away from Ghewyn. “Listen. This was not my idea initially, but seeing your reaction to it I begin to think it was brilliant,” he said defiantly. “Oh, you!” Ghewyn wailed. “What? Since you became a prefect, you’ve been acting like you owned this school! You’re sometimes so self-righteous it’s just the best thing to get you down to earth again,” Hengist shouted. Ghewyn drew in her breath sharply. “We are prefects, in case you didn’t notice,” she said stiffly. “Oh. Yes. I know that. But being a prefect does not mean not having any fun any longer,” Hengist said. “Ghewyn. You really need to ease up a bit.”

Ghewyn stared at Hengist. “Was I really so bad?” she asked. Hengist smiled. “Yes. Pretty bad. Come on, get your swimming suit and then let’s join the party.” “And if we’re caught?” Ghewyn asked. Hengist shrugged. “I’ve been caught time and time again, doing many things, and still they made me a prefect. I guess as long as you don’t nick the trophies – well, I guess you can nick the gobstone trophies – you will stay a prefect. Come on, Ghewyn.” To Hengist’s utter embarrassment, Ghewyn threw her arms around his neck. “I’m glad you’re my co-prefect,” she sobbed, then went back into the common room.

The Fat Lady eyed Hengist benevolently. “That was well-done, young man,” she said. Hengist smiled. “I hope so. Do you think it will last?” “Only for tonight. Nice jinx.” “Thanks,” Hengist grinned. The Fat Lady chuckled. “I honestly don’t see why the teachers have to teach you non-verbal spells. It just heightens the accident-rate during the school year.” Hengist shrugged. “You know, there’s just no way around it. I mean, what if someone attacks and we shout the spell? Then he’ll know exactly what to beware of, and that’s really not very good.” “Point taken, and I’ve got to open,” the Fat Lady said and swung aside gracefully.

Ghewyn came out again. “Let’s go,” Hengist told her, and Ghewyn smiled. “Sure.” She took his arm, and Hengist wondered briefly if he had overdone the spell. Then again, he could try and get Connor to take care of Ghewyn. He was positively afraid of her, and it would be good fun to watch them. In a very good mood, Hengist led Ghewyn to the bathroom.

When they entered, the pool was filled with many-coloured scented foam. Lights were dancing on the bubbles, and the mermaid on the picture was giggling while Mike was telling her a story. “Wow. Nice,” Hengist remarked. Ghewyn nodded. “I’ll go and change,” she said and went away. Hengist just took off his robes, since he had been clever enough to wear his swimming trunks underneath. He stepped into the pool. The water was surprisingly warm and felt smooth.

“And is it romantic?” he asked once he had reached Anne and Patience who were examining the different taps labelled with the scent they poured out. “This is lavender, not bad,” Anne judged. “I prefer almond,” Patience said. “Girls,” Hengist groaned. “Sorry. Did you say something?” Anne asked innocently. “You know, you’re unbelievable. First you blab about the bathroom, which was supposed to be a secret, then you throw a makeshift party here, and now you ignore me,” Hengist complained. Patience smiled at him. “Yes. We know. I don’t think it’s quite right for an early date – but once we’ve got Dicket and Balloon set up together, we can think of advising them to come here.” Anne nodded. “And now let’s just enjoy this bubble bath.”

Premiere

Patience was so concentrated that she wasn’t even nervous. Anne’s hands in contrast were shivering like mad. Hengist hadn’t been seen all day. “If Hengist doesn’t show up within the next five minutes, I’ll kill him.” She decided checking her watch for the umpteenth time. “I hope you will remember that magic is forbidden outside of the classrooms.” Anne didn’t answer. “Snape, I’m gone!” She said and disappeared. “Where has she gone?” The teacher asked when he stopped next to Patience. “She fetches Hengist.” She replied truthfully. “She looked a bit nervous.” Snape couldn’t hide his delight. He remembered well his own big day on stage. He had felt quite the same back then.

“Are you nervous?” He asked casually. “No, I’m fine.” Patience replied in a constant, relaxed voice. “Beatrice, that means lucky, well, I hope you are.” He walked away and Patience wasn’t sure if he had been serious about it or not. Anne returned with Hengist. “He was eating!” She complained. “I was hungry!” The boy defended himself. “Honestly, is there no time when you’re not hungry?” She asked. “When I’m sleeping.” Hengist replied. Anne sighed. “I would die if I didn’t eat.” He reminded them. Anne stared at him. “I didn’t eat anything today and am still alive.” She told him. “Yes, but men and women are different. Men have to eat regularly.” He stated. “Would you mind to quarrel somewhere else, I’m trying to concentrate!” Patience complained. She didn’t understand why Anne was making such a fuss. All of her work was done. She just had to watch together with Hengist. Professor McGonagall approached them. “The Great Hall is filling with people.” She told them. Anne and Hengist stormed to the curtain. There was one small hole in it through which they could catch a glimpse of the hall. “How many other magical schools are there?” She whispered to her friend. “I only know Hazelnut Forreth.” Hengist replied. “Why do you want to know?” He added. “If this turns out to be a catastrophe I won’t stay at this school.” She informed him. He put his arm around her. “Hey, we did this together. It can’t be bad!” He assured her. She smiled at him. “Yes, I forgot. You were with me. You’re right. It can’t be bad!”

“Excuse us, we’re trying to put on some finishing touches!” Another sixth year informed them. “Alright, alright.” The two said and walked away. “Anne, Hengist, can I have a word with you?” It was Stella who was to play Hero. “I won’t go out there!” She informed them. “You’re kidding.” Hengist replied. “No, I’m perfectly serious.” She insisted. “You just want us to tell you how good you were at rehearsals!” Anne threw in. “No.” The young girl replied. “But you were, honestly!” Hengist added. “I won’t discuss this, where is Susan?” Susan was the lady in waiting for the role. “Susan?” Anne called. “Susan?” Hengist repeated. They left Stella. They searched the stage and its surroundings. Susan wasn’t found.

“Ohm!” Patience said as she was passed by Anne and Hengist. They went to the Hufflepuff common room but Susan wasn’t there. “Where can she be?” Hengist asked. “We must find her. The program starts in five minutes.” Anne added. They looked at each other and started running. Back in the Great Hall Hengist realized: “That’s hopeless, we will never find her.” “Rubbish, I’ll sonor your voice and you’ll call her.” She waved her wand. “NO!” Hengist shouted. Everybody in the Great Hall was scared for a moment. They turned and stared at Hengist who blushed heavily. “SUSAN, COULD WE HAVE A WORD WITH YOU?” He asked gently. “She didn’t want to come.” A girl answered. “Where can she be?” Anne asked but Hengist refused to answer before she had desonored his voice. “Where do you go when you don’t want to come and see the play because you were not allowed to take part?” Hengist asked. Anne grabbed his hand and again they passed Patience who was still in the middle of her meditation. “I wish I was one of the actors and could say I don’t want to play!” She complained. “No, you don’t, Anne.” Hengist replied and was most probably right.

In front of a bathroom they stopped. “What?” Anne asked because Hengist didn’t move. “I can’t go in there. It’s a girls’ bathroom.” He declared. “It’s nobody here to see you!” She reminded him. “But you’re there and Susan, maybe. And maybe…” Hengist was interrupted. “The play has started a minute ago. I missed the first scene. She will have to play any minute, has to change into her costume and has to be convinced to play at all. We don’t have time for your I won’t go in there because I have the wrong sex.” She retorted and opened the door. Hengist got the point and went inside. “Merlin’s beard.” Anne whispered. Luckily Susan was in there.

“We hope you will enjoy this all/What here we now will put on stage./By Shakespeare are the plots and words/But we felt free to re-arrange…” Brian Cullen was doing his prologue. “Where are Hengist and Anne?” Patience whispered. She was among the next to go out on stage. “They’ve got nerves! The actors would need them now for re-assurance. And they just disappear!” She complained. But Brian went on and didn’t seem to be annoyed by the non-presence of the directors. “Maybe they’re sitting in the Great Hall!” Mike thought aloud. “I don’t know. I wouldn’t do that!” Patience replied. “Besides, they were just annoying me five minutes ago.” She remembered. “Then you’re glad that they’re not around!” Mike concluded. “It’s your turn now!” He told her and pushed her onto the stage behind the closed curtain.

“Susan?” Anne asked carefully. “Yes?” The girl sobbed. She didn’t look up at them. Anne gave Hengist a look that said ‘we are doomed’. “You know Stella just said she wouldn’t play and as you are…” “…her substitute!” Susan said now crying heavily. “Because I was not good enough to really play the role!” She looked at Anne. “NO!” Anne shouted in defence. “I won’t play. If you don’t want me, I don’t want you either.” She sobbed on. Anne put her hand on her forehead. “But we do want you, Susan!” Hengist told the girl. “No, you don’t!” She contradicted him. “Or else you would have asked me before!” There was a certain logic and above all truth in her words. Anne took Hengist’s arm. “We’ll bewitch her. That’s what we should have done with Stella!” She whispered.

Patience tried to make out some faces in the audience. It was much too dark to know for sure who was there. Jonathan played Leonato to Mike’s king. Patience looked around. It wasn’t her turn yet. ‘What about Signor Mountanto.’ Would be her first words and of course, they were referring to Brian. She couldn’t hide a grin. “A heartfelt embrace and a kiss!” Jonathan said and hugged Mike. The audience laughed and Patience remembered where she was. She must have looked quite silly with a grin on her face then again nobody would have seen her while Mike and Jonathan were playing.

“We cannot bewitch her!” Hengist protested. “We have to!” Anne replied. Hengist’s look told her that she would have to take the responsibility for this alone. She checked her watch. “Never mind, Susan. We’ll go and cancel the play. It will go down in history as the shortest ever: stopped in the middle of Act I scene1 because a certain Susan didn’t want to play.” “Susan, thousands of people are waiting in the Great Hall. You will be famous for you’re the Hero of this play!” Hengist reminded her. The girl looked up. Anne had already left the bathroom and was working on a speech. “Dear audience, we’re very sorry but we cannot…no, rubbish…dear audience due to…the strike of a single actress…” Susan ran past her and Hengist tried to catch up with her. Anne stopped him. “What’s the matter now?” “She’s gonna play!” He said out of breath. “But it’s too late!” Anne replied to a Hengist who was already gone. She ran after them.

“Never came trouble to my house/In the likeness of you, your Grace/But your departure tears will rouse/And will paint sadness on my face!” Jonathan told Mike. A loud noise could be heard behind the stage and a rather amateurish ‘sorry’ followed it. The audience laughed. Patience shook her head. ‘Hengist and Anne should be here to take control of things, really, what are they thinking.’ She thought to herself. In fact Hengist and Anne were there to take control of everything unfortunately it had been Hengist who had caused the noise and the sorry. He had turned around fast because Susan had changed her clothes. “Hit it gal!” Anne whispered and pushed her on the stage. She was just in time to answer Patience’s words: “My cousin means Count Benedick!”

And things went well. From the moment Susan had stepped onto the stage all troubles were forgotten. The audience was applauding frenetically when the final curtain had fallen. While the actors were celebrated Hengist and Anne sat in a quiet corner – each grabbing a glass of pumpkin juice. “You know it was good to have done this.” Hengist mused. “Yes.” Anne had to agree. “But I never have to do this again.” He decided. “No, me neither.” For a short moment they listened to the applause. “To the best director this school has ever seen!” Anne said toasting Hengist. “Likewise!” Hengist said and they clinked glasses. “Here you are!” Patience exclaimed. “We’re all waiting for you! Dumbledore allowed us to celebrate in the Great Hall. C’mon.” She said and turned to leave. “No, thank you. We’re quite fine here!” Hengist replied and Anne nodded. “You must be crazy. Everybody loves us tonight and you sit on the floor and drink pumpkin juice.” She was shaking her head. “Cheers!” Anne said and again clinked glasses with Hengist. Patience walked away.

“I celebrate myself and sing myself…” Hengist sighed. “Retiring back a while sufficed at what you are!” She went on. “Stop this day and night with me!” Hengist said. “There will never be more perfection than there is now.” Anne concluded. They grinned happily and clinked their glasses again.

 The smallest sprout shows there is really no death, /and if ever there was it led forward life, and does not wait at the end to arrest it… (Walt Whitman)

Christmas Presents

Christmas was soon to come. Thick and heavy snowflakes covered the grounds surrounding the castle. The Enchanted Forest looked like a peaceful picture of the winter wonderland. “Look, quick!” Patience told her friends. “Hagrid is walking the Haggis.” Patience said amused. Anne grinned because the Haggis kept falling down. “What was his name again?” Hengist wanted to know. “Al.” Anne told him. Bethesda meowed loudly. “Oh poor little creature. A Haggis called Al turns up and everybody forgets about the little flea farm.” Anne consoled the cat that gave her a dark look in return. “You’re awful Anne. I always thought you’d love animals.” Patience told her off. Anne grinned. “That cat of yours doesn’t know how to make me a friend of hers.” Anne defended herself. “Why don’t you get yourself a pet? An animal friend you can rely on – like Mungus?” Hengist offered her his toad. Patience laughed. “No thank you, Hengist, but as long as I have you, I’m in no need of an animal friend.” Anne replied smiling broadly.

“What will you give Patience for Christmas?” Hengist asked Anne. “A dog!” Anne replied reluctantly. Hengist looked puzzled. “No, of course not. I’ll give her a book ‘Quidditch through the ages’. What about you?” “I don’t know yet.” Hengist confessed. Why don’t we go to Hogsmeade together and look for something nice?” Hengist suggested. “Yes we’ll just have to coordinate who is going with whom and where.” Anne commented. Hengist smiled at her. “You know, that’s the same what Patience told me!” Hengist replied. “Isn’t fate a wonderful thing?” Anne asked. Hengist nodded.

The day in Hogsmeade was wonderful. Drinking a nice, hot butterbeer in the ‘Three broomsticks’ they planned their shopping-strategy. “W should do it in a way that nobody has to sit too long alone in the ‘Three broomsticks’.” Hengist suggested. “That wouldn’t be possible anyway. We are three! I’ll go with you, you’ll go with Patience and she’ll go with me. Those are the only possibilities.” Anne explained. “And then we’ll all go together to buy something for our family and friends.” Patience added. Since Anne was the slowest to finish her butterbeer, Hengist and Patience went first.

“I really think Anne should have a pet!” Hengist said. Patience shook her head. “Did you forget, she travels a lot and I’m not sure if her parents would allow her to keep a pet." Patience remarked. “Not allow her a pet? Com’on, Anne must have got dozens of letters from McGonagall telling that she is playing too many tricks. They don’t seem to care.” Hengist reminded her. “Never say that they don’t care. You don’t even know them. Perhaps they are simply busy and after all Anne isn’t that bad.” Patience replied reproachfully. “But she is the number one detention collector of Hogwarts.” Hengist told her. Patience shrugged. Hengist stopped in front of a window. “Look at that!” He exclaimed. “A ‘Shake Conceit’? I’ve never heard that before.” Patience replied. “Let’s have a closer look at it.” Hengist suggested.

“A Shake Conceit produces an image whenever you shake it. You’ll be able to see historical, funny, tragic and a lot of other scenes.” The clerk explained. “I think that is something for Anne!” Patience whispered. When they had paid the Shaking Conceit they left the shop and went back to the ‘Three broomsticks’. “You’re too early! I just ordered another butterbeer.” Anne told them. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of your butterbeer.” Patience assured her. “Well, then it is us this time.” Hengist told Anne. Anne got up and followed him out of the pub while Patience took a sip of the hot butterbeer. “Did you think of anything in particular?” Anne suddenly asked. Hengist shrugged. “Something with Quidditch.” He added. Anne rolled her eyes. “There are only one hundred stores selling Quidditch things, that doesn’t really make it easy.” Anne remarked. “She is a fan of Puddlemere United isn’t she?” Hengist asked staring at the window of a shop. Anne nodded. “Then I think I’ve something for her.” Hengist whispered approaching the shop. Before Anne could do anything he had entered it. Anne followed him. “I don’t believe it!” Anne exclaimed looking around the shop. “Alexander is the name Tynan Alexander. Welcome to the world of Puddlemere United. If you don’t find it in this job we’ll either get it or it doesn’t exist.” A very short man informed the two. He had white hair that was in an organized mess and his blue eyes looked very young and friendly. “You’re looking for a Christmas present?” Tynan asked them. Anne shook her head. “He is!” She informed the man. “You’re not a Quidditch fan are you, young lady?” He asked her in an understanding voice. Anne stared at him. “Not really.” She replied in a surprised voice.

Tynan turned away from her. “What can I do for you, sir?” Tynan asked Hengist politely. “I need something for a very good friend. She is a fan of Puddlemere United.” Hengist explained. “Oh is she really?” Tynan asked with an undertone that told Hengist it had been superfluent to tell the part with Puddlemere United. Hengist blushed a little. “Look a bath towel with some handsome looking boys on it.” Anne threw in. Tynan gave her a reproachful look. “This, young lady, is the Quidditch team Puddlemere United – and not some handsome boys.” Tynan told her in a rather stiff voice. “Sorry.” Anne whispered and turned to look at the other things. Tynan turned back to Hengist. “I have something for a very true fan. I only show this very seldom and only to people who know how to treat it.” With these last words he gave Anne a dark look.

Tynan went to another room. Hengist and Anne heard some noises of boxes being removed magically. “I think he doesn’t like me.” Anne hissed. “Handsome boys!” Hengist repeated in a whisper. “But they are handsome, aren’t they?” Anne whispered looking at the towel. Hengist nudged her. When she turned to scole him she realized that Tynan had come back. She gave him an innocent smile. Tynan put a little box on his desk. Tynan waved his wand. The box split open. A little Quidditch pitch appeared. Hengist’s mouth fell open. Anne couldn’t help grinning. “With this you can replay all the games of Puddlemere United.” Tynan told them excitedly. Anne had to turn around to hide her laughter. Hengist looked dreamily at the little playing field.

Anne realized suddenly that Hengist really thought about buying that. “How much does it cost?” Anne asked facing Tynan. “Ten Galleons.” He replied in what sounded to be a surprised voice. That brought Hengist back to earth. “That’s too much, I’m afraid.” Hengist told Tynan. Anne was relieved. “Why don’t you buy the bath towel?” Anne whispered. Hengist looked at it one more time. He didn’t look too happy. “We could bewitch it.” Anne suggested in another whisper. Hengist face lit up. He went to fetch the bath towel. “This, please.” Hengist paid and the two left the shop.

Back at the ‘Three broomsticks’ Patience and Anne went to buy a present for Hengist. “I thought about it when you were shopping with Hengist.” Patience started. Anne tried hard not to direct Patience to the Puddlemere shop while Patience went on. “What do you think of ‘Homelife and social habits of British Muggles’ as a present?” Patience asked. Anne nodded. “Sounds interesting.” She added. Patience and Anne went to the bookshop. They had finished the shopping for Hengist very fast.

“I’m very curious what you’ll buy for your family this year.” Patience whispered giggling. Hengist smiled. “I think the remember all topped any other present, Anne has ever sent to her parents.” Hengist told them. “I loved the lying mirror.” Patience burst out. All began to laugh. Anne had given that to her sister Glenda one Christmas – without telling her what it really was. (and the following...) When she got a letter from her sister that the mirror had told her the most wonderful things (“You are the most beautiful girl in the world.”) Anne had had a good laugh, which she shared with Hengist and Patience.

“It’s hard this year, because I really have no idea what to give to them.” Anne revealed. “Like every year.” Patience whispered mockingly. Anne gave her friend a dark look. “Com’on Anne, you always walk around Hogsmeade not knowing what to give to your parents and then you see something in a shop-window and there you are – with a present.” Patience said. “What will you give your family?” Hengist wanted to know. “There must be a Puddlemere United shop somewhere around here. I’ll surely find something in there for Verres.” Patience replied. Hengist looked at Anne. “Well, you certainly won’t drag me in that shop, will you?” Anne asked her friend. Patience shook her head. “No Anne, you are allowed to wait outside.” She granted laughingly. “What will you give to your parents?” Anne changed the attention to Hengist. “Don’t know. They are not too fond of magical presents. You know that they are muggles.” Hengist sighed. “Wouldn’t it be great to have a muggle-shop in Hogsmeade?” Patience asked all excitedly. “Or just to have a muggle-shop in a broomstick’s ride distance.” Anne said.

“You’re not suggesting to go to a muggle-village on our brooms and buy there presents for Hengist parents?” Patience asked. “Actually, I think I would find something nice for my family there, as well. I’d love to see their faces having a present that isn’t at all magic.” Anne laughed. “Seems like she has set her mind on that one.” Hengist sighed. “That’s completely out of question.” Patience informed them. “And I thought Hengist was the Prefect.” Anne complained. They bought a lot. Verres got a Puddlemere T-Shirt, which had the flashing words ‘Go Puddlemere’ written on it. For her parents Patience got a magical cleaner, which could see dirt before it even reached the floor. Hengist bought a book about the wizarding world. A magic board was what Anne got for her family. It was nothing special. It was just that Anne was bored running around for a nice present, getting something completely useless in return. For Hagrid they got a book on newly discovered magical creatures. The day and a lot of money was pleasantly spent in Hogsmeade. At the end of the day they were sure that none of their friends had been forgotten.

When they returned to Hogwarts Anne excused herself and left Hengist and Patience alone. Anne knew all too well that Dumbledore had a passion for muggle lemon drops. “Professor?” She asked knocking at his door. “Come in, Miss Symmons.” He invited her. “Professor you are very fond of muggle lemon drops, aren’t you?” Anne wanted to know. “That is right, Miss Symmons, do you have any and don’t know what to with them?” Dumbledore asked in a hopeful voice. Anne shook her head smilingly. “I’m sorry, but I don't. Where do you get these lemon drops?” The girl went on. “If you want some for a friend or for yourself I’d be glad to help you out.” Dumbledore offered. “You’re very kind, but what I really want to know is if you go to a muggle shop to get them.” “Well, of course.” Dumbledore replied a little puzzled. Anne smiled broadly at him. “You know Hengist Alret, don’t you. He is muggle-born. His parents – well – he might feel more comfortable to give them a muggle present for Christmas.” Anne explained.

“Does he say so or is that what you assume, Miss Symmons?” Dumbledore interrogated. “He said that his parents aren’t too fond of magical presents. He bought them a book on the wizarding world when we were in Hogsmeade today.” Anne reported. “Then he has a present.” Dumbledore added. Anne nodded. “Actually, yes.” Anne looked sadly at Dumbledore. “Well, I see no reason why Mr. Alret. Miss Wood – I assume – and you shouldn’t go to a muggle shop at the beginning of the holiday.” Anne beamed at him. “Of course you would need some kind of instructor and protector.” Anne’s smile vanished. “A perfect job for myself.” Dumbledore added. “Thank you!” Anne exclaimed she had almost hugged the headmaster. She ran downstairs and off to her friends.

She opened the door to the common room but Patience and Hengist weren’t around. “Of course, it’s dinner time.” Anne said to herself and ran towards the Great Hall. She opened the door and ran into Snape. “Miss Symmons, when will you stop running around the castle…” Snape barked at her. “Sorry, I didn’t hurt you, did I?” Anne asked looking at the potion’s master. Hengist and Patience jumped from their places and approached the two. “I wonder how she manages to be in constant trouble.” Hengist whispered. Patience shrugged. “I’m in a hurry. I have good news for Hengist and Patience.” Anne explained. Just as Snape wanted to lecture her Patience interrupted him. “What good news?” “We’ll go to a muggle-shop!” Anne revealed. “You certainly won’t.” Snape spat at her. “I spoke to professor Dumbledore and he’ll take us to a muggle-shop. Hengist you can buy thousands of presents for your family there.” Anne said happily. Hengist smiled at her. Snape rolled his eyes and went away.

The Magic of a Muggle-Shop

“Let’s see, we have everything. Muggle-clothes, a basket and some muggle-money.” Dumbledore checked. He wore a suit of very bright colours and big squares. Changing into muggle-clothes was easy for Hengist, Patience and Anne they simply had to put of their robes. “Usually I apparate near the village and then walk over there but since you cannot and are not allowed to apparate anywhere we’ll have to go there on broomsticks.” Dumbledore informed them. Anne sighed. Dumbledore had a silver-arrow – a broom, which belonged to the veteran brooms. Anne had her be-hated Firebolt. Patience had a Comet 260, and Hengist a Tinderblast. That owned him a lot of sneers, but as yet his broom hadn’t failed him. It wasn’t as fast as a comet or a Firebolt, but it was to be relied on and very good for dives. Together they took off and flew south-south-west until they reached a nice little village called Middleton. There they reduced their brooms and hid them in their pockets. “The muggle-shop is over there. I’m sure you’ll like it.” Dumbledore said encouragingly. Their cheeks were rosy because it was awfully cold and even colder flying around.

Dumbledore put a coin into the deposit box of the supermarket trolley. Dumbledore gave them a guided tour. “First come the vegetables and fruits, looking healthier and more natural with the artificially lighted shelves, which we pass fast because you are always in the way of new customers there. Then there are the shelves filled with fresh bread – white to dark and all shades in between. It looks very crispy but isn’t at all if you dare to touch it.” “No preservatives and best before a date in two months time.” Patience read shaking her head. “The noodle shelves follow. Noodles are great, because you can keep them until doomsday if you make sure that they don’t get wet. And if there are no eggs in them you don't have to be afraid of salmonella poisoning. You can have noodles in all shapes and sizes.

The next shelf offers you everything you need for baking. Now it gets cold, because we are approaching the cold room filled with freezes. In this little winter wonderland you get sausages, cheese and milk – all free of mad-cow-beef . Since our little Porsche-trolley has no winter tyres or snow chains we better won’t stay too long. Very logical. Cat and dog food is located next to the detergents and behind that comes the baby department. According to the thought ‘they who have children like cats and dogs and certainly need detergents’. I think you’ll find something suitable for your parents over there Mr. Alret. The present-shop.” And off went Hengist, Patience and Anne.

“That is amazing. I have never been to a muggle-shop before.” Patience whispered. “We’ll have to ask Dicket what all these things are for.” Anne added. Hengist gave her a reproachful look. “Well or we ask our muggle-expert Mr. Alret.” Patience said laughingly. “What will you buy for your parents? Perhaps this?” Anne asked presenting an automatic ventilator. Hengist shook his head. “You don’t even know what that is.” “It is supposed to fly, isn’t it?” Patience said taking the muggle object from Anne. “No.” Hengist replied. “It is to produce a sort of breeze and cool you when it is really hot out there.” Hengist explained.

“Waycool, a storm, I need something like that!” Anne exclaimed. “It won’t produce a storm.” Hengist informed her. Anne sighed. “Would be much funnier if it flew.” Patience added. Anne nodded. “Didn’t you say there was nothing magical in a muggle-shop?” Patience asked in a whisper dragging Hengist to a little board in a box. Upon the box the words ‘magic board’ were written. “That’s not magic. That’s a physical thing. You press on the board and it leaves a black spot, which vanishes when you move that knob.” “Now if I don’t like that then I don’t know!” Anne said all excitedly. “What is this?” Patience wanted to know. She held a little stick on which hung a bird-like wooden animal. “That is easy.” Hengist started taking the object. “You put the bird up there and then it goes down all by himself.” Hengist sounded very impressed. Patience and Anne looked at him as if he had gone mad. “Great.” Anne managed to say but she wasn’t very convincing.

Finally Hengist got a beautiful crystal-like vase for his mother and a leather bookmark for his father. Anne was very unhappy because she hadn’t found anything completely useless for a wizard so far. “Hengist, please help me. What would you give to a person you hate more than anything else in the world?” Hengist smiled uncomfortably. “Well since your parents have no electricity…” Hengist thought for a while. In the meantime Patience had a closer look at some heart-shaped cushions. “What would you say if I threw something like that at you?” Patience asked Anne. Anne rolled her eyes. “I didn’t mean…that.” Patience replied in a sharp voice and held up the cushion intending to throw it.

“Girls, you are embarrassing. They’ll throw us out of this shop.” Hengist hissed. Patience put the cushion away. “Well, a calendar would be something to give your parents.” Hengist suggested. “That is a great idea. A calendar will be absolutely useless for them.” Anne said happily. “I’ll go and get two extremely ugly ones.” Anne told them and went away. “You think it is safe to let her look all by herself?” Hengist asked Patience. Patience shrugged. It was safe – at least this time. Anne was back in no time at all. She brought one extremely kitschy calendar and another with animal motives. Hengist hoped that her parents and her sister could after all use the calendars. “Well, do we have everything?” Patience asked her two friends. Since both nodded they went back to Dumbledore who stood in front of a shelf with Christmas decorations. “I didn’t know that muggles have Christmas crackers, as well. I wonder what they put in those.” Dumbledore mused examining one of the muggle Christmas crackers. Hengist, Patience and Anne had no doubts that they would soon find out because Dumbledore had put at least a dozen muggle Christmas crackers into his trolley. They put the vase, the bookmark and the two calendars in it, as well.

“And last but not least come the shelves with magazines and the sweets where I’ll always find my little lemon drops.” Dumbledore smiled broadly grabbing half a dozen boxes and putting them in the trolley. They went to the cash desk next. “This time you brought your grandchildren. Hey you guys.” The cashier greeted them. Dumbledore grinned he thought it very funny to think of the Malignant Magpies as his grandchildren. “They look a lot like you.” The cashier added. The Malignant Magpies giggled. “Yes, they do indeed.” Dumbledore said with an air of real and deep pride.

While Dumbledore paid the three students put everything into the trolley again. “That will never fit in the little basket we brought.” Patience whispered. Dumbledore pushed the trolley towards a quiet corner. Hengist, Patience and Anne followed him. “Now, my lemon drops, two calendars, a fragile vase, a bookmark and some Christmas crackers.” Dumbledore listed and put everything in the little basket. “Professor, you bewitched the basket.” Hengist said shocked. Dumbledore grinned broadly. They left the shop and after engorging their brooms they flew back to Hogwarts. Hengist was relieved to be back at school. Somehow he had had a feeling that the two pure witches and Dumbledore would get into a lot of trouble.

Unwrapping

On Christmas day the three got up early. There was a big pile of presents in front of Patience’s bed. Bethesda sat on top of it. Anne’s pile was only half as high as Patience’s but nevertheless she was very happy. They and Hengist had agreed to meet in the common room to open their presents together. Hengist awaited them. “Merry Christmas!” They all said with one voice.

“You first, Patience!” Hengist said smilingly. Patience took a present – not knowing that it was the one from Hengist. Patience wrapped of the paper. “It’s a towel.” Patience said in a very surprised voice. She unfolded it. “Those are the players of Puddlemere United.” She exclaimed. “Let’s see if it suits you.” Anne suggested. Patience rolled her eyes but did as she was told. “Look, she’s naked!” One of the players said in a loud voice. Patience let go of the towel laughing heartily. Patience folded it again and put it aside. “You really should take a bath.” Another player suggested. “That was definitely from you Anne.” Patience observed. Anne shook her head.

Patience turned to Hengist who grinned broadly. “Thanks Hengist.” Patience said happily hugging her friend. Hengist was the next one to unwrap a present. It was from his parents. “What’s that?” Patience wanted to know. “That’s a gift token for my driver’s licence.” Hengist whispered. “What is a driver’s licence?” Anne asked him. “You have to take a test before you are allowed to drive a car – in the muggle world.” Hengist explained. “That’s great.” Patience said not knowing if it really was. “That one is from Hagrid.” Anne said taking an awfully chaotic wrapped present. “I hope that there is no magical beast in it.” Hengist said and drew back a little.

Anne unwrapped it carefully. “‘All creatures great and small’” Anne read. “The adventures of a vet for magical beasts. That’s gonna be fun.” Anne added. Hengist opened the present from Patience and Anne. “‘Homelife and social habits of British Muggles’. You are wonderful!” Hengist stated and hugged his friends. “Tell us if you find any mistakes…” Patience told him. Hengist nodded. Patience opened the next present from Anne. “‘1000 and 1 Quidditch strategies’” Patience laughed. “Thanks.” Anne was next to open another present. “What is that?” Anne held up the Shake Conceit. “Shake it.” Hengist suggested. Anne did as she was told. When she had shook it for half a minute Patience told her to stop. “That’s great! That is a historic scene. That is great.” When they had finished unwrapping they went down to the Great Hall to have breakfast. Dumbledore had seated himself at the Ravenclaw table. With him were two Ravenclaw fifth years. They were joined by Vargas, Banks and Cook. The Malignant magpies placed themselves as far away from the trio infernal as possible.

Soon they were joined by Snape who out of any reason took a seat opposite of Patience. She gave him a weak smile. McGonagall sat next to Dumbledore. Flitwick sat with the three Slytherins. One Hufflepuff student – a shy first year made the group complete. Dumbledore grinned at the Malignant Magpies. Anne sat on the left-hand side of Dumbledore. “I mixed those muggle-crackers with our magical crackers.” He whispered in her ear. Anne started grinning. She was very curious what muggles would put in their crackers.

“Merry Christmas, everyone. Let’s start the official Christmas celebration with the first pulling of a cracker. Miss Wood would you do me the favour to pull a cracker with me?” Dumbledore asked politely. “I’m delighted.” Patience agreed. Unfortunately it was one of the magic crackers. It filled the room with a shimmering rainbow. Flitwick pulled a cracker with the shy Hufflepuff first year – this time it was a muggle cracker. Out came a kind of flute, which grew longer if you blew it. Hengist grinned for Flitwick wasn’t too sure what he should do with it. “Just blow it, professor.” He advised him. “Trööööt” made the flute. Flitwick gave a short laugh. “I didn’t get a muggle cracker as if it were jinxed.” Dumbledore whispered after he had pulled a cracker with McGonagall.

He took another cracker and offered it to Snape, who shook his head. “I don’t think so headmaster.” He said in his low voice. Dumbledore looked sad. Snape finally took the other end of the cracker and waited until Dumbledore pulled it. It was easy to tell the difference between magic and muggle crackers. The magic crackers sent little coloured sparks up in the air once they were pulled. The muggle ones only produced a kind of sad ‘plop’. This time Dumbledore was lucky. He got a muggle cracker. “That is simply marvellous.” He exclaimed. “What is it?” He asked turning in Hengist’s direction. “That are fake antennas. You pretend to be an extraterrestrial if you wear them.” Hengist explained.

Dumbledore examined the half of a circle with the two swinging coil springs before he put them on his head. “Like that?” He asked Hengist. Moving his head a bit. “Exactly.” Hengist told him grinning broadly. Patience and Hengist pulled another cracker. Again it was a muggle cracker and out came – a mistletoe. “That’s your fate. I’m afraid you’ll have to kiss each other.” Dumbledore said happily. Anne smiled at her two friends. Hengist raised his voice. “That doesn’t mean anything…” “No, no, no, no! That is a mistletoe and as far as I know mistletoes have the same meaning in the wizarding and the muggle world.” Dumbledore intervened. Everybody stared at the two. Hengist shrugged. “All right.” He whispered and kissed Patience on her cheek. Patience blushed a little. At the other end Vargas, Banks and Cook started jokes about this little event. Patience gave them a dark look.

Anne took another cracker. Carefully she looked at it. Then she stretched out her hand and offered it to Banks. At least she meant to offer it to Banks. Snape took the cracker. Anne was still holding it. “Miss Symmons if that is another one of your practical jokes…” He warned her. Anne wasn’t sure what to do. “Well, if it is not then pull.” Snape snarled. Immediately Anne let go of her end of the cracker. “What did you put in there?” Patience whispered. “The quietus charm” Anne hissed back. Patience laughed. Snape gave her a dark look. It seemed that Anne had a lot of magical power because she could put spells on things and persons without using her wand or saying the charm aloud. Patience told Hengist what Anne had put inside of the cracker. Hengist smiled. “Hope he tries it.” Hengist whispered back. Patience giggled which earned her another dark look from Snape. “What about a Christmas song?” Anne asked looking around. “Wonderful!” Exclaimed Flitwick. With one wave of his wand there was a Christmas melody in the air: ‘Adeste Fidelis’. Everybody joined in the singing – everybody but Snape.

Mr Snowman

“Are we too old to build a snowman?” Hengist asked back in the common room. Patience looked at Anne who shook her head. “Well, don’t think so.” They put on their shawls, gloves, their winter cloaks and warmest boots. Together they went down and out of the castle. “Where do we build it?” Patience wanted to know. Hengist and Anne looked around. “In front of Slytherin Tower.” Anne suggested. Hengist shook his head. The Hufflepuff student left the castle. “Er, excuse me. You’re a Hufflepuff first year?” Anne asked the tiny boy. He nodded shyly. “Great, you’re just what we need.” Anne added.

His eyes widened and Anne realized that she had frightened him. “What I mean is we don’t know where to locate our snowman. Where would you put it?” The face of the boy lit up. “I’d put it in front of Hagrid’s hut.” The boy pointed at the little hut. The Malignant Magpies nodded. “Actually we could use another hand, if you have nothing to do you could join us.” Hengist said. The boy nodded happily. “I’m…” “Oh, I know who you are. You are the Malignant Magpies. Hengist, Patience and Anne. My name is Richard Jones.” The boy burst out.

His cheeks turned rosy with excitement. His hair was very dark and he had deep blue eyes. As mentioned before he was very short but had a fine figure. He had wrapped himself in a thick woollen jacket and wore warm gloves and a much too long shawl which touched the surface of the snow with one end most of the time. The Malignant Magpies smiled at him. “You are very bright for a…” Anne couldn’t finish her sentence because she was nudged by Patience who was absolutely sure that she was up to saying a Hufflepuff. Anne got the hint and instead said. “…a first year.”

“I have the vision of a four meter snowman.” Anne said dreamily. “And I have the vision that this giant snowman crashes in Hagrid’s hut and buries it and its inhabitants.” Hengist added. “I like the idea of a giant snowman.” Richard told them. “You are all right Richard!” Anne stated putting her arm around her little supporter. “Well Patience it depends on you. Giant or not giant that is here the question.” Patience didn’t have to think for a long time. “Not giant.” She said joining Hengist’s side. “Well, Richard what do you think of two snowmen. One a boring short-grown and the other a fantastic enormous, marvellous giant one?” Anne suggested. Richard nodded. “We’ll build ours over there. Out of reach of Hagrid’s hut.” Anne told Hengist and Patience. While Patience and Hengist built a normal size beautiful snowman with a broad grin and a long carrot nose Richard and Anne worked on the giant. It wasn’t too difficult because every time the snowballs became too heavy the two used magic to keep it going. They were so busy that they didn’t notice that they were joined by another person.

Just when Richard caught sight of him and hid the others noticed his presence. “Miss Wood, Miss Symmons, Mr. Alret very busy recruiting another mischief maker. An innocent Hufflepuff first year. Didn’t find one of your size, did you?” Snape snarled arrogantly. “We’re just building two snowmen.” Patience informed the potion’s master. “Yes, one can see that from one hundred feet away even in the deepest forest.” Snape agreed staring at Richard’s and Anne’s giant snowman. Proudly Anne put herself in front of it. Richard had joined Hengist and Patience. “Better don’t mix with Hogwarts’ number one trouble makers Mr. Jones that means a lot of detentions. And you don’t like detentions, do you?” Snape said in a frighteningly voice to the shrinking Hufflepuff first year. “Professor, that’s ridiculous. You’re frightening him for nothing. He didn’t do anything.” Patience barked at Snape.

He turned to face her. “Miss Wood, I know that you like detentions. Take one as a – Christmas present. You’re a Quidditch fan I see then polishing the trophies will be an appropriate present to you.” Snape spat. Anne opened her mouth to speak. “Miss Symmons if you have to say anything you can do it while you clean the school cauldrons. It is not wise to put a spell on a Christmas cracker and then to try to be nosy. – Mr. Alret any detention for you?” Snape asked in his cold voice turning to Hengist. “No.” He replied in a surprised voice. Snape scanned the first year. He was very content with his work.

The first year looked as if he had to die in the next ten seconds. Richard stood there with his mouth half open and shivering with fright. It seemed that he had even stopped breathing. “Remove that awful snowman.” Snape ordered and left. “I’ll give you an awful snowman.” Anne whispered forming a snowball. She raised her right arm and aimed at Snape who suddenly turned around. Anne put her arm down immediately. Snape turned and continued his way back to the castle. “We better remove our snowman.” Richard sighed and looked sadly at their masterpiece. Anne tramped over to Hengist and Patience.

“If he doesn’t like Christmas why does he have to be around at that time?” Anne barked. “Throwing a snowball at him!” Hengist said in a reproachful voice. “That would have made things only worse.” Patience added. “I didn’t throw it.” Anne defended herself. “You would have if he hadn’t turned around.” Hengist told her. “That’s not the point. The point is that I didn’t throw it!” Anne intervened. They were interrupted by a thud. They turned around and looked in the direction where Richard had been just two seconds ago. The big snow-head of the snowman lay there. “You don’t think that Richard is still there?” Hengist wanted to know. “He’s a Hufflepuff.” Anne sighed. With one wave of her wand and the decio charm Patience removed the snowball. Richard lay in the snow. “Are you all right?” Hengist asked him. “My arm hurts.” Richard informed them. Patience helped him to stand up. “We better take you to the Hospital Wing.” She said caringly. “I’ll just remove the snowman.” Anne said. With a sad ‘puff’ the snowman exploded and fell down in tiny snowflakes. “Anne!” Patience said reproachfully. Anne only shrugged in reply.

Richard’s arm was broken. “Don’t worry, darling. A little bit of this potion and a hot chocolate will do the trick.” Madam Pomfrey assured him. Patience gave him the thump up and Hengist and Anne smiled encouragingly at him. “Now three is a crowd and I don’t want to have a crowd in here.” Madam Pomfrey ushered them out. “That’s it, he’ll never talk to us again.” Anne sighed. “Better for him.” Hengist stated. “Hey, seems our prefect has changed sides.” Patience said angrily. “Com’on, we are in trouble all of the time. You heard Snape and you know he’d give him a detention just for talking to us.” “You didn’t say that when we allowed Fred and George to join us.” Anne replied. “That is different. They already were mischief makers. And they are after all in Gryffindor. Snape would have hated them anyway.” Hengist explained. “Oh please.” Patience groaned.

Suddenly they all went quiet. Dumbledore, McGonagall and Flitwick came upstairs. “How is Mr. Jones?” Dumbledore asked the three. “His arm is broken.” Hengist reported. “The poor boy.” McGonagall sighed. “Don’t worry Minerva, he’ll be all right in no time at all.” Flitwick assured her. Dumbledore nodded. “Since it is Christmas and we are practically spending our holidays together there will be no detentions for you two.” Dumbledore informed them. “Of course that doesn’t mean that you can do anything. And Miss Symmons, personally I appreciate the idea of a giant snowman…” Dumbledore said grinning broadly. “…but not on the grounds of Hogwarts. And Miss Wood behave according to your name – I mean your Christian name. Be patient. Mr. Alret you could do with a little less mischief making since you are a prefect.” Dumbledore advised our three friends.

“What about Richard?” Patience asked. “Mr. Jones will spent the rest of the holidays with the Ravenclaw students I think. They were really upset what happened to him.” “We weren’t teaching him troublemaking.” Anne informed Dumbledore. “Not yet?” Dumbledore asked. “Not at all.” Hengist added. “He might learn by watching you.” McGonagall thought aloud. The three teachers left for the Hospital Wing. “Two Ravenclaws and a Hufflepuff?” Hengist asked his friends in disbelief. Patience shrugged. “As Anne said before he is bright for a Hufflepuff.” Patience thought aloud. “Still it is not fair to forbid him to spend his time with us.” Anne threw in. “Com’on, we would have only spent today with him, the rest of the break perhaps but that would have been it. Each student sticks to his house.” “I never understood this whole house-business. Why not spend the time with people you like.” Anne asked her friends. “Is she telling us she doesn’t like us?” Hengist asked Patience. “That’s not what I meant.” Anne barked. “Why do they put us in houses and tell us to like these people. A Sorting Hat – that’s ridiculous.” “You don’t understand this because there is no such a tradition in your family.” Patience told her friend.

Anne looked at Hengist who wasn’t introduced to such a tradition at his muggle home. “They know what they do.” Was all he said. “There are a lot of possibilities to mix with the other houses.” Patience informed her friend. “I don’t see those even in class we sit according to the house we belong to.” Anne reminded them. “Well at least some students break these boundaries. John King and Gregg Nott.” Hengist said. This comment ended the discussion of this topic.

Many days of thick and heavy snow followed. Richard did as he was told. He stayed away from the Malignant Magpies who were in a very bad mood. One evening they were especially angry. “Why not go outside. We can’t sit inside of this castle all day long.” Patience complained leaning on an armchair. “It’s so boring.” Hengist sighed. “We could play a game.” Anne suggested. “Oh no. We have lost at least a thousand times against you playing wizards chess.” Patience moaned. Bethesda meowed agreeingly. Suddenly Anne’s face lit up and she left the common room. “What’s wrong with her?” Hengist wanted to know. “Trouble, no matter what she has thought of now it means trouble.” Patience whispered.

When Anne came back she carried a little doll – all dressed in black. “Oh great lets make our least favourite teachers. Oh damn Anne, that was exactly the teacher I wanted to do.” Hengist mocked her. “That’s a Voodoo-doll.” Anne told him. “I didn’t know that you still had it.” Patience said thoughtfully taking the doll from Anne. “It looks a little – well – deranged.” Patience observed. “He was in my secret drawer with some of Filibuster’s Fireworks.” Anne said. “It didn’t work the last time. Remember, no matter what you did to your Snape-doll nothing happened to the real Snape.”

Patience sighed. “Well we can’t change that – unfortunately – but we can live our aggressions torturing the doll son of a bat.” Anne suggested. “All right everybody tells and plays his or her most cruel plan with Snape.” Hengist agreed. Patience cleared her throat. Hengist looked at her and then at Anne. “Yeah, well, maybe not such a good idea.” Anne gave in and put the doll away. Since they had nothing in particular to do they dedicated the rest of the break inventing new tricks and pranks.

Dangerous Books

However Anne wasn’t satisfied with that. She finally had decided to learn how to do voodoo! And she was perfectly sure to find a manual for voodoo-spells in the restricted section of the library. And it was just the right time of year to be left alone by all remaining teachers at Hogwarts and mind your own business.

Anne sneaked silently into the restricted section. Carefully she walked past the shelves. She held her lit wand in front of her face so that she could easily read the titles of the books. “There it is.” She whispered to herself. Slowly she raised her right hand and touched the book. She smiled. It wasn’t screaming. Her grip became tighter as she drew it out of the shelf. A chain was attached to it. Anne put her wand in her mouth still shedding enough light on the book. She held it tightly with her left hand and opened it with her right hand. The book screamed. Anne went pale. Before she knew it the book hat bitten her.

She closed it and pushed it back into the shelf. She was bleeding. “Damn!” She hissed wrapping her hand in a handkerchief. “I know you are there!” She heard Filch shout. As silently as possible she walked towards him pressing her body as close as possible to the wall hoping that the darkness would hide her. She looked out for Mrs. Norris but she couldn’t detect her anywhere. Anne’s wand that had unlit itself when Anne had been bitten was pointing at the far end of the library. She mouthed a spell that caused several books to fall down and make a noise that might have even attracted Mrs. Norris. Filch hurried towards the source of the new disturbance while Anne headed to the exit of the library.

She paused again in front of Gryffindor common room. She looked left and right to make sure that nobody was watching her. “Do you want to enter or can I go on sleeping?” The pink lady asked. “Shh!” Anne only replied. “Dearie, you better say the password or I’ll leave my picture for tonight!” She threatened her. “Cantorix Bardus.” Anne whispered. “Sorry, I didn’t understand you dear.” The pink lady said with a faint smile. “Cantorix Bardus.” Anne repeated in a clearly audible voice. “That was much better, my dear.” The pink lady opened the door. Anne sighed and entered the common room. “Where have you been?” Patience burst out. “Patience, for heavens’ sake you almost scared me to death!” Anne’s face had gone pale one more time. “What did you do to your hand?” Hengist asked in a worried sort of voice.

“What’s this supposed to be? Are you spying on me?” Anne complained. “Well, what do you think we’ll do if we discover that you have gone – in the middle of the night without telling us anything?!” Patience explained. Anne shrugged. “It was just business.” Anne replied reluctantly. “What happened to your hand?” Hengist repeated his question raising Anne’s arm carefully. “You’re bleeding. We’ll take you to Madam Pomfrey!” Patience decided. “’Lo, cool down, you won’t take me anywhere.” Anne protested. “Why not?” Hengist and Patience asked with one voice. “I can hardly tell her that I sneaked into the restricted section and got bitten by one of those damn books, can I?” “Is that what happened?” Hengist asked unbelievingly. “No, I just made that up – what do you think, that I lie to you? Better wake up or no better go back to bed.” Anne ordered.

Hengist shook his head. “You’ll sit down now.” He ushered her carefully into her favourite armchair. He loosened the handkerchief closely watched by Patience. He lifted his wand, waved it and whispered a few words. A bandage sprang out of his wand’s end and fastened itself around Anne’s hand. “Thanks, Hengist.” She hugged him with her left arm. “You’re welcome.” Hengist grinned. That had been a spell he was perfect at performing needing it himself every now and then whenever he had made too close contact with some new animal. “Soon it will be healed.” He promised cheerfully. Patience gave him a smile. “Now you’ll go to bed.” She ordered. Anne sighed but obeyed.

“It hasn’t gotten better over night.” Patience said in a whisper carefully examining Anne’s bleeding hand. Hengist shook his head. “At least it should have stopped bleeding.” He observed. Anne freed herself from so much attention. “It wouldn’t bleed if we hadn’t removed the bandage.” She defended herself. “I don’t know.” Patience said. “Maybe we better take you to Madam Pomfrey.” Hengist suggested. “Good idea. Excuse me, Madam Pomfrey, I should have come yesterday I got bitten by a book when I sneaked into the restricted section last night.” Anne said ironically. Patience observed the whole scene. “Anne, maybe a detention wouldn’t be the worst case…” “Has everybody gone mad? I won’t go to Madam Pomfrey!” She left. “Where are you going?” Patience asked. “Breakfast!” Anne replied. “Best idea this morning!” Hengist agreed and followed her. Patience shrugged and went down to the Great Hall as well.

Anne had bewitched the bandage so that its colour matched with that of her skin. Nobody noticed. Not even during classes. Anne almost forgot herself until the three returned to the common room shortly before lunch. “What about your hand?” Hengist asked still the most concerned. She raised her left hand. “Alright, I guess.” She said, grinning broadly. Patience laughed. “No, your right hand.” She told her. “At least it’s still there!” Anne replied. “Does it still hurt?” Patience asked worried. “That’s only normal, Patience! Mind you I got bitten! I’ll pack my things for this afternoon.” She hurried upstairs to the dormitory.

This day past and another, but Anne’s hand still hadn’t gotten better. At the end of the third day both Patience and Hengist had set her mind on one thing. “Anne, we have to talk to you.” Hengist started. Anne looked up from her homework. Patience sat down next to her. “Mysteriously, what do you want?” Anne asked curiously. As both of her friends remained silent she leaned back. “What is it?” She asked. “We didn’t say anything during the last days.” Hengist started. “We will take you to Madam Pomfrey tonight!” Patience stated matter-of-factly. “Forge…” “No, Anne, we won’t forget it this time.” Hengist took her right arm and Patience the left one. “Listen, if you desperately want a hot chocolate we could…” Anne tried to persuade them. “Forget it!” Patience and Hengist replied with one voice.

Anne had struggled all the way up to the hospital wing. She made so much noise that Madam Pomfrey had opened the door before they had knocked. She looked at them questioningly. “Anne got bitten by – er…” Patience stopped. “She didn’t quite see what it was.” Hengist saved them. “Right.” Patience agreed. Anne looked surprised at them. “Oh, dear, dear, you must have a shock. Come quickly. Sit down.” She ushered Anne onto one of the beds. “Oh, you have already bandaged it. I’ll get some potions.” Madam Pomfrey hurried away. When she returned she carried a box full of little potion bottles and three hot chocolates. “Here dearies.” She passed every student a cup of hot chocolate.

Anne watched Madam Pomfrey suspiciously. It seemed to her that she was especially careful – it wasn’t that Anne didn’t appreciate that, however, she couldn’t help wondering why. “Oh deary:” Madam Pomfrey whispered and shook her head. “What’s wrong?” Patience wanted to know. Anne looked questioningly at Madam Pomfrey. “The potion doesn’t seem to work. I think I better get professor Snape…” “Oh, you wouldn’t bother our dear professor in the middle of the night.” Anne rejected the idea. “Middle of the night, really, it has only just turned 9 p.m.” Again Madam Pomfrey shook her head. “Maybe it needs just a little longer.” Hengist intervened. Madam Pomfrey shot an almost angry glance at him. “You above all, Mr. Alret, should know that this potion heels instantly.” Hengist’s face reddened. It was true at least with him the potion had always done its job in a few seconds. “I’ll get professor Snape while you wait here.” Madam Pomfrey ordered.

Anne jumped from the bed. “What do you think where you are going?” Patience asked in a surprised voice. “You don’t really think that I’ll wait for Snape to give me a detention.” Anne had opened the door and checked if it was save to leave. “That wouldn’t help, Madam Pomfrey will tell him that we’ve been here – and there’s still the injury of your hand.” Hengist reminded her. Anne closed the door again. “Yeah, well, it isn’t the first detention anyway.” Anne sighed. She sat down on the bed again. Hengist sat down next to her and put his arm around her shoulder. “You want me to think of a magical beast that might have bitten you?” He asked. She shook her head. “Thanks, it’ll be alright.” Patience knelt down in front of them. “You’re not worrying, are you, it’s only Snape!” Patience put her left hand on Anne’s knee and her right hand on Hengist’s.

Snape’s lips curled when he entered the hospital wing. “I see the Gryffindors got themselves into trouble again.” He sneered. Again Anne thought about fainting, however, she decided against it. “What happened?” He asked taking only a short glance at Anne’s pale face. “Something bit me.” Anne replied without hesitation. He looked up at her. “Really? And what would that – something – be?” He put a special emphasis on ‘something’. “She couldn’t see it.” Hengist threw in. Patience nodded. Snape stared at them. “You better go back to your common room. It’s shortly before curfew.” First Patience wanted to tell him that there was still plenty of time before they had to be back but as Hengist drew her slowly away from Anne’s bed she decided against it.

Snape had waited until both students had left. Madam Pomfrey had disappeared as well. “So what did you say bit you?” He asked carefully examining her hand. “I couldn’t see what it was.” Anne lied. Snape looked up at her. “You better tell me the truth I’ll find out anyway.” He warned her. He looked deep into her eyes. Anne felt as if she was getting drowsy. Her head emptied automatically just to be filled again. There was a 15-year-old boy who hung upside down. Two boys stood on the lawn having a good time making fun of the boy. Another boy sat on the lawn not paying too much attention to the scene.

Anne watched the boy she would have liked to see his face but somehow she was immobile. All of a sudden she faced a 20-year-old man. He looked like a younger version of Snape. He stared at the floor. Another man circled him. Anne couldn’t hear anything but she was sure he was shouting at the young man. She had never felt so lonely and helpless. Then she was pushed backwards. She was dizzy. She was surprised to realize that her eyes were open. She stared at the ceiling. She got up again. Snape didn’t face her any longer. His head was hidden behind his hands.

“Never do that again!” He barked with a voice that sounded much weaker than before. Anne didn’t know what he was talking about. She decided that she must have fainted after all. Snape grabbed her hand he poured a reddish liquid on it which burned like fire on Anne’s skin. He put another bandage around the hand and then finally let go of it. Anne searched his face for any sign of what had just happened. He avoided looking straight into her eyes. He looked so much like the young man she had just seen – not so much his youthful appearance but the fearful, desperate expression of his face.

It took Anne a couple of seconds to realize at least parts of what had happened. When Snape turned to leave she called him back. “Professor!” He turned towards her. She got up and approached him. Directly in front of him she rose to her full height – even a little taller. She looked coldly at him. “Never try that again.” She said in a firm voice. Snape himself wasn’t sure what had happened or how much she had seen. The only thing he was sure of was that certainly Anne would tell every single student at Hogwarts about this. He left without replying to her.

It was only when he had left that Anne realized that she felt very weak. She sat down on the bed again. She took several deep breaths before she leaned backwards and stared at one of the pictures still wondering what she had seen. However, Snape hadn’t been right. Anne never told anyone what had happened or what she had seen. Even when her hand had finally healed after a few weeks of treatment with the reddish potion she kept this secret.

Secretum Philosophorum

“Joss, are you sure this is the right book?” Patience whispered. The painted minstrel nodded fervently in his gilded frame. “This was used even by a young wizard named Albus Dumbledore, and to memorable effect,” he reported. “What did professor Dumbledore do?” Anne wanted to know. Joss made a face. “Shouldn’t you go back to bed?” he asked evasively. “We shouldn’t have come at all, technically,” Anne shrugged. “You could tell us a good-night-story, then we’ll leave,” Patience added. “ah yes. And leave the book behind?” Joss wanted to know. “’Course not, Joss!” Patience said indignantly. Joss sighed deeply but settled down on the floor of his painting.

“Here we go, then. Some time ago, a student called Albus Dumbledore prowled this school. To me, ‘twas but a short while ago, to you it might appear a very long time ago. Anyway, that young man was just as nosy and adventurous as you are, and so it did not take him long to find ways to get to know everything he wanted. He came here, as you do, and he read hour after hour or hid books as carefully as you do. So it was only a matter of time until he stumbled across this book you’re holding, young Anne. The Secretum Philosophorum, the Book of Trickery. And he used it, of course, as I suppose you will do, too.” Joss made a pause, for dramatic effect.

“Go on,” Patience urged him. The minstrel smiled. “But of course. You must know that the Secretum Philosophorum is a curious mix between Muggle trickery and magical spells. One memorable day, young Albus wanted to prove that even Muggles were able to do simple transfiguration – or not so simple tricks. When he saw the opportunity to do his trick, he made a show. That day, the students were supposed to transfigure water into wine. Usually, as you well know, this requires only a little spell. But for Albus, it required some Muggle fraud. And believe it or not, the water did turn into wine.”

“How?” Anne asked when Joss paused again. “Quite easily. You’ve got to soak bread in dark wine, dry it in the sun and then put the dried crumbs into the water. Voilà vin!” Joss chuckled. Anne and Patience laughed. “That’s a great idea,” Anne said. “It is, only Minerva McGonagall knows all about it. You can’t do it again, I fear.” “What a pity,” Patience sighed. “Now, fair maidens, you really have to go. You don’t want to be caught, do you?” Joss asked sternly. “No. Thanks a million, Joss. We’ll bring the book back tomorrow night,” Anne promised.

 

Since the Secretum Philosophorum was such a treasury of hoaxes, tricks and pranks it was only good Anne and Patience had a whole day to copy out all the things they thought worth trying. “Lucky we’re here and can get all the ingredients,” Patience remarked with a malicious smile. “You’re absolutely right. I’ll take the book back and you fetch what we need,” Anne resolved. “Yes. And who’s going to be our victim?” Patience asked. “Hengist. He’s our guinea pig,” Anne giggled.

Anne was lucky. Nobody saw her when she quickly slipped into the Restricted Section in the library – well, nobody but Joss who was delighted to see the Secretum Philosophorum back in its original place. “And did you try some or other of the tricks?” he asked eagerly. “No, but we will, soon,” Anne replied. Joss nodded appreciatively. “I’ll hear of your valiant deeds, no doubt. Sleep well, fair Anne.” “Good night, Joss.” And as quietly as she had come, Anne went back to Gryffindor Tower.

To her utmost surprise, Patience was not there. Anne checked her watch. Patience should have been back by now. Surely her errand couldn’t take her that long. Anne sat down in her favourite armchair and watched the fire slowly fading. Not until all the wood had turned to ashes, Patience returned. She looked very white and shaky, but she raised the satchel she held triumphantly. “I’ve got it,” she announced. “What in Merlin’s name took you so long?” Anne asked. “Snape, of course. Trust him to stick his long nose in all the places it doesn’t belong,” Patience said.

She yawned hugely and dropped herself into the armchair opposite Anne’s. “Did he catch you?” Anne asked alarmed. Patience grinned. “No, but he locked me in and I had to scramble through the window.” “You had to do what?” Anne sputtered. Patience tucked her feet under herself. From the shadows, her grey angora cat Bethesda leapt into her lap and purred as Patience began to caress her. “I had to climb out of the window… look, Anne, it’s easier to start at the beginning.” Anne thoroughly agreed to that and cuddled more comfortably into her armchair.

“Okay, well, it was really easy to get into Snape’s office. I thought he’d use more complicated spells by now – I mean, how many times have I been taking some little things I needed? Anyway, he doesn’t use difficult barriers, and once I was in I headed straight for the cupboard with the rarer ingredients. When I had just found everything, the door handle moved! You can imagine that I was really shocked. I mean, this had to be Snape. I ducked under his desk, hoping he would not sit down behind it to mark tests or some such thing.”

Patience smiled at Anne. “Sometimes you need to have luck. He saw the open cupboard door…” “Do you mean to say that you left the cupboard open?” Anne interjected horrified. “Yes, and lucky I did,” Patience confirmed. “Snape saw the door, realized someone had to have been in there, spun around, went out, and locked the door magically. He didn’t search the office, he must have thought that the burglar had already left. “ “But you were still inside,” Anne stated.

“Exactly. I put the chair on the desk and checked the window, opened it, ignored the cobwebs and dead spiders, climbed on the sill, made the chair float back into its original place and was out. I locked the window and came back here. Nothing much,” Patience shrugged. Anne laughed. “Yes, I see. Nothing much indeed. I think we should get some sleep now.” “And our plan?” Patience asked. “Will be delayed to next weekend,” Anne resolved.

 

So the next Saturday night saw Anne and Patience staying up late while playing Exploding Snap with unusual dedication. Hengist went to bed at half past ten, bored by his friends’ absorption in the game. Once he had left and the Common Room in general emptied, Patience fetched a satchel and let it dangle in front of Anne’s eyes. “Operation Secretum Philosophorum can begin,” she said. Anne nodded. “Let’s go.”

Silently the two girls crept upstairs to Hengist’s dormitory. They stopped in front of the door. Anne put her ear to the keyhole. “Brian is snoring,” she reported. “How do you know it’s Brian?” Patience enquired. “I can see him.” “Through your ear?” Patience asked. Anne groaned. “No, dumbwit, I peeped first.”

“What do we want to ask him, anyway?” Patience changed the topic. “Who he’s in love with,” Anne replied promptly. “Shouldn’t we rather start with something less intimate?” Patience asked doubtfully. “No, we’ll know exactly if it works when Hengist spills the beans,” Anne decided after a moment’s hesitation. “Okay then,” Patience gave in. “Let’s go.”

They sneaked into the room. Anne carefully drew back the heavy curtains around Hengist’s bed. Patience took the items she had stolen out of Snape’s cupboard with quivering fingers. Gently she placed them over Hengist’s mouth. Anne nodded contentedly. They crept back as quietly as they had come.

But they had barely reached the Common Room again when a horrible scream made them spin around. “Uh oh,” Patience whispered. “GIRLS!” somebody roared from upstairs. “Heavens, Miss Alret, don’t make such a ruckus,” the voice of Mike groaned. Steps came thundering down the stairs. A moment later Hengist stood there, his eyes blazing with horrible fury. “What did you think you were doing?” “Testing something,” Patience replied truthfully. “Testing something, indeed. And that test involves putting the heart and left foot of a toad on my mouth?” Hengist asked enraged.

“Over your mouth, if you please,” Anne corrected him with dignity. “Whatever was that for?” Hengist wanted to know. “To make you tell us the truth,” Patience explained. Hengist was momentarily stunned. He shook his head in sheer disbelief. “But … where did you get the toad parts?” “Snape’s cupboard,” Patience mumbled. “Ah. And why didn’t you nick some Veritaserum if you wanted me to spill the beans?” Hengist asked. By now, he sounded more amused than angry.

“Well, you see, we wanted to try this recipe. To make Veritaserum is a long, long, process. To get a toad’s heart and left foot is a lot easier,” Anne sighed. “Why me?” Hengist enquired. “Oh, we thought you might be angry but not angry enough to give us away,” Patience admitted to their plan. “Do you know, girls, you’re right. I won’t give you away, but I should think that this doesn’t work. Ask away now,” Hengist said, his eyes glittering amused.

“Oh. Okay. Who are you in love with?” Anne asked. Hengist blinked. “That’s a stupid question.” “Answer it anyway,” Patience pleaded. “Madonna,” Hengist said. “Who?” Patience and Anne asked in one voice. “That’s a Muggle singer. And now I’ll go back to bed. No more experiments tonight, girls,” Hengist warned and left.

“He was lying,” Anne concluded when Hengist was out of earshot. “Yes. So it doesn’t work,” Patience sighed. “No, but it does enrage people. We could let the recipe accidentally get into Banks’ possession,” Anne suggested. Patience brightened up immediately. “Good idea. Then we’ll have some one or other Slytherin rather pissed off soon.” “I don’t care. Pity this doesn’t work,” Anne said. “But,” she added hopefully, “we can try another one soon.”

Elementary, dear Severus!

Although Patience’s little adventure of stealing dried toad parts and leaving the office through the window had not left more than the faintest trace, Snape was very much aware that he had been bested. In addition to that, this hadn’t been the first time someone had unlawfully entered the office, either. Not even a soft-hearted teacher like Emerson Dicket would have been happy with such a state of affairs, and nobody could call Severus Snape soft-hearted anyway. In short, Snape wanted to solve that case, as quickly as possible, and make sure the culprit got what he – or she, for that matter, - deserved.

Such was Snape’s state of mind when he showed Dicket the little evidence he had found – the open cupboard door, the chair an inch from its original position. “And what’s missing?” Dicket asked, apparently quite unimpressed by the story he had just been told. “Some toad parts, and I think a bit of the herbs, but I’m not sure,” Snape replied. Dicket snorted. “Not one of you occult books? A Venetian glass phial? The last homework? A bezoar?” “No.” “Well, Severus, someone is absolutely determined to learn the art of potion-making, then,” Dicket concluded amused. “I should think there are more alien ingredients in here, much more worth taking,” Snape said and shook his head. “Nobody wanting to brew an extraordinary potion would be satisfied with vermouth and toad parts.”

Dicket nodded slowly. He sat down in the chair behind Snape’s desk and took a sugar quill out of his pocket to suck it slowly and deliberately. “You look ridiculous,” Snape informed him promptly. “Helps me thinking, Severus. So you say that nobody seriously considering a complicated and forbidden potion would take only toad parts and vermouth.” “So I said,” Snape agreed. By the looks of it, he was now in for a lengthy discussion. Perhaps it would have been better to guess at the culprit and find an excuse to deal out punishment. “I should say that rules our your usual suspects,” Dicket remarked after he had thought about it.

“Pardon?” Snape asked startled. “Well, you can say what you want but the one student knowing exactly what it takes to do a good potion is Patience Wood. So it wasn’t her,” Dicket explained. Snape was not very convinced. “it could have been her friends.” “No, she’d have given them instructions,” Dicket dismissed the idea. Snape raised an eyebrow. “And would the instructions include how to get into my office?” “Naturally, Severus. That’s elementary.” “I did heighten security,” Snape said almost indignantly. “It did not help much. I’m sure Miss Balloon will help you there,” Dicket said slyly. He was rewarded by a very dark look and a ‘humph’ by Snape.

“What we should do now is, of course, to wait,” Dicket went on. “Wait for what?” Snape asked patiently since that seemed what Dicket was waiting for. “Something involving toad parts, of course,” Dicket said. He could not know that the something would occur the next weekend, nor could he dream that he would never get to know about it. But as it was, the waiting happened to be quite a long one.

However, two weeks after their conversation Dicket was in Snape’s office once again. The two teachers had just agreed to let the burglary rest unsolved when somebody knocked. “Come in,” Snape said in his usual uninviting manner. Melanie Pallet nearly stumbled in, her eyes red and blotchy and her cheeks puffy. “Professor Snape, sir, it’s abominable,” she said and, to the alarm of Dicket and Snape, burst into tears. “There, there, Melanie, it can’t be that bad,” Dicket tried to console the girl. “Yes it can. How would you feel if your best friend betrayed you?” Melanie sobbed. “Hum. Not very happy,” Dicket replied. “See!” Melanie exclaimed. “Get on, Miss Pallet, would you tell us what you want?” Snape said annoyed. “I woke up this morning to find a toad’s foot and heart on my mouth. It was absolutely disgusting! You know it can’t have been one of the boys, so it had to be one of my friends.” “A toad’s foot and heart!” Dicket repeated and looked significantly at Snape.

“Yes, urgh. And that absolute cow Jessa said she’d got the stuff from Banks and it would make me tell the truth, if I wanted or not,” Melanie said exasperatedly. “Roland Banks?” Snape asked with a frown. “Yes. I knew he was a bit of an idiot – but that’s daft even by his standards.” Melanie sobbed dramatically. “Miss Pallet, why should Miss Appleby do something like that?” Snape wanted to know. “No idea,” Melanie shrugged. “Children are like that,” Dicket wisely remarked. “Whatever the reason, I will deal with it. Do send Miss Appleby and Mr Banks to us,” Snape told Melanie who tossed back her hair and rushed out.

Dicket laughed when the door closed behind her. “So it was Banks! That fits perfectly, right?” “Yes, it does. Too perfectly, perhaps,” Snape murmured. “You’re paranoid. It can’t have been your favourite culprits the Magpies,” Dicket said self-satisfied. “It’s really elementary, dear Severus: it was Banks who thought he’d get a kind look from Jessa, the minx.” Snape reluctantly agreed. “I see that you must be right, but it still feels a bit fishy.” “Forget it, Severus, this is the solution on a silver tray. You’re heightened security is all it needs to prevent a renewal,” Dicket declared. For him, the matter was settled. And since Snape could not find any evidence for his continuing unease, he had to give up, defeated.

Prefect Badge(r)

It was common knowledge that Ghewyn Rhys had taken her new office as Gryffindor prefect very seriously – however, Hengist Alret had not, according to legend. But his best friends knew better. It became quite obvious on a hazy January morning, when the Magpies were outside. “Splendid day for some ghost voices,” Anne remarked. “Isn’t it?” She turned to Patience and Hengist. Patience shrugged. “Depends on what they say,” she cautiously said. “Depends on who they say it to,” Anne added. “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Hengist threw in, picking up a stone and throwing it into the water. A huge arm reached out of the lake and caught the stone.

”What’s gotten into you?” Patience asked surprised. “Some ghost voices to frighten firsties, where’s the problem?” “The problem is this,” Hengist said, straightening up and pointing at the shiny golden badge showing the letter “P”. “That did not stop you from anything so far,” Anne told him amused. Hengist groaned. “I know. But it’s time I’d behave myself more like a prefect.” “I think it’s absolutely enough that Ghewyn does so,” Patience hurriedly exclaimed. Hengist snorted. “No, it’s not.” And without another word he turned and went back to the castle. Patience and Anne stared after him. “Now, what is this?” Anne wondered aloud. “A sad loss, if we can’t prevent it,” Patience gloomily stated. Slowly they followed Hengist.

It was a sad loss, as the girls had to acknowledge soon. Hengist absolutely refused getting into any scheme Anne or Patience came up with. He even made the Weasley twins tidy up the Common Room without magic, just for using some tickling charms on Nelly and Catherine, who were always wonderful targets for such spells. A week passed, and Hengist earned the praise of Percy Weasley for doing an excellent job. “Now, that’s enough,” Fred said enraged. “It is enough, yes, but what can we do?” Patience asked sadly. “Rouse him,” George suggested. “But how?” Anne wanted to know.

The twins exchanged a glance. “Dunno,” Fred admitted. Anne sighed. “It is such a sad thing – there’ll never again be Magpies as before – how can we endure this?” “Don’t get melodramatic,” Patience laughed. ”Hengist’s birthday is next week.” “And we shall get him a book entitled For Good Boys Only,” Anne suggested with a grimace. “Not the worst idea,” Patience said, “but how about something that shows him plainly how much we dislike his perfect prefect attitude?” “What will that be?” George asked curiously. “Something that makes him really angry at first and then laugh,” Anne mused. Patience nodded fervently. “A badger,” she said.

The other three stared at her. “What?” Fred asked carefully. “A badger,” Patience repeated. “He’s already got Mungus, I doubt he needs another pet,” Anne said. “Might be, but we can always give the badger to Hagrid if we don’t need it any longer. I’ve already talked to Hagrid about this,” Patience stated, smiling at the others. Suddenly Anne slapped her forehead. “Of course! A great idea!” “Isn’t it?” Patience agreed. Fred and George stared open-mouthed at them. “Are you mad?” George asked. “No. What do prefects wear?” “A badge,” Fred answered, then he and George got the pun. “Great. Let me guess, the poor animal’s called Prefect.” “Yes. Prefect Badger,” Patience laughed.

Hengist awoke early on his birthday, although it was a Sunday. Something was stirring on his bed. “Morning, Mungus,” he murmured sleepily. But it was not the ugly toad that sat on his chest, it was a bright-eyed young badger, now extending its tongue and licking once over Hengist’s nose. “Hello little fellow,” Hengist smiled. “Who are you?” The badger twinkled with its black eyes, then turned once as if wanting to show all its beauty. Hengist sat up, carefully steadying the badger so that it didn’t fall off the bed. Only now he saw the blue ribbon tied around the animal’s neck, holding a tiny scroll of parchment. Carefully Hengist opened the ribbon, while the Badger was licking his fingers affectionately. “You’re really a nice little badger,” Hengist told it, as he unrolled the scroll.

What he read made him furious: “We decided, as you were so keen on badges, to give you young Master Prefect Badger. Enjoy his company. Anne and Patience.” “Are they mad?” Hengist asked Prefect who was now rolled into a ball on Hengist’s left arm. Prefect lifted his head. “What do they mean, I’m keen on badges?” And then Hengist realized. He looked at his robes, tidily folded on the stool next to his bed, and the shining badge on top of it. Prefect made an odd sound, then closed his eyes. “Well, maybe I was a bit… strange these last days,” Hengist murmured. He carefully put badger onto his pillow and got up. He dressed, but deliberately left the prefect badge on the stool. In the Common Room were Patience and Anne, obviously waiting. ”Girls, thank you for the cute badger,” Hengist said. “Happy birthday!” Anne replied, and Patience hugged him. “Girls, sit down, I have to…” “Wait – where’s Prefect?” Anne interrupted him. Hengist looked around. “In my bed,” he said, shrugging. “The badge, not the badger,” Patience laughed. “In my bed,” Hengist repeated, a grin spreading on his face. “Is it still perfect weather for ghost voices?” Patience jumped into the air and Anne applauded. “You’re back, you’re back,” she said. Patience grinned. “And now – I assume your parents won’t be too happy with young master Prefect Badger, so… he’s Hagrid’s. Here are your presents – your real presents,” she said, waved her wand and made a small pile of presents visible on the table in front of the fireplace.

Table Turns

“Toilet after lunch.” Hengist whispered in passing Fred and George. Anne looked very pleased. Patience grinned broadly. Hengist seemed to be satisfied. Fred and George were very curious but they couldn’t ask them at the dinner table. They would have to wait until they’d meet later on in one of the toilets. They met in different toilets. The toilets had different numbers. The number of the toilet in which they’d meet was calculate in a very complicated way. Each day of the week had been given a certain number you had to add the date without the month to this number and then divide it by the month then you had to add all the numbers – but only a maximum of five until you had the number of one of the toilets. That had been Anne’s idea.

Fortunately they always found each other in one of the toilets. “What’s up?” Fred asked curiously when he entered the toilet. “We have a plan to annoy the Slytherins.” Patience said. “Since we are five now, we decided to do a bigger project than usual if you want to join us.” Anne added. “We want to bewitch the Slytherin table.” Hengist informed them. “Two first years who are making kind of a mess would be a good diversion.” Patience explained. “You don’t have to be caught. It would be enough to start a kind of rumour at the other end of the table.” Anne added. “We’ll need two minutes to perform our spells and it wouldn’t be too good to be watched by the teachers. Any ideas what you could do?” Hengist asked.

“We could do something with the food.” George suggested. Patience shook her head. “Then everyone will know that it had been you. Don’t get me wrong your food stuff is very funny but you should work on a broader variety of products for your shop.” Patience advised them. “Think about it. We can wait until you come up with something.” Hengist said. Fred and George nodded. They left the toilet.

“What’s wrong with Greg? He hasn’t looked at you in days.” Patience whispered at breakfast. Hengist nodded. “He keeps talking to that Leila Hertra though. I think he’s quite fond of her.” Hengist added. Patience kicked him under the table. “Sorry Anne. I would rather hang around with you than with Leila.” He said apologetically. “I wonder why he changed his mind. He’s been following you for a very long time.” Patience added. “I think he doesn’t want to interfere with a relationship perhaps he simply doesn’t like to be second on the list or he finally realized that it is useless now that I have a boyfriend.” Anne said casually. “You have a boyfriend?” Patience asked in disbelief.

Anne had already left the table. She was far away with her thoughts. “She might have one. She hasn’t told us about her holidays yet. Who knows...” Hengist remarked. “She would have told us. And she hasn’t received a single letter.” Patience reminded Hengist. “She spent her holidays with muggles – perhaps...” Hengist suggested. Patience jumped up and so did Hengist. They stopped Anne in one of the corridors. “Your boyfriend is a muggle, that’s why your thoughts keep drifting away.” Patience stated. Hengist looked questioningly at Anne. Anne shook her head. “I have no boyfriend. I only told that to Greg. It was the best way to break up with him.” Anne explained. “But your thoughts are not around Hogwarts.” Hengist remarked.

Anne nodded. She sat on one of the stairs. Patience and Hengist joined her. “I spent my last holidays on this farm in Southern Germany. It was wonderful. All these animals and the muggles. I never met kinder people. They showed me how to milk cows, mow grass and all those things. I stayed with the family and they treated me like I was one of them. We joked and laughed. I learned a lot about nature and what family ties mean. I’ve never seen anything like this before. I wish I was a muggle. I’d give all the magic for a life like that.” Anne confessed very close to tears. Patience put her arm around Anne’s shoulder. “I’d love to quit Hogwarts, say good bye to this magic world and settle down as a normal muggle.” Anne added. “Excuse me.” She whispered and went away – crying silently.

Hengist looked at Patience. “You think she’ll leave us for ever?” Hengist asked scared. Patience shrugged. Usually she could tell what Anne was up to but this time she really wasn’t sure. Of course this conversation had have another witness. Dumbledore had overheard the conversation or rather monologue. He was worried that Anne would quit the next time anything – no matter what – would happen. He wondered if that would have been what Anne thought she’d seen in the mirror of Erised.

It was Wednesday afternoon. They had Potions first. The first part of Potions. The practical part would follow. Snape told the class about the preparation of a healing potion when somebody knocked gently at the door. Before Snape could bark his usual ‘yes’ the door had been opened. “I’m sorry, Severus. Can I borrow one of your students for a couple of minutes?” Dumbledore asked in his warm voice. “Ah, Miss Symmons, if you please...” Dumbledore didn’t have to finish his sentence. He hadn’t waited for Snape’s reaction on his question. Anne followed Dumbledore she was the last one in the classroom to care what Snape would say. “Miss Symmons, just for the statistics, what would you have seen in the mirror – your heart’s desire?” Dumbledore asked casually.

Anne smiled. She had almost forgotten about that. “Myself – just like I am. I wouldn’t want to be anybody else or different.” Anne smiled broadly when she said the word ‘different’. Dumbledore gave her a relieved smile. Now he was sure that Anne would stay at Hogwarts. “Thank you, Miss Symmons. You were a big help.” Anne went back to the class. She was still smiling. “What happened?” Patience whispered. Anne shook her head. “Later.” She replied. After the first part of the lesson Patience, Anne and Hengist left the room. Patience grabbed Anne’s arm. “Now tell us.” Hengist nodded agreeing. “Dumbledore reminded me that I am happy. As happy as can be.” Anne explained. “You’re not leaving for the muggle world?” Hengist asked carefully. Anne shook her head. She embraced Hengist when Greg passed them. He looked disgusted. Then she embraced Patience. “Sorry for telling you such a nonsense.” Anne apologized. “Just promise to never scare us again!” Hengist said.

The Malignant Magpies were back – and they were better than ever before. No one was safe when they were up to a prank. Patience and Anne had got used to transforming John King’s pencils and pencil cases sometimes even his books Hengist was gratefully allowed to join them. “Mr King how did you manage to transfigure your pencil into a match, your left shoe into a bag and the box you should have transfigured didn’t change a bit its shape.” McGonagall said tiredly.

“We should coordinate our tricks.” Patience suggested after class. Hengist nodded. Anne grinned. “You don’t agree?” Patience asked. Anne shook her head. “Just imagine McGonagall’s and John’s face when there are three or more things transfigured – everything but the thing he should transfigure.” Anne burst out. Patience and Hengist joined her in her laughter. They were joined by Fred and George. “Toilet.” George whispered in passing. “After lunch.” Fred whispered. “It seems they had an idea.” Patience stated.

After lunch the three went to the toilet. Fred and George had been waiting for them. They had prepared a little demonstration. “Fred? George?” Hengist called entering the toilet. “They are in the wrong toilet again.” Anne sighed. “Well, why did you have to think of such a complicated way to calculate the number of the toilet in which we’ll meet.” Patience scolded her. Suddenly the lights went out. “What’s that?” Patience asked. “Muggles call it black out – but if I remember correctly it needs electricity to produce a black out.” Anne whispered. “What’s a black out?” Hengist asked. “When the lights go out because they don’t get any electricity.” Anne explained. “Well, then you don’t need electricity but you need no electricity to have a black out.” Patience added. “Well, the main point is that it is dark.” Anne added. “I’d call it black in then and not black out.” Hengist told her. “It’s a good idea after all.” Patience said.

Anne took out her wand. “Lumos.” She whispered. “It could work but we might not have two minutes.” Anne thought aloud. “But if Fred and George help us bewitching the Slytherin table it could work.” Hengist remarked. The lights went on again. “What do you say?” Patience asked Fred and George who were standing in front of her now. “Sure!” The two boys exclaimed. “Well, then let’s tell them what we’ll do.” Anne said cheeringly. Patience cleared her throat. “We’ll start with Wingardium Leviosa to make the Slytherin table fly. Then we’ll do the Reducio Charm. Then the door must be opened with another wave of one of our wands. Next comes the Decio Charm. And then – of course – the door must be closed again. We found a way to make the Reducio Charm only last for two minutes. So when the door is closed again the table will be big again.” Patience explained the plan.

Fred and George’s eyes had widened. “The problems with our plan are the following: We need a lot of time. It’s difficult to only make the table disappear and not the Slytherins.” “I wouldn’t call that a problem.” Anne threw in. “We practiced for days. I’d suggest you’ll open and close the door. You can open the door as soon as the lights went out. And you’ll close them when you think the right time has come. You won’t be able to hear us whisper our charms and spells. Use your imagination.” Hengist told them. Fred and George nodded. “We’ll practice before we’ll do it. Tonight after dinner this toilet.” Patience told them.

After dinner they met in the toilet again. “Anne, you’ll do the Decio Charm, Hengist you’ll do the Reducio Charm, Fred and George you know what you’ll do and I’ll do the Wingardium Leviosa Charm.” Patience ordered. The five conspirators nodded. “I brought a model.” Anne explained presenting a little table. She placed it in the middle of the toilet. “Engorgio” She whispered waving her wand. The table grew a little. “I’ll try to place it in that toilet cabin.” Anne added. The lights went out. It was silent in the toilet apart from breathing sounds. “Let me down and don’t dare to do the reducio thing on me!” Fred shouted suddenly. The lights went on again. Peacefully Fred floated in mid-air. Anne pointed her wand at him and he landed softly. “Guess I’ll have to work on my part.” Patience confessed laughingly. “You bet you have to practice!” Fred scolded her. He was a little angry.

Again the lights went out. This time Fred remained safely on the ground. The table flew up in the air was reduced by Hengist and Anne made it go through the door. The door was closed quietly. They practiced the procedure another five times. All right, now we’ll have to practice it in the Great Hall.” Patience revealed. Fred and George stared at her. “But we can’t go down there and let a table float out of the hall.” George told her. “That’s why we’ll do it at night.” Hengist explained. “Tonight we’ll all sneak out of Gryffindor tower and practice first with the lights on and then in complete darkness.” Anne added. “Don’t worry, we’ll tell them we’re looking for Patience’s cat when we are caught.” Hengist assured them. “When?” George asked. “One o’clock.” Patience replied. The boys nodded and left the toilet. “You don’t think we should have told them that this story never prevented any detentions?” Anne asked. Patience and Hengist shook their heads. Anne shrugged.

That night the three plus two Malignant Magpies went down to the Great Hall. Silently they sneaked into the Great Hall. Anne shut the door carefully. They all sat at their usual places. Patience started and made the table fly, Hengist reduced it, Fred had opened the door, Anne directed its way out of the hall and George closed the door silently. When they had rearranged the table thy tried it again. This time with the lights turned out. It worked perfectly well. All five were very relieved. They sneaked back to Gryffindor tower and went to sleep. They had planned to do their little trick the following evening. Breakfast was very hard for the twins. They thought of the upcoming evening all the time. They wondered what the Slytherins would say when the table had gone and they were very curious how Snape would react – well, they would find out very soon.

The Malignant Magpies remained calm. They knew very well that it would be foolish to giggle before and after the event. For first years this behaviour was of course all right. Patience, Anne and Hengist were very excited just like Fred and George. The lessons wouldn’t pass that day. Roland behaved so annoyingly that Patience couldn’t resist giving him a little electrostatic shock. Anne grinned but Ghewyn gave her a dark look. Patience shrugged apologetically. Dinner wasn’t too boring that day. The Hufflepuffs had a little problem. Their table was in a shaky state. They tried to calm it down but all in vain. “That’s great.” Hengist hissed. Anne wasn’t too sure about that. “Or they’ll put the blame on us as well.” Anne threw in. Patience shook her head they won’t catch us!” Patience assured her. “I don’t care too much about being caught. I did so many detentions so far – one more doesn’t change a thing.” Anne reminded her friend.

Finally the hour had come. The lights went out. Patience did her part of the plan. Fred had opened the door. Hengist reduced the table. It didn’t seem that they had made fly a Slytherin instead of the table. Anne directed the table towards the door when the lights suddenly went on again. “Oh dear!” She sighed directing the table back to the Slytherins. All of the teachers stared at her. Anne felt very uncomfortably and so did Patience, Hengist, Fred and George.

McGonagall seemed to be very furious. “To my office, now!” She ordered. Anne followed her. Snape and Dumbledore had got up as well. The door of the Great Hall was still open. McGonagall and the other teachers didn’t say a word until they had entered McGonagall’s office. “Miss Symmons, I’m disappointed.” That was all that McGonagall managed to say. Anne tried to gave her an apologetically smile but failed miserably. “I assume you did the trick on the Hufflepuff table as well.” McGonagall managed to add.

Anne remained silent. “Ten points from Gryffindor!” McGonagall informed her. “And one week of detention. I’m sure Professor Snape has an idea on that one.” McGonagall was very angry. Snape scanned Anne. “I wonder if you did that one alone.” He snarled. “Bet I couldn’t do it alone – want me to show you?” Anne asked. She hated it when Snape treated her in his arrogant manner. “First night trophy room, second night dungeons, third night Hospital Wing, fourth night Great Hall, fifth night entrance hall, sixth and seventh night refilling of potions.” He listed. He left the room. McGonagall followed him. Dumbledore and Anne were left behind. Anne thought he’d lecture her just like the others had done. “It was very loyal of you not to give away the names of your accomplices.” He said in his warm voice.

Anne should have known that Dumbledore always knew what was going on in his school. Anne didn’t say a word. “Why this dislike for the Slytherins?” He wanted to know. “They are awful. I can’t stand them.” Anne whispered. “I didn’t do them any harm.” Anne added. Dumbledore nodded. “The Malignant Magpies and their little tricks, what will this school be without them? But as I have noticed you train two new troublemakers. You are still very young, all of you. Enjoy your youth as long as you can.” Dumbledore advised her. Anne didn’t move. Dumbledore left the office. Slowly Anne followed him down to the Great Hall. Her friends were very excited. “What happened?” Patience whispered. “One week of detentions.” Anne replied. “They didn’t say a word to us.” Hengist told her. Anne didn’t comment on this statement. They finished their meal.

In the common room when the others had gone to sleep Hengist raised the topic again. “Why went the lights on again anyway?” He asked. Fred and George shrugged. “It was Filch.” Patience told them. “I saw him standing at the entrance. If you light one candle you automatically light all the others as well.” Patience resumed. “But why didn’t they call us as well?” Fred wanted to know. “You didn’t tell them who else was involved?” Patience asked. “Would only have made it worse.” Anne told her. The four had a bad conscience. Anne wasn’t too upset about her detentions. She had been right, she had got so many detentions during her time at Hogwarts that those really didn’t matter.

Show-Off Percy

“Professor! I wondered if we could transform this guinea pig into a cushion!” Oliver Wood rolled his eyes. “Percy, keep your mouth shut!”, he whispered through gritted teeth. Percy turned and looked at Oliver as if he were an ugly toad like Mungus. “Not now, Weasley”, Professor McGonagall answered patiently. “We will do that perhaps next term. Wood, a word with you after class.” Oliver sighed. Then he returned to transforming his hedgehog into a pin-cushion. In the evening he gave the pin-cushion to Patience. “Try it”, he said. Patience took a needle and put it into Oliver’s opus. The pin-cushion squeaked and said “Do it again, Percy, please!” Patience burst into laughter.

Some first years, among them the Weasley twins, had heard the pin-cushion’s squeak and came over. “Do it again!”, Fred said with glistening eyes. Patience didn’t need to be begged. She had grabbed a handful of needles and began to pierce the hedgehog-cushion over and over again. Anne was laughing hard. Hengist scowled. “I guess I’d have to tell you off”, he said lazily from the depths of an armchair. “But I believe my colleague is heading for you. Good girl Ghewyn!”, he called. Ghewyn shot him an angry glance and walked straight over. “You are hurting Percy’s feelings. Stop that or I’ll have to take points off you!”, she said stiffly.

Patience had only one needle left. She offered it to Ghewyn. The girl backed away, disgustedly. “Hey, Ghewyn!”, Patience called her back. Reluctantly, she came. “What?” “Where shall I put this needle if not safely into the pin-cushion? It could hurt somebody’s bottom, lying around”, Patience said innocently. “Okay, do it, then”, Ghewyn sighed and pretended not to hear the last squeak. “Percy’s really a nuisance”, Oliver complained. “And you are not, Verres?” “This is a real problem, my dear sister.” Oliver really looked cast down. “Today even McGonagall reproached me for being nasty to Percy.” He grimaced. “I can’t help it.” “I understand fully well. You should finish him off once and for all. You have the Quidditch team and the rest of your year, so don’t worry if there’s Percy who doesn’t like you”, Patience encouraged him. “I haven’t heard that”, Hengist grinned. “By the way, when do we have our first match?” “In four weeks, against Ravenclaw”, Oliver said, brightening up considerably. “Ravenclaw”, Hengist said dreamily but checked himself quickly.

Anne and Patience exchanged a meaningful glance. Oliver heaved himself up again and said good night. “We should go to bed as well”, Hengist proposed. “No, I want to talk to you, Hengist”, Anne quickly said. Hengist raised one eyebrow. “Aren’t you talking to me now?”, he returned. “Yes, but I want a private talk, please. Though Patience might be allowed to join us.” Patience thanked them both ironically. They had to wait another half hour until everybody else had left the common room. Then Anne leaned forward. “Hengist, don’t you think it’s time to tell us?”, she asked. Hengist’s face was blank. He tried to speak, but failed. “Anne, what should he tell us?”, Patience asked.

Anne smiled at her. “Dear, blind Patience. Have you never remarked that Hengist is a bit queer?” Patience shrugged. “Look around, everybody’s a bit queer!” Hengist managed to smile at that. “Yes, Patience, but not as queer as I am or as Anne thinks I am.” Now both girls looked inquisitively at Hengist. He swallowed hard. “Okay, yes, Anne, I should at least tell you – and maybe David Bantam”, he tried to joke. “Go on”, Anne said a bit impatiently. “Okay, Miss Symmons, just as you wish. I’m gay.” That came so quickly that Patience only gaped at him. Anne, however, had a knowing smile on her face. “I knew”, she said calmly. Hengist grinned. “What do you say, now? Don’t want to be my friends anymore?” Behind his joking voice lay a streak of real concern. Patience jumped up and threw her arms around him.

“Oh, Hengist, don’t be stupid, of course we’ll stay your friends. Nothing whatsoever changes, does it?” “Er.. yes, okay, if you’d let me breathe again.” Hengist freed himself and got up. “And now I want to go to bed. Good night, both of you.” “You knew?”, Patience asked incredulously the second Hengist had vanished on the stairs to the boys’ dormitories. Anne shrugged. “Well, see, he never interested himself for either of us nor for any other girl. And when he began to look at David bantam with these longing eyes…” Patience sighed. “I’m always so blind in that respect”, she said yawning.

Monday evening Oliver came into the common room laughing wildly. He dropped into an armchair next to his sister and Anne who were playing Wizard’s Chess. Patience was glad to have an excuse to stop the disastrous game – she was as always losing spectacularly. “What is it?”, she asked. “Wait, I have to breathe first”, Oliver begged, clutching his side by now. Hengist and Brian came over to them as well, and of course the Weasley twins and Lee Jordan were eager to hear what was so funny. They had already earned a bit of a reputation and Patience had once overheard Professor McGonagall talking to Professor Flitwick about the new Gryffindors: “I thought our trio of the Malignant Magpies were bad enough, but it seems these twins are even worse!”, the teacher had sighed. Patience grinned remembering that now. “Have you recovered?”, Anne asked, placing her queen in front of Patience’s. Patience didn’t care. “Hey, Patience, you’ve lost again!”, Anne said, pointing to the board. “Did you expect something else?”, Patience giggled. “You know I always lose against you. Now, Oliver, c’mon, we’re all waiting!” Oliver looked around at his gathered audience.

He smiled broadly. “Fine. Okay. Remember you told me to get at Percy?” Patience nodded. Hengist looked over his shoulder to see if Ghewyn Rhys was listening. She was not. “Go on, I might be a prefect but I can forget about that as well”, Hengist said. Oliver bowed to him mockingly. “I always listen to my revered sister’s advise”, Oliver went on, ignoring Patience’s snigger, “and so I thought of a way to make Percy a bit less… well, you all know what he is like.” The general murmur told him he was right. “He likes to be best in every class, and unfortunately he manages that – well, he hasn’t got any other interests, has he? And then he keeps talking about wanting to join the Ministry! Boring! He doesn’t like playing Quidditch!”

The Weasley twins began to laugh. “He isn’t that good at Quidditch”, Fred explained. “He was worst in our family, mind you, it isn’t easy to top Charlie!” Anne and Patience exchanged an amused glance. “Let Oliver talk now”, Lee Jordan cut in. Oliver grinned. “Percy’s a nuisance, all right? He gets on my nerves every day, he has been getting on my nerves since my first day at Hogwarts. And so he needed to get to the ground again. Well, I first briefly thought to get at him during a flying lesson, but that would have been less fun for flying, as I pointed out, is the only lesson he isn’t that brilliant in. To do anything in front of McGonagall would be extremely unwise. Flitwick – boring. Holly Balloon – we don’t want to shock her, she’s quite… cute!”, Oliver grinned at Patience when using her favourite adjective. “So I chose a Potions lesson.” The audience gasped.

Oliver nodded vigorously. “Yes, a Potions lesson, and how much fun that was, I can’t tell you.” “At least you’re still alive”, Brian stated dryly. “What did you do?”, Anne asked eagerly, bending forward. “I chose a seat next to Percy and took my little prepared things with me”, Oliver answered. “I had some fake wands with me, and some fake potions ingredients. Thanks to my sister’s trying potions at home we have a large jar with all those things she made.” Patience blushed. “You didn’t use any of my little fake daffodil roots or the rat claws made of jelly?”, she asked cautiously. “Oh, of course I did, dear Helena, what did you think I’d do? And then I took care to remember what you told me about how they would work used with real potions ingredients. Did you try that?”

“No, never. Mum would have killed me if I had tried”, Patience confessed. The others laughed. “Well, I don’t think any mother would like her kitchen blown up”, Patience defended herself. “No, most probably not”, Hengist grinned. “What potion did you do?”, George asked. “A balm for healing wounds”, Oliver answered. “Unfortunately I couldn’t use either fake wands of Zonko’s nor rat claws of Patience’s. But still, I had my ingredients well sorted. This special balm contains tree oil, turpentine, earthworms, red spinach, camomile and St. John’s flowers.” Oliver stopped for a moment, looking at the faces around. Patience’s eyes sparkled and told him she knew what was to come, but she seemed to be the only one. “We had some tree oil at home, and I fear it was the wrong one. I made sure I exchanged Percy’s oil with mine and Percy’s earthworms with mine which were still living. His St John’s flowers were not quite what they looked like. In fact I fear they were only transformed daisies.”

“You transformed them?”, Lee cut in, gaping. “No”, Oliver confessed. “Patience did last night.” Patience shook her head. “You asked me to do an easy transfiguration, so I did – and you use them for your little prank!” “Have you got some left?”, Anne asked. Oliver sighed. “No, we needed them all. Sorry, Anne, but simply ask Patience”, Oliver suggested and went on telling his story. “Snape was swooping around but never noticed my changes. And Percy was so eager to follow the recipe as exact as possible. Well, at first nothing bad happened. He gave the earthworms, the spinach and the flowers into his cauldron and stirred them. He saw that something was wrong with his worms, because the stunning spell didn’t seem to work all too well. I made sure my worms were also looking as if they were still able to move. Then I told him everything was okay.” Fred and George chuckled delightedly.

“There couldn’t anything explode”, Oliver hurried to explain, seeing Hengist’s slightly concerned look. “We had to add the turpentine. And then, at last, the tree oil was put into our potion. Mine went a clear pink at once, as was requested, but Percy’s began to boil and bubble and looked olive green. Snape came over and looked at the potion. ‘Weasley, what do you think is that?’, he asked and tried to put a bit onto a spoon. Well, the spoon began to shrink.” The students laughed. Patience nodded delightedly. “You’ve made up another sort of Shrinking Solution, a funny one, really, You need live earthworms and green tea tree oil for it.” Her explanation made the others laugh even more. “Snape threatened Percy he should have to drink the potion if he didn’t manage to clear it off without shrinking the sink.” Anne almost fell off her chair, laughing hard. “I guess he didn’t manage?”, she asked with difficulty. “He didn’t. The sink shrunk. And Percy’s cauldron did, so that the potion spilled to the floor and made the stones shrink. Some drops hit Snape’s desk, and it shrunk as well. His phials were all shattered on the floor.”

By now the whole Gryffindor Common Room had gathered around Oliver Wood and was roaring with laughter. Even Ghewyn, usually sterner than McGonagall, laughed with them. “Snape bellowed at Percy, Summoned some bottle and told all students to leave immediately if they wouldn’t want to become giants. We went out as fast as we could. Percy was white as a cloth. It seems, though, as if Snape managed to give everything its proper size back!” “A pity, really”, Anne stated. “Who’s got Snape tomorrow first? Any Gryffindors?” “Yes”, Seamus O’Brien, a tall, sleek seventh-year, said sadly. “But only in the evening, maybe he’s forgotten about Percy’s special Shrinking Potion by then.” The Gryffindors doubted that Seamus’ hope had any foundation, but this double prank on Snape and Percy was worth a week of extremely tetchy Snapeish behaviour.

Destination, Deliberation, Infusion

“My dearest students,” Professor Flitwick addressed the gathered 6^th-years of all houses. “All of you who will turn seventeen this term are allowed to take part in a twelve-week Ministry-approved Apparition course. Those of you who will only seventeen next term will have to join the upcoming sixth years in their lessons. If you have any questions concerning Apparating, please don’t hesitate to either ask me or your official Ministry Apparition instructor Wilkie Twycross.” Nobody had any question.

“Oh damn,” Patience said. “I won’t be allowed to take part!” Hengist and Anne took Patience’s arms and dragged her out of earshot of Flitwick. “Hey, what’s all this about!” Patience complained. “Anne, would you like to do the honours?” Hengist wanted to know. “We, that is Hengist and me, proudly present our newly gathered knowledge of potions.” Anne started. “By obtaining our new and by this time renowned skills, we stumbled across an invisible infusion…” Hengist boasted. “…invisibility infusion.” Anne corrected him. “Yes, right, which is able to turn its drinker invincible.” “…invisible.” Anne said. “We can brew it within the next 24 hours.” She promised.

It was true that Hengist and Anne had turned into quite able potions brewers during the last term. However, Patience was not really convinced that the plan would work out. “I’ll still have to take the course again next year – and I can’t even pay 12 galleons now,” she said. “Well, you don’t have to pay, Patience, if you’re invisible,” Hengist pointed out cheerfully.

At that moment, Professor McGonagall approached them. “I am sorry, Miss Wood, but you are too young to take this course. Next year will be your turn.” Patience nodded. “I understand. Have fun!” And she left. McGonagall was puzzled. She had expected a tantrum at least. Now she felt there was something fishy going on – but how to prove it? Impossible.

“Good morning,” said the Ministry wizard. He cleared his throat and repeated his greeting. “Good morning! My name is Wilkie Twycross and I shall be your Ministry Apparition Instructor for the next twelve weeks. I hope to be able to prepare you for your Apparition test in this time, by which time many of you may be ready to take your test. As you may know it is usually impossible to Apparate or Disapparate within Hogwarts. The headmaster has lifted this enchantment purely within the Great Hall, for one hour, so as to enable you to practise. May I emphasize that you will not be able to Apparate outside the walls of this Hall, and that you would be unwise to try. I would like each of you to place yourselves now so that you have a clear five feet of space in front of you.”

Anne and Hengist placed themselves under the nose of McGonagall to make sure they had all her attention and by this could prove that they had a clear conscience. Twycross waited patiently for all the students to find some space. “Thank you,” said Twycross. “Now then…” He waved his wand and wooden hoops appeared on the floor in front of every student. “I want you to Disapparate from where you stand now and to Apparate within the wooden hoop in front of you. The important things to remember when Disapparating and Apparating are the Three D’s!” said Twycross. “Destination, determination, deliberation! Step one: fix your mind firmly upon the desired destination, in this case, the interior of your hoop. Kindly concentrate upon that destination now.” Hengist and Anne looked at each other, but didn’t dare to grin because of McGonagall’s presence. They did as they were told. Some of the other students, however, were giggling.

“Step two: Focus your determination to occupy the visualized space! Let your yearning to enter it flood from your mind to every particle of your body!” Nelly, some rows behind Hengist and Anne, suddenly burst into laughter. “Miss Dean, please behave yourself,” McGonagall said sternly and walked towards Nelly. Finally, Hengist and Anne were at liberty to grin.

“Step three – and only when I give the command: turn on the spot, feeling your way into nothingness, moving with deliberation! On my command now… one, two, three.” At exactly that moment John King’s wooden hoop exploded. Hengist and Anne ducked as did the rest of their year. “John must have misunderstood. Not detonation – deliberation,” Hengist joked. “I’m so sorry, professor,” John apologized to no teacher in particular. “Never mind, never mind,” Twycross told him. His wooden hoop was replaced by a new one and they all had to try again.

As Hengist and Anne tried to concentrate, the other students tried to Disapparate and Apparate, producing a great variety of sounds and vibrations. “How are we supposed to concentrate in this din?” Anne complained and consequently put her fingers into her ears. Hengist didn’t follow suit, just in case he would have to duck again. He was lucky: nothing more happened during the rest of the lesson. However, he had to pinch Anne in order to tell her that the lesson was over. “What?” Anne snapped. “We’re finished,” Hengist said curtly. Anne repeated: “What?” Hengist drew her fingers out of her ears. “The lesson is over,” he said clearly. “But I haven’t managed to Apparate anywhere,” Anne said surprised. “Neither has anyone else,” Hengist consoled her.

Anne checked her watch. “It’s high time…” She stopped dead. “High time for what?” McGonagall wanted to know. “Homework,” Anne lied, grabbed Hengist’s hand and dragged him out of the Great Hall. They returned to the Common Room where Patience was waiting for them.

“What was it like?” she asked at once. “No time, we have to brew a potion,” Anne reminded her. “Ask anyone else,” Hengist said and followed Anne to the staircases. Anne went to fetch some ingredients, returning to the bedroom door every now and then to throw something down to Hengist. After a couple of minutes they left again.

Patience meanwhile had cornered Catherine and Nelly. “What was it like?” she asked. “Why can’t you join us?” Nelly retorted. “I’m not turning seventeen this term – in fact, only next year,” Patience explained and shrugged. Catherine gaped at her. “But my mum says you cannot enter Hogwarts when you’ve not already turned eleven.” Patience frowned. “Really? Well, I was ten. But – that’s really not important – what is Apparating like?” “Funny,” Nelly said and giggled. “Why?” “You’ve got this hoop where you have to get into, and you turn on the spot – and nothing happens,” Nelly summed up her experiences and she and Catherine lapsed into a violent fit of the giggles. Patience rolled her eyes to the ceiling and left well alone.

In the meantime, in Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom, Hengist and Anne were busy preparing the Invisibility Infusion. “I still don’t know why it is so important how you cut the rubber plant roots.” Hengist mused. “Not think, do!” Anne commanded and cut her part of the ingredients. They followed the recipe and let the infusion simmer for the following night. The next morning they added the rest of the ingredients and finished the potion. When it had cooled down and had turned drinkable the two students looked at each other. “You try it?” Hengist wanted to know hoping that Anne would say ‘yes’. “You know what you’re still lacking is determination!” Anne grinned.

Anne walked back to the Gryffindor Common Room. When she arrived there she looked out for Patience. Patience was sitting at a table working on a complicated translation for Ancient Runes. Suddenly the table shivered and she heard Hengist’s voice saying “Ouch!” “You’re invisible, Hengist, that doesn’t mean your body is able to walk through solid wood.” Anne told him unnerved. Patience looked up. “Where is Hengist?” she wanted to know. Anne sat down next to her, making Hengist saying “Ouch” again. “So sorry, didn’t see you,” she apologized and chose another seat. “We finished the promised potion and Hengist was kind enough to try it. He will be invisible for approximately an hour.” Patience stared at the spot where she assumed Hengist to be. “You didn’t really drink what you brewed?” she asked concerned. “Calm down, it’s always worked before – nobody stayed invisible forever,” Anne said offhandedly. “Nobody?” Patience asked alarmed. “Who were your guinea-pigs?” “We were – and did you see us this morning?” Anne asked. Patience sighed. “Point taken.” “Besides, for Disapparating and Apparating you need three things: destination…” “… determination…” “… and detonation.” Hengist and Anne revealed.

“Detonation?” Patience asked puzzled. “I never heard an explosion when mum or dad Disapparated.” “That’s because you’re not related to John King,” Hengist’s voice said. “You know that’s pretty weird not seeing you but hearing you close by,” Patience told him. “Yeah, well, imagine me shrugging,” Hengist replied. “It wouldn’t be so bad if he didn’t keep running into solid objects and people,” Anne complained. “What about detonation, then?” Patience changed topics again.

“It’s actually deliberation,” Anne informed her. “And you need to concentrate on the spot you want to Apparate in.” “That’s all quite nice – but what if the spot is somewhere I’ve never been before?” Patience asked. Anne stared at the apparently empty chair opposite her. “No idea,” Hengist confessed. “You know, that’s a question to ask this Twycross.” “Then youc an tell me next week,” Patience concluded. “No – next week you will hear it yourself,” Anne said. “You don’t expect me to drink your potion?” Patience retorted.

Divining Rods

As usual Professor Trelawney’s room up in the north tower was overheated and filled with the sweet odour of burning herbs. As it was a cool, grey, misty day the students enjoyed it. Hengist had brought his wizard’s chess set and planned to beat Patience time and again while Trelawney was trying to teach them to see through the mist in their crystal balls or something the like. However, the chess pawns had no chance to resume their epic battle. When, accompanied by the slight tinkling of glass pearls, Sybil Trelawney appeared, she cleared her throat to get the attention of her class. “Today, my dears, we will start practising with our divining rods.”

“How does she know we want to practise with our rods?” Brian whispered quite audibly, making everyone around giggle rather nervously. Patience frowned. “Shut up, Cullen.” “Become a fan of airy-fairy dragonflies, Wood?” Brian retorted, but a very angry glance from Hengist, with a slight straightening of his robes to make his prefect badge shine, silenced Brian easily. Professor Trelawney took up two strangely shaped metal rods from the table next to her. They looked a lot like fishing rods to everyone present. “That’s why muggles think you can find water with them,” Hengist muttered, a grin spreading on his face. Patience, however, completely missed the joke not being familiar with fishing rods. “You will have to take the rods into both your hands, not too fast, feel the energy flowing through them. Then close your eyes and think of a very easy question – one that can be answered by yes or no,” the professor explained.

Hengist took up his metal rods. He felt nothing, except that the metal warmed in his hands. Patience followed his example, closing her eyes and apparently waiting. Nothing happened. She shrugged. “Did you feel anything?” Hengist whispered. “No,” Patience replied. “I’ll try again.” She did, and this time she tried to really concentrate. She thought of the question she wanted to get answered (Will Gryffindor win the Quidditch Cup?) as hard as she was able to, but nothing happened. Finally she deliberately made her rods cross in midair. Trelawney saw it and applauded. “Very well, Miss Wood,” she said. Patience opened her eyes and smiled sweetly. “Yes, isn’t it?” she said. Hengist frowned.

Then he suddenly felt a surge of heat in his hands and nearly dropped the rods. He thought of the question he had had in mind and suddenly the rods crossed. Hengist went pale. Patience watched him anxiously. Trelawney had her hand on Patience’s shoulder to keep her from touching Hengist. Now the rods slowly moved apart. Hengist’s hands remained motionless, only the rods moved. Then he dropped the rods with a small gasp. “What did you ask, my dear?” Trelawney asked eagerly. Hengist shook his head. “I won’t tell,” he said. Trelawney looked disappointed, but Patience quickly volunteered: “I can tell you,” she said. Trelawney nodded, still gazing at Hengist occasionally. “I asked if Gryffindor would win the Quidditch Cup,” Patience explained, and almost everyone present grinned. Brian voiced what they all thought: “What a surprise!” The tension broke at once.

The rest of the lesson passed uneventfully, but Patience noticed that Hengist did not take up his divining rods again. She waited until they were quite alone, climbing down from the North Tower. “Hengist, what was that?” Hengist turned to her. “We have to find Anne,” he said, evading a clear answer. “Anne won’t be awake now, she’s got another free lesson, as do we,” Patience reminded him. Hengist shook his head. “I don’t care. Wake her,” he ordered. Something in him made Patience drop every argument and do as she was told. Anne was sitting in the Common Room anyway, so there was no delay. Hengist turned on his heel without a word and went out again, ignoring the Fat Lady’s protests.

Anne and Patience followed, Anne asking what was wrong and Patience unable to tell her more than what she had witnessed in Divination. Hengist walked towards the border of the lake and sat down in the shadow of a willow. The girls followed his example, but nobody spoke. Finally Hengist said: “I asked if He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named would return,” he reported. Patience gasped. “The rods said what?” Anne enquired in a hushed voice. “Yes,” Patience said as Hengist did not look as if willing to answer. Anne shook her head. “Actually I always thought that whole subject was nonsense,” she said lightly. Hengist scowled. “I wouldn’t be so sure. The second question was if we would be left out of the conflict – we, that’s you and Patience and me,” Hengist said with an edge to his voice neither of his friends had ever heard before. He sounded much more mature than ever, and there was a core of steel in him neither Patience nor Anne had ever really appreciated. “The answer was no,” he added.

Patience drew up her knees as if she was suddenly cold. Anne sat quite still, thinking frantically about what to say. “And it’s only logical, isn’t it?” Hengist went on. He was staring over the grey water. Dark clouds were drawing on the other side, announcing rain. “No,” Anne said, but she knew she only said it because the idea scared her so much. Patience cleared her throat. “I thought You-Know-Who had disappeared,” she said. Hengist snorted. “Disappeared!” “But that’s the thing,” Anne suddenly said, changing her opinion. “It’s not that he has died, that anyone saw him vanish and become dust – like that Saruman, remember?” she asked Patience who nodded amused. “No spirit being blown by the wind towards the deserts of the East,” she said. Hengist smiled and relaxed for the first time since the rods had moved.

“But rumours say he actually went to the east,” he said. Patience frowned. “Saruman?” “No, You-Know-Who.” Silence followed as the Magpies thought about Hengist’s prediction – or rather the divining rods’ prediction. “Can’t they be faulty? Unbalanced?” Anne suggested. Hengist shrugged. “I suppose, but still… It is odd.” “It’s not odd. It’s frightening,” Patience stated. Hengist nodded, his teeth clenched. He wished he was wrong, but deep in him he felt he had not been wrong. The three ignored the bell that announced the next lesson, although Patience would have had Ancient Runes. Discussing the possible return of the Dark Lord seemed much more important than deciphering some old Germanic spells. The next bell they could not ignore, and the rain had reached them as well, so they went inside, to attend Potions in the dungeons. Snape’s words rushed over their heads, and it was the first time in years Patience completely messed up her potion. Snape frowned but said nothing to her.

He rather asked Dicket if he knew anything that had happened. Dicket shrugged. “I don’t know. Wait, I’ve heard that Hengist predicted something he didn’t want to talk about,” he said. Snape sighed. “There are people who should not do Divination. Presumably he predicted the death of his toad or that cat.” Dicket grinned. “Bethesda, not that cat,” he corrected his friend. McGonagall entered. “Minerva, be careful with your Magpie trio this afternoon,” Dicket called over to her. “What is it?” McGonagall asked, coming over with a mug of coffee in her hands. “Seems Sybil managed to shake them considerably. Severus tells me Patience has messed up a potion.” “An easy one,” Snape added. McGonagall frowned. “That is strange indeed. I shall talk to them immediately.”

But once outside the staff room, McGonagall decided to visit Sybil Trelawney in her room up in the North Tower. She hesitated before calling for her colleague. It was an open secret that Trelawney and McGonagall were less than friends. “Minerva, I thought you would come to see me,” Trelawney greeted McGonagall. “You should,” McGonagall agreed through gritted teeth. “I heard that something occurred in your lesson today to shake some of my students profoundly,” she then went on. Trelawney nodded. “Unfortunately I cannot tell you more than that Mr Alret’s divining rods moved and predicted something – but he never told me what he asked for.” Trelawney looked slightly offended. McGonagall smiled. “Well, Sybil, maybe it was of no importance at all.” McGonagall turned and left the Divination teacher.

She found the Magpies in the Great Hall, all three of them looking rather pale. “Miss Symmons, Miss Wood, Mr Alret, a word with you,” she said. The whole table chuckled and whispered, thinking the Magpies had again been responsible for a prank. Fred and George Weasley looked slightly embarrassed, fearing that their friends would be blamed for something the twins had done. It was a sign for how much the thought of Voldemort returning bothered the Magpies that they never thought of this possibility. McGonagall took them to her office and asked them to sit down. “Now, tell me what you asked your divining rods, Mr Alret,” McGonagall said once the door was closed and the Magpies all had a lemon cookie in their hands.

Hengist swallowed, debating whether to tell the truth or not. “I asked if You-Know-Who would return, and if me and my friends would be involved in the crisis following that event,” he explained. McGonagall raised her eyebrows. “And you do believe that these rods told the truth?” Hengist nodded, although doubts were rising in him. Now, under McGonagall’s cool eyes and in her room where nothing whatsoever reminded of Divination, the idea sounded absurd. “So you were discussing what would happen?” McGonagall went on, seeing the nods and shaking her head. “Really! Neither of you has ever been known for being a true seer, so do not worry about that. I hear Miss Wood predicted Gryffindor would win the Quidditch Cup.” Patience blushed. “I moved the rods deliberately,” she confessed.

McGonagall smiled at her. “I see. Now, did you never think of the possibility that Mr Alret moved his rods as well? Unconsciously, because the rods gave exactly those answers he feared most.” McGonagall looked at the three in turn. Anne was the first to smile. “Yes,” she said, sounding relieved. Patience was still in doubt but had to admit it was a possibility. But when Hengist said: “Yes, that must be it. How else can these rods move?” the matter was settled. “Fine. Then please concentrate on your lessons again.” The Magpies left McGonagall’s office feeling so relieved they were beaming like idiots. “Never, ever scare me like that again,” Patience begged Hengist and hugged him in her relief. Hengist, looking a bit embarrassed, patted her back. “I’ll try,” he promised. Anne laughed. “I’m really glad I never took that idiotic subject!”

Unseen apparating

When the next Saturday arrived, the 6^th years were on their way to the Great Hall again. Twycross greeted them and asked them to place themselves like they had the last time. Anne raised her hand. “Excuse me, sir, I have a question.” Twycross beamed at her. “Yes, my dear, go ahead.” “What if you have never been to the spot where you want to Apparate?” Anne asked. “That is a highly intelligent question,” Twycross said delighted. Snape rolled his eyes and Flitwick applauded silently. “However, we all have our ideas about how things will look like. And anyway, the experienced witch or wizard will always know the name of the place they want to go to. Once you’ve managed to Apparate in a space you can see in front of you, the next level is to find yourself somewhere you haven’t been before. If you concentrate hard enough on the exact address of where you are going to – and of course given the fact that there are no spells at work preventing your safe arrival – you will find yourself exactly where you want to go.” He looked at Anne. “Is that a sufficient explanation, love?” Anne nodded.

Right next to her, Patience nodded as well. Nobody saw this, however – Patience had finally yielded to the pleas of her friends and drank the Invisibility Infusion. Now she tried to concentrate on the open spot just behind Anne’s ring, as she did not want to Apparate and collide with Anne. She needn’t have worried, though: Just as her friends had been spectacularly unsuccessful in their first lesson, so was she.

Everybody in the Hall was concentrating on hoops, everybody was determined to get into the destined hoop with deliberate movement – but nobody really succeeded. Frustrated, Brian Cullen jumped into his hoop. “There I am,” he declared. “That proves you a candidate for disqualification,” Mike told him, doubling up with laughter. “Yes, yes, very fine,” Brian muttered and went back to the start.

“Just spin on the spot, just turn, and think of the hoop,” Patience muttered. Anne stared into the void next to her. “Will you keep silent?” she demanded of the wall. Patience giggled. “I’m here, and…” She fell silent in an instant when Snape passed Anne. She even had to dodge him, but she was not entirely quick enough: His long black cloak brushed her. Snape frowned, looking for the obstacle. “Miss Symmons, it is highly inadvisable to practise Apparition without knowing about its dangers. Should somebody try to learn it without experienced, fully qualified wizards and witches around, the consequences might be the loss of limbs or other body parts,” he snarled. Anne swallowed. “I… I know that, sir.” “Really? Splinching, as this phenomenon is called, is no joke – but, Miss Symmons, there is hardly any danger in you being victim of Splinching since you cannot even concentrate on a simple hoop enough to get in there,” Snape said acidly and swept away.

Anne tried even harder the next time. However, she did not concentrate on the hoop in front of her but the spot exactly behind Snape. She turned, Disapparated and Apparated right behind Snape, kicked him, Disapparated again and was the happiest student in the hall when she had safely returned to her place. Snape was rubbing his leg, but could not, much to his chagrin, make out the source of the pain. “Oh, you did it, Anne!” Hengist said delighted. There was a faint “Whoop!” from the void on Anne’s right side. Anne bowed. “Shall I do it again?” she asked. “But keep to your hoop!” Patience advised her in a hiss. “Why?” Anne wanted to know. “Because you’ll get me detected and instead of Apparition it’s going to be detention next,” Patience explained.

After that lesson, Anne always concentrated with determination on kicking Snape whenever she Apparated – it worked perfectly. “But I won’t concentrate on that – hang on, was Snape kidding or is there anything called Splinching?” a finally visible Patience asked worried. “Oh come off it, he just tried to scare us in case we had you hidden somewhere,” Anne dismissed it. “In case? I was there – right next to him!” Patience protested. Hengist raised his hands. “Peace! Maybe he really suspects us, but… I’ve never heard of Splinching,” he said.

Patience and Anne exchanged a glance but said nothing. “What?” Hengist asked them. “Well, Hengist, let me put it this way: You haven’t heard of most things in the wizarding world,” Patience kindly told him. Hengist blushed. “Right. But,” he grinned slyly, “you haven’t heard of Splinching, either!” He looked triumphantly at his friends. “Point taken,” Anne admitted. “Splinching? Oh, that’s horrible,” said Ghewyn who had been close to them. “What is itß” Patience asked her. Ghewyn grimaced. “It’s when you Disapparate but part of your body stays behind. It is said to hurt terribly and, urgh, just imagine! There are somebody’s toes standing in a street and the rest is gone!” “Or somebody lost a buttock,” Mike added. “Or his nose,” Brian added. “That’s not a laughing matter,” Ghewyn hissed.

Patience was fairly subdued. If she got Splinched, and nobody could see her, she would be lost. Nobody would come to her aid. Plus – how should she know she had been Splinched? “Anne – do you really think it is such a good idea to continue the lessons invisibly?” she asked uncertainly. “Yes,” Anne said firmly. “Because only an idiot like Roland Banks or John King can manage to Splinch himself.” “But I can’t even see myself – how do I know what I’ve lost?” Patience asked miserably. Hengist grinned. “Ghewyn says it hurts. I should think you’ll notice – but, in any case, you won’t Splinch yourself.” “And if it makes you feel better, you can touch every part of your body whenever you’ve managed to Apparate,” Anne suggested. “Besides, as long as Hengist doesn’t manage to Splinch himself I wouldn’t be too worried.” “Hey!” Hengist said indignantly. “It’s just a metaphor. You started much earlier than Patience and therefore should be faster in anything you achieve even if that is Splinching,” Anne explained. Hengist only shook his head.

Back to the Roots

While the whole class was assembled in Greenhouse 5, Anne stood shivering outside. She was not allowed in there, because Professor Sprout kept a rare specimen of New Year’s Mauve. As the Professor did not want her carefully nurtured plant to die, Anne stood outside and waited for the lesson to end. Actually, that was not what she was supposed to do. She had been left outside to figure out a way to find some magical roots. But as Anne had forgotten her book, she could not identify them anyway. She had dug up some roots, yes – but all of them had seen her, shrivelled up and lay now lifeless on the ground. Anne sighed exasperatedly.

From inside, she heard laughter and the warm light looked very comforting. Anne stared into the grey, cloudy sky and dearly wished plants would not react as allergic to her as they did. She walked a few steps away. A grey shadow skittered past. “Hurry, Flee-farm,” she called listlessly. Bethesda hissed furiously but ran on. “Why me?” Anne asked the sky. As an answer, a slight drizzle of rain began to fall.

“Hello, Anne. What’re yeh doin’ ‘ere?” Anne turned and faced a smiling Hagrid. “We’ve got Herbology,” Anne reported. “Yer should be in the greenhouse, then,” the gamekeeper suggested. Anne laughed hollowly. “There’s nothing I’d like better – it’s warm and dry in there, after all. But Professor Sprout doesn’t want me in there.” Sadly, Anne kicked a small stone away. Hagrid frowned. “Yeah. I see. Well,” he smiled at Anne, “no use gettin’ wet out ‘ere. You an’ me, we’re gonna have a cuppa. C’mon.”

The prospect was wonderful: warmth, warm tea, a dry room… Hagrid’s cookies, alright, they were not that nice. But Anne shook her head. “I don’t think I can do this. I’m supposed to find some stupid roots.” “Roots?” Hagrid enquired. “Yes. Something called Radix Superiora and Radix Minor,” Anne shrugged. “Oh, that. I’ve got some, so… Anne, see reason, no use catching cold out ‘ere.” Anne thought for a moment. So Hagrid had some of the roots she needed. It was possible, of course. “Alright,” she agreed, just as the slight drizzle turned into a pouring rain.

Inside the greenhouse, everyone was warm and dry. Professor Sprout was explaining the use of the roots of aconite and how to take care of the herb. “Once you’ve got a little aconite plant, you must be very careful,” she said and held up a small pot. A light green aconite plant was in it, but one of its leaves was drooping sadly. “If you cut the plant or break a leaf, a fine white milk will come out of it. If this touches your skin, nothing will happen – unless you develop a strong reaction against it. If you have got a wound, however slight it maybe, you will be poisoned,” the professor warned. She gave the pot to Basil Evans. “Hand it round, so that everyone can see the milk.”

Patience frowned. “Aconite, aconite,” she muttered. Hengist looked at her. “Aconite,” Patience said again. “Yes. That’s aconite,” Hengist replied and took the pot to show Patience the white milk. “I’m sure I heard about this before. Aconite…” Patience whispered thoughtfully. Hengist rolled his eyes. “Really, Patience – whenever you talk like that, it’s got something to do with potions.” “Exactly,” Patience said and grinned. Then she raised her hand.

“Yes, Miss Wood?” Professor Sprout asked. “Aconite is also called Wolfsbane, or Monkshood, isn’t it?” Patience enquired. “Yes, that is correct, Miss Wood. Where did you hear about it?” “Professor Snape told us about aconite,” Patience replied. Every head turned to her. “What? Don’t you remember?” Patience asked surprised. “Who keeps everything in mind Snape says?” Brian retorted and laughed. Patience blushed. “Sorry. I just thought it might come in handy one day.”

“Miss Wood, I doubt aconite will come in handy,” Professor Sprout said warningly. “The leaves are poisonous as well as the roots. But the leaves, smelling of hay and with a sharp taste, are not deadly. They are used in potions that make people ill – but also in soothing potions, or even in some potions favourable for Divination.” “Divination uses potions?” Ghewyn asked astonished. “Oh, of course. And herbs, as you all know,” Professor Sprout said matter-of-factly.

“Yeah, herbs that make you high,” Mike whispered audibly. Everyone grinned. The professor pretended not to have heard Mike’s words and resumed her lesson: “Anyway, if you touch the roots, you should always wear gloves. The roots are very toxic indeed, and the problem with aconite is that, once you take only a grain too much, you will cause death.”

Brian carefully poked the drooping leaf. “It looks as if it had spotted Anne,” he joked. At that moment, raindrops began to hammer on the glass roof. “Oh no – Anne!” Patience groaned. Hengist was not sure whether to laugh or call for help for Anne. Professor Sprout dashed to the greenhouse door. “Miss Symmons, you…” she called, then she stopped dead. “She is gone,” she stated. “She’s got sense,” Mike remarked, and Hengist nodded. “Well, you may tell her that I want her to write an essay about the use of aconite,” Professor Sprout sighed. “We should really have thought about another method of teaching her Herbology…”

Hagrid and Anne were having tea in the gamekeeper’s hut. “And then, this damned wand just overreacted and sparks flew everywhere, and John was just in the way – suddenly his robes were on fire,” Anne reported. Hagrid chuckled. “You shouldn’t treat John that bad,” he said. Anne laughed. “He just yells for bad treatment sometimes – he’s so awkward, and when we do Transfiguration and he is stumbling on….” “Yes, and did you ever imagine what he feels like?” Hagrid wanted to know. Anne coloured. “No,” she admitted.

“But let’s leave tha’,” Hagrid said and got up. “You wanted the radixes, di’n’t you?” Anne nodded and drained her cup. “Hagrid – do you really think we should not jinx John?” The half-giant turned and smiled. “Nah. Only not so often.” Anne giggled and nodded. “I can live with that.”

On the uppermost shelf, Hagrid finally found the box he had sought. Carefully he took it down. “Wow, Hagrid, that’s beautiful,” Anne whispered. The box was carved with a picture of a knight in full armour fighting a fire-breathing dragon. “That’s the legend of St George,” Hagrid explained. “And these,” he opened the lid, “are the radixes.” The roots were, as Anne saw with deep relief, already dried. They looked like shrivelled fingers. “Hagrid – don’t you think Professor Sprout will be suspicious if I give her dried roots?” Anne asked. Hagrid shook his head. “Nah, I don’ think so. Yer killin’ plants, aren’ yer? So – these jus’ dried up.” Anne grimaced. “You’re right.”

When Anne came back to the greenhouses, the class had already ended. Anne therefore walked back to the castle. Patience and Hengist were still in the Entrance Hall, both looking at the front door when Anne entered. “Have you been waiting for me?” Anne cheerfully asked. “No, for Father Christmas,” Hengist joked. “Ah, but that takes some time,” Anne replied seriously. Patience laughed. “Where have you been?” she wanted to know. “I had tea with Hagrid, and Hagrid gave me the roots,” Anne reported and showed the shrivelled grey things to her friends. “Nasty,” Patience commented. Anne shrugged. “By the way,” Hengist said, “Professor Sprout wants you to write an essay about aconite.”

Anne made a face. “Hey, Magpies, are we going to do something tonight?” It was Fred Weasley who called across the whole Entrance Hall. “No,” Hengist answered, straightening his robes demonstratively. “And you’ve got lessons,” Patience reminded the twins who strolled over. “We’ve got the flu,” George shrugged. “You don’t look ill,” Anne retorted. “That can change,” Patience grinned and showed the roots Anne had brought to the twins. “Urgh,” Fred said. “Disgusting,” George added.

“These are Radix Superiora and Minor,” Anne explained. “And which is which?” Fred wanted to know. Anne blinked. “I don’t know,” she admitted. Patience and Hengist grinned, but when they, too, had a closer look at the roots, they could not see any difference. “I’m not sure – that one looks smaller,” Patience said, pointing at a thin greenish-grey root.

“Smaller. Well, thanks, Patience, I couldn’t have noticed by myself,” Anne acidly remarked. Patience grinned. “Anne, it’s not my fault, really.” Anne sighed. “I know. And what shall I do with those ugly things?” Unfortunately, Professor Sprout passed them at that moment. “Ah, Miss Symmons, you found the radixes. Very well. Let’s say you write an essay about them rather than about aconite,” she decided. Anne blinked. Sprout beamed at her. “You can tell the class about radixes next lesson,” the professor said, sounding as if she had just given Anne a huge present. “Alright, yes, thanks, professor,” Anne stammered perplexed.

Sprout walked on, and Anne looked at the Weasleys, Patience and Hengist. “Help!” she said simply. Patience smiled. “Of course we’ll help you. Now, you better change your robes, you’ve been drenched I dare say, and we’ll take care of the roots. Fred and George will test them – under supervision,” Patience hastily added, seeing the delight on the twins’ faces. “And I’ll go to the library,” Hengist volunteered. “Okay. Operation Radix starts after dinner,” Patience declared.

Operation Radix turned out to be more work than they had ever thought it could be. Anne joined Hengist in the library. They looked through every book and even found some useful drawings. “Now, do my radixes look like that?” Anne asked herself. The drawing showed a huge plant with small white flowers, slim leaves and a thick stem rather like a miniature tree. The root looked like a huge carrot, although the tiny rootlings sprouting from it looked like limbs. “It might be able to move,” Anne whispered. Hengist grinned. “Yours are shrivelled up, and neither looked much like that radix,” he said. “But this is the radix minor, I’m sure,” Anne said.

“Yes, and this is radix superiora,” Hengist said and showed Anne the picture of an equally huge plant with a slim, lengthy root and huge leaves. “Hm. Alright.” With a wave of her wand, Anne copied both drawings, and then she and Hengist scribbled down notes on the form and use of radixes minor and superiora.

When they returned to the Common Room, Patience and the twins were trying to bewitch the radixes. Patience had chopped one of each kind – as she thought, into tiny pieces. “We’ve been trying to make them hover, that worked,” George proudly reported. “Have another pumpkin juice,” Patience urged him. “But…” Fred protested. Patience raised an eyebrow. “Do you want to help?” “Sure, sure,” George muttered and they both drained another mug of pumpkin juice.

Suddenly Fred groaned. “What was in there?” “Poison,” Patience coolly said. Hengist dropped the books he had carried from the library, and Anne took a deep breath. “You’re kidding,” she said hoarsely. Patience shook her head. “Eat,” she told the twins and handed each a bit of the thicker root. They ate, and it was George who frowned. “I feel better,” he said happily. “I knew it!” Patience exclaimed and punched her fist into the air. “But you poisoned them,” Hengist said reproachfully. Patience shrugged. “All in the service of science. Besides, I’ve got the antidote here.” She showed them a phial filled with a transparent fluid. Anne gave a sigh of relief.

“I’m not Snape,” Patience reminded her friend and grinned when Fred shuddered. “That was not nice,” he complained. Patience pulled a rueful grimace. “I’m sorry, I should have warned you before I did it,” she admitted. “You shouldn’t have done it at all,” Hengist told her and pointed meaningfully at his prefect’s badge. Patience grinned. “You don’t care, do you, as nothing happened,” she cooed. Hengist gave up.

“What did you find?” Patience changed topics. Hengist made the books fly from the floor to the tabletop. Anne produced her parchment with notes and the copies of the drawings. “You were right, radixes are poison antidotes – however, I’m really surprised they worked. The books all agree that only the seeds, mixed with honey, work,” Anne pointed out. Patience looked at Fred and George. “Still feeling well?” she enquired. “Yes,” the twins answered unanimously.

“Then we made a real discovery,” Hengist stated and laughed. “Pity we can’t write an essay about that, or we’ll have Patience expelled.” They all laughed. “Maybe I’ll write an article under my dad’s name, about the use of dried radixes. The problem is only, I don’t know which one I administered,” Patience said and looked at the chopped radixes. “You gave them radix minor, Patience,” Anne said after having examined the shrivelled roots. Hengist nodded. “So we can do a presentation?” Fred asked. “We?” Anne retorted. “You,” George said and bowed amused. “Exactly. Me. And yes, we can do a presentation,” Anne nodded satisfied.

So when the class assembled for the next Herbology lesson, they met in a classroom rather than a greenhouse. “Miss Symmons will tell us about Radix minor and superiora,” Professor Sprout announced. Anne cleared her throat. “Radix superiora grows everywhere – you just have to open your eyes. It’s got huge leaves, and tiny white blossoms with rather sharp seeds. These seeds work against any poison,” she began her presentation. “However,” she smiled, “recent studies made clear that even the dried roots help against poison. Tests must be made to see if it also works against any poison.” Patience and Hengist exchanged an amused glance.

“The other one, Radix Minor, looks like a small tree and has also got white blossoms. Its roots look like carrots – well, if they’re not shrivelled, obviously,” Anne told the class and held up the finger-like root. “You can use it to sharpen your senses.” “How?” Basil Evans enquired curiously. “Just eat the root, or a bit of it. But it must be fresh,” Anne informed him.

The lesson went on with examinations of Anne’s radix-drawings, more questions on the use of radixes and finally all but Anne went to find fresh roots. Anne was very satisfied with the work she and her friends had done, and when Professor Sprout came to her after the end of the lesson, she was even more pleased: “Miss Symmons, I am very proud of you. I always knew you were interested in Herbology. It’s only your unfortunate reaction to plants that makes it difficult. Maybe I will ask you again to do such an excellent presentation,” the professor praised her.

Anne repeated this to Patience and Hengist. “We’ll help you,” Patience immediately promised. “Of course we will,” Hengist agreed. “And if you ever have to do anything like that – I’m at your service,” Anne replied gratefully.

More Than Just Runes

“And now,” Professor Barnacle said and pushed up her glasses excitedly, “and now we will try something more than just translating runes. I really do think you have come far enough in your studies.” The class muttered, but Barnacle raised her hand. “Please give me a moment to explain. For two years you have been dealing with theory alone. Now is the time to do something with all the theoretical knowledge you gained.” The professor waved her wand and runes appeared on the blackboard. “Surely you can read these instructions with ease. Let us divide into two groups. You can swap after half the lesson.” Barnacle managed to divide the class easily. Tonks, Patience, Vargas, Melanie Pallet, Ashraf Bagoony, Jessa Appleby and Victoria Hall had to work together on the first part of the instructions.

“Why did we have to work with Vargas?” Patience whispered to Tonks who rolled her eyes. “I’ve no idea, but he’s translating already, so get going!” Patience did not need telling twice. However, the runes proved to be very tricky and difficult. And of course, nobody in their group bothered to work with the rest. Barnacle, although less than pleased, said nothing. The inter-house rivalry was getting stronger as always when the Quidditch final was drawing near. So everyone worked either alone or with their closer friends.

Professor Barnacle, who was moving through the class, stopped at Tonks and Patience’s table. “Oh,” she said in a disappointed way and read the text over the rim of her spectacles. “That is not very helpful, is it?”  Vargas chuckled quietly. Patience threw him an angry glance but kept her tongue for once. Barnacle moved on and looked at Vargas’ translation. “Now this is the worst rubbish I’ve ever read,” she said in a low voice. Patience grinned broadly and worked on to find and correct her mistakes. Tonks watched her lazily.

“You could help,” Patience suggested. “Hm. I could also do this,” Tonks said mischievously and blew a huge raspberry of Drooble’s best blowing gum. “Miss Tonks!” Barnacle shrieked enraged. “That’s five points from Ravenclaw!” The other Ravenclaws in the room glared at Tonks who had obviously trouble to stop herself laughing. Patience, too, was suffering from a severe fit of the giggles. “You can surely translate the first paragraph, Miss Wood, can’t you?” Barnacle asked acidly. Patience rose and read aloud: “Before you know what future brings, you should know about three things: the will of Odin lord of birds, the mind of Donar and his herds, the runes of Freya lady fair. Now throw the sticks into the air and watch which runes fall onto where. Now throw the stick into the air!” Barnacle’s eyebrows rose. “My respect, Miss Wood, that is a very good translation indeed. Here. Try it first, then.” She handed a velvet bag to Patience who took it gingerly. “You have to open the bag, then throw it all into the air. Let’s see what happens,” Barnacle explained encouragingly.

Patience did as she was told and the rune sticks fell clattering onto the floor out of their satchel. “This is called fella blótspánn, throwing sacrifice sticks. Instead of crudely killing animals and read from their intestines, you can much more easily gain knowledge about the future by this,” Barnacle said. “But, professor, isn’t that more like Professor Trelawney’s branch of magic?” Vargas enquired. Barnacle nodded. “That is true. But Sybil Trelawney never teaches about sacrifice sticks. She thinks them too uncertain. And I, for one, do not believe in their divinating power either –but it is one way in which runes can be used.” Patience had looked at all the runes and sighed. “And what can I make of this?” she asked.

“You must note down in which way the runes fell, which runes fell, and then check in your divination book,” Barnacle said and shrugged. “Personally, I think this doesn’t make any sense at all, but note it down nevertheless. All of you.” The class mumbled but did as the professor had told. As if answering their thoughts, Barnacle added: “The analysis of this will be your homework.”

“And what is the other group supposed to do? Carve the sticks?” Vargas asked in an audible voice. Barnacle scowled at him but did not take any points. “Something much more practical. They had to translate something about seiðr.” “Seiðr?” Vargas asked. “Yes, seiðr. That’s practical magic – with runes.” Barnacle smiled at the class. “When you carve runes into a door, you can seal it much more effectively than with a simple charm. When your wand is engraved with runes, you can heighten some of its powers.” That explained why Professor Barnacle’s wand looked chipped in places. “Now, who of you has translated the text?” She looked expectantly at the second group, but nobody volunteered.

Instead, a crash followed and a vivid pink Catherine wheel zoomed through the class. Everybody either screamed or laughed. Professor Barnacle was scarlet with rage. “Who was this?” she asked. Nobody answered. “Alright. You will all translate the spellwork text and you will have to leave now.” Since the room was full of smoke, it was really wise to let the class go. And, considering that nobody seemed to have understood the text anyway, it was a real blessing.

“Who set the Catherine wheel going?” Patience asked outside. Tonks stared at her cousin. “Me, you idiot,” she hissed. “What, really? Waycool,” Patience giggled. Tonks grinned. “Yeah, well, I guess…” She didn’t get any further, for unluckily Barnacle had overheard their conversation. “Miss Tonks, we shall go to Professor Flitwick at once,” she said sternly and marched off, Tonks following her. Patience sighed and shook her head. “How did you translate that text so well, woodlouse?” Vargas asked her angrily. “I learned my lessons better than you, obviously,” she retorted haughtily and walked on.

Suddenly flames began to singe the hem of her robes. She swivelled around and saw Vargas aiming at her. Nobody else was in the corridor. “Alright, then,” she hissed and was already reaching for her wand when a voice asked sharply. “What’s gong on here?” Vargas quickly pocketed his wand and Patience only extinguished the flames on her robes. Snape looked from one to the other. “Should I ever see you duelling on the corridors or anywhere else, you will be expelled. Both of you,” he said calmly. “Yes, sir,” Patience said and used the moment to slip off.

Snape glared at Vargas. “Attacking from behind?” he asked snidely. Vargas shrugged. “She was only so annoying.” “Quite so. But attacking from behind is cowardly. Do you understand?” “Yes, but…,” Vargas began, but Snape shook his head. “Nobody in Slytherin house should be a coward. Leave now.” Vargas turned on his heel and marched off.

Hating Slytherins

Patience enjoyed this year’s Quidditch practice very much. She had got used to watch some training lessons and got to know the strengths and weaknesses of the Gryffindor team quite well. It was a fine October morning. Patience had got up early, trying not to wake anyone as it was a Saturday. Accompanied only by Bethesda, she walked down to the Quidditch pitch. The team was already there, as well as some other spectators. “Hey, all of you, out of here!”, Oliver bellowed at them. “Gryffindors may stay, though”, he added. The other pupils left, muttering very rude words. “We don’t need spies here, really!”, Oliver explained to the Weasley twins, Angelina Johnson and Lee Jordan. “John King wouldn’t have been a spy, Verres!”, Patience laughed. “Good morning”, she greeted her brother. Oliver grinned. “No, that Hufflepuff not but there was a young Slytherin as well. I think his name is Terence Higgs.”

Patience rolled her eyes. “I don’t think he is…”, but she couldn’t finish her sentence. “He would’ve been really dangerous, we’ve eavesdropped on the Slytherins and they’re going to make him seeker”, Fred Weasley told them. “Oh”, Patience said lamely. Oliver smiled maliciously. “Maybe we should employ a spy?”, he asked. Patience shook her head. “We’ve got a good team, we don’t need spies”, she argued. “Rubbish!”, George said quickly. Patience glared at him. “We’re going to do that. We need to know the tactics of the other teams. Oliver is right.” “Seen from that point okay, but only watch, don’t do anything”, Patience said sternly. The twins looked not too pleased. “I thought you hated the Slytherins”, Fred stated. “Yes. But I don’t like such obvious pranks always. In Quidditch I prefer a good match without any cheating.”

That silenced the Weasley twins. Lee Jordan sighed. “But wouldn’t it be great..”, he began. He stopped, though, looking at the Woods who both didn’t look very pleased. “Go on, Verres, I want to see some of your tactics. Morning, Hengist!”, Patience changed topics to prevent any quarrel. She wasn’t going to let the team down, but she wouldn’t allow any obvious cheating. Hengist waved over and zoomed around the pitch on his broom. This was going to be his first season. “Down there, Hengist”, Oliver called. The team assembled on the ground. Patience had taken out a quill to make notes. “Seeker: Hengist, chasers: Brian, Seamus O’Brien, Phyllis Wordsworth; beaters: Joe Ford, Mike, keeper: Verres”, she wrote down.

Fred looked over her shoulder. “Oh wow, do I see that right?”, he asked excitedly. “What?”, Patience asked distractedly for she was watching Brian putting the quaffel through the goalpost from different angles. “Pat, I…”, Fred couldn’t go on for she turned furiously and hissed: “Never call me Pat again, my name is Patience!” Fred blushed and backed away a little. “Sorry, really, didn’t want to offend you”, he mumbled. “What did you want to say?”, Patience asked, trying to make her unfriendliness forgotten. “Most of the players are in seventh year!” “That is true, Fred. Except of Mike, Brian, Hengist and Verres they face their last season.” Fred’s face lit up instantly. “George, hey, George, next year the team’s going to need us!”, he called over.

Angelina smiled brightly as well. Her best friend Alicia Spinnet had by now joined her in the stand. Anne came upstairs as well. “Good morning”, she yawned and stretched. “You here?”, Patience feigned surprise. Anne giggled. “I couldn’t miss Hengist’s first training this season, could I?” Oliver proved to be a good captain. He made his players do different manoeuvres and watched them intensely. He chose their positions carefully and worked out tactics accordingly.

At the end of the training he was satisfied. “I think we have a good team this year”, he said happily. Patience agreed, but still had her doubts. There was Phyllis Wordsworth who had never been that good a chaser. And Mike as a beater still had to learn not to fool around so much. “One wouldn’t believe Oliver is only in his third year, the way he commands the others. Just think of it, even the next youngest on the team are 4 years his senior!”, Anne marvelled. Patience shrugged. “Quality counts, not age”, she answered. “Have you had any breakfast yet?”, Anne wanted to know. “no”, Patience admitted. “C’mon, we’ll go then”, Anne grinned and began to jog back to the castle. Patience sighed and followed.

The next day Anne told Patience that the hole behind the statue had gone. “Anne, are you mad? If Snape had caught you!” Patience scolded her. “Com’on he never shows up before you have almost finished your detention.“ Anne reminded her friend. “Why did you look at it anyway?” Patience wanted to know. “I was curious. Do you never think about it? I’d loved to go to Preston’s private rooms again.” Anne revealed to her friend. Patience shook her head. “Holly Baloon lives there.” She remarked. “I know, would be nice to invite us in there some day or just leave the door open so that we could peek inside.” Anne whispered. “There won’t be anything left of Preston.” Patience threw in. Anne nodded. “I hope so.” “Good morning girls!” Hengist joined them. “Shall we go down to have breakfast?” Patience asked. Hengist and Anne nodded. The Great Hall was filled with many students. “We are late today.” Hengist stated. “You were late today.” Anne corrected him with a reproachful undertone. Hengist sighed and sat down at his place. “Oh dear.” Anne sighed. When Patience looked up she saw Greg approaching their table. “Anne, a word.” He ordered. ‘You can have to words: get lost.’ Anne thought. ‘It might be a good opportunity to annoy Snape again.’ Was what she thought next.

Anne stood up and followed Greg out of the Great Hall and out of the castle. Near Hagrid’s hut Greg stopped and faced her. “I thought we were friends, how could you do that to us?” He asked her. “I thought you were hanging around with Leila Hertra.” Anne replied in a surprised voice. “Oh that’s what it is, you’re jealous. I should have known that!” Greg exclaimed and hugged Anne. She freed herself again. “I’m certainly not jealous. If you want to know the truth: I hate the Slytherins.” Anne barked and left. Greg stood there with his mouth wide open. Anne went back to the Great Hall and the Gryffindor table. “Snape followed you.” Hengist informed her. Anne sipped at her orange juice. She gave Hengist a dark look. “Promise to kill me immediately if I ever follow Greg again.” She told the two.

“What did he want anyway?” Patience asked. “He wanted to know why I did that to the Slytherins. He thought I was jealous.” Anne reported. “Well what did you reply?” Hengist wanted to know. “I told him that I hated all Slytherins.” Anne sighed. “And as it seems now, Snape heard me saying that. Great, that’s going to be a wonderful detention down in the dungeon.” Anne added. Patience gave her a cheering smile. “What do you think of annoying John in Transfigurations today?” She asked her two friends. Hengist nodded. Anne hesitated. “You’ll have to do it without me today. I got enough detentions for this week.” Anne told them. Anne left. “Do you think John or McGonagall will find out some day what we did?” Hengist asked – grinning broadly.

Patience shook her head. “No, I think they got used to it over the years.” Patience told him. “I wish I wouldn’t have told Anne what Snape had said about Greg. It’s my fault that she spent such a lot of time with him. Snape made me so angry that I simply had to tell her.” Patience sighed. “Com’on you know Anne and you know Snape. He would have told her not to think of visiting Greg at night and Anne would have done what she has done anyway. Do you think that Mr Weasley was right, that Greg and his family could really be dangerous?” Hengist added. Patience shook her head. “I think there are more important things for them than take revenge on a seventeen year old girl.” Patience replied. They left the Great Hall and went up to the common room. Transfiguration was boring until Hengist and Patience started to transfigure John’s possessions, which he had put on his desk – very carelessly. McGonagall had decided to ignore John’s problem. John was very nervous. He tried so hard to retransfigure his belongings.

Every time he managed to do it, Patience and Hengist transfigured it immediately into something else. “Charms that day was fun. Flitwick felt an inner need to repeat some of the cheering charms they had already learned and taught them some new ones. Patience couldn’t resist and hit Anne with the Rictusempra Charm. Anne was tickled all over. “Patience, stop it!” Anne barked. She tried to sound dangerous but her laughter was so joyful that nobody believed her. Flitwick was delighted. He applauded Patience’s work. Anne felt every muscle in her body. She hadn’t laughed like that for a very long time. “I’ll pay you back!” She promised Patience. Still she was smiling.

The time until dinner was spent pleasantly. Fred and George showed their newest tricks to The Malignant Magpies. Hengist had to try a sweet that made his tongue grow several inches. He couldn’t help but open his mouth and let it out. He looked very funny. Anne ate a fudge that made her voice very deep. “Oh no, I sound like Hagrid!” She whispered and burst into laughter hearing her changed voice. Patience was the last one to take one of the sweets presented by Fred and George. It looked like one of Bertie Botts’ Every Flavour Beans. In fact it tasted like a pepper one. It was very hot, so hot that Patience began to spew fire. When she coughed afterwards little clouds of dark smoke came out of her mouth. “This one might stop me eating Every Flavour Beans.” Patience informed them grinningly. “Did you like them?” Fred asked. Anne nodded.

She refused to speak until she was sure her voice had gone back to normal which should happen after fifteen minutes – it didn’t. Hengist and Patience were luckier. Patience was back to normal after one minute and Hengist’s tongue shrunk after five minutes. “Sorry Anne. Seems that you got an overdose of our potion.” George apologized. Anne gave him a weak smile. “It isn’t too bad, she’ll be quiet for the next hour or so.” Patience said cheeringly. “Feels like heaven!” Hengist commented. Anne gave him an angry look. He smiled back at her.

Dinner was delicious. Anne felt annoyed. Patience and Hengist kept asking her questions. “A little more orange juice?” Patience cooed. Anne shook her head. “Pass the bread to Anne please.” Fred said at the other end of the table. Anne looked at him. He grinned evilly. Anne sent the bread back. “Some salad, Anne?” Hengist wanted to know. Anne shook her head. “What’s wrong with you Anne? Usually you can’t be stopped from talking and tonight – nothing.” Ghewyn asked. Anne gave her an angry look but she remained silent. “Yes Anne, tell us what is wrong with you tonight.” Hengist repeated. Anne didn’t look at him but kicked him under the table. John had finished his meal. Anne saw him approaching the Gryffindor table. Patience sighed. Anne patted her friend’s shoulder and stood up and left. John took her seat. “I’m so unhappy. Today in Transfiguration – it was a disaster. I thought I would die. I’ll never manage to do my transfigurations correctly.” He moaned.

Hengist grinned at Patience. “Never mind John, your big day will come sooner or later.” Hengist assured him. “Gosh Hengist you talk like one of those ‘Agony Aunts’.” Catherine exclaimed. Hengist blushed. “Uh, it’s that late!” Patience sighed with one look on her watch. “Hengist, we’ll have to go.” She informed the surprised Hengist and went out of the Great Hall. Hengist followed her. Hengist looked very sad. Patience put her arm around him. “I like what you say. You have an advice for every problem.” She told him. Hengist sighed.

The common room was empty. “Anne must have gone down to the dungeons immediately.” Patience thought aloud. “You think she has back her voice?” Hengist wanted to know. Patience shrugged. “She won’t try it on Snape, I’d say.” Patience replied. Hengist nodded. “What will she tell him?” Hengist wanted to know. “She won’t tell him anything.” Patience mused. Hengist grinned. “She’ll have to find different ways of communications then.” Hengist agreed. “Perhaps we should go down and help her with the communication part.” Patience suggested. Hengist nodded. Snape kept lecturing Anne. “I couldn’t help overhearing that you hate all the Slytherins, Miss Symmons.” He spat at her. “This is no basis for a good climate in this school.” He continued. “You should keep away from the Slytherins if you don’t like them but instead you keep following Greg and make their table fly. Honestly, didn’t your parents teach you manners?” Snape barked.

Anne remained silent. Snape scanned her. He waited for her reply. He expected an apology. Anne was very furious. She had a lot to tell Snape. She searched the room for a piece of parchment and a pencil. When she had found one she began scribbling. “Lost voice” Was the first she noted down. Snape read it looking over her shoulder. This piece of information would have been enough. Anne couldn’t stop herself once she had begun to write. “Stop eavesdropping” Was the next on the growing list. “Greg follows me.” She reported. “Your manners” Were the last word she put down. She set a question mark behind the last two words. Snape was very angry. He started shouting at Anne. Patience and Hengist listened outside the room. “I’ll never know how she does it. Even if she can’t speak she makes people angry with her.” Patience sighed. “We better go back to the common room. Seems that Anne can help herself.” Hengist whispered and dragged Patience back to the common room.

Patience and Hengist awaited Anne in the common room. “Is your voice back to normal?” Patience wanted to know. “Yes.” Anne answered. “What did you tell Snape?” Hengist asked. “I wrote on a piece of parchment that I lost my voice.” Anne reported. “So that’s how you managed to quarrel!” Patience exclaimed. “How did you know that we were quarrelling?” Anne said in a surprised voice. “We wanted to help you, doing all the communication that was needed.” Hengist explained. “That son of a bat told me off for hating the Slytherins.” Anne informed them.

“And what did you reply?” Patience wanted to know. Anne told them the whole story. “You know, I think you can be glad that you didn’t dare to speak who knows what you might have told him.” Hengist sighed. Anne was very tired and went to bed. “I thought everybody hated the Slytherins – apart from the Slytherins and of course Snape.” Hengist stated. Patience grinned. “Just imagine everybody would like the Slytherins.” She threw in. She stopped suddenly. “That would indeed be funny.” Patience added. “You can’t do that. You can’t bewitch the whole school, Patience.” Hengist reminded her. “Why not?” Patience replied and took one of her books. “The Volo Charm could do the trick.” Patience thought aloud. “Or we could brew a potion and make it spread around the Great Hall.” Patience continued. “We?” Hengist asked in disbelief. “Did I just hear you say we?” Hengist said. Patience looked at him. “I’m a prefect, remember?” He told her. Patience nodded. “You’re right, I’ll do it alone.” Before Hengist could reply to that Patience had gone to her bedroom.

Comic Snape

It was another Saturday morning that promised to laps into a relaxed day. Hengist had gotten up early. Sometimes he liked to do this because all was calm and he could concentrate better. Unfortunately that morning Patience and Anne had decided to do the same. And so at half past six he had to face their sleepiness as they got up and joined him in the common room. “Good morning love!” Patience cooed half yawning. Anne wasn’t able to talk yet and so she just waved at him and by doing so almost fell downstairs. Patience spread her books and parchments on the table. While Anne fetched two glasses of pumpkin juice and on her way passed Hengist. It wasn’t on purpose but she couldn’t help looking at the piece of parchment he seemed to be scribbling on. She stopped.

“Hengist, that’s great! I didn’t know you could draw! Patience you must come and see this, he drew Snape.” Patience got up and curiously looked at the parchment. She laughed. “How could you know, I cannot detect much liking.” She said. “In deed, not much liking.” Anne said mockingly. “Long nose, evil eyes, thin lips, rhombic face and an endless cape doesn’t remind you of Snape. Tell me, did you ever look at him with open eyes?” Anne asked just having detected her sense of irony again. “Tell me what you want, Snape doesn’t look that bad!” Patience protested. “It’s a cartoon character.” Hengist explained. “I don’t see any car.” Patience said. “And where’s the tomb?” Anne wanted to know.

“Not car-tomb, cartoon!” Hengist repeated. “Yeah, right.” Anne agreed. “But what is a cartoon?” Patience asked. “Yeah, right.” Anne agreed again. She had decided to return to her usual taciturnity. “A cartoon is a ridiculed picture of someone. To ridicule you exaggerate the faults you can find in the appearance.” Anne nodded. Patience thought about it for she was not sure if she would agree that anyone could find faults in anybody’s appearance. She decided to categorize Hengist’s chosen expression under outstanding features of one’s appearance and was quite satisfied by that. “You better don’t let anyone see that!” Anne advised him and returned to her usual plan of providing Patience and herself with pumpkin juice.

A few days passed unnoticed. Patience and Anne had almost reached the point where they had forgotten Hengist’s drawing when it was brought back to their mind by a mean accusation. “Headmaster it must have been them! Who else would dare to ridicule me like that!” “Lack of respect are no proof of guilt, Severus.” Dumbledore reminded the potions’ master. Patience, Anne and Hengist had entered just in time to catch this last bit of conversation. Professor McGonagall led them inside and asked them to sit down. “Miss Symmons, Miss Wood, Mr. Alret, there is some problem professor Snape and me are facing.” Dumbledore got up and approached the students, however, he stopped next to the edge of his desk.

He put his hand on the desk. “Professor Snape has come across a piece of drawing that seems to ridicule him. And we were wondering if you have ever seen this.” He held up a piece of parchment that showed a drawing not unlike to the one Hengist had made. Patience, Anne and Hengist turned their heads. It was upside down. Professor Snape noticed that and took the parchment from the headmaster.

“YOU BETTER CONFESS!” He shouted holding the parchment close to their faces. For a moment Hengist thought of destroying the evidence but before he could do so Patience spoke. “Who is that?” Professor Snape got quite angry. “IF YOU CANNOT SEE WHO THAT IS…” “Severus, please.” The headmaster interrupted him. “Really, I cannot see who that is supposed to be.” She said earnestly. She took the parchment and Hengist hoped she would destroy it, however, she only seemed to take a closer look at it. Anne had a hard time not to burst with laughter, to save both her friends she remained calm and quiet. “That’s me!” Snape finally snapped. “Really?” Patience replied. She held the parchment a little higher in order to compare it with her teacher. “Well, if you say so.” She decided and handed it back to the headmaster.

Snape’s eyes turned even darker than usual. He looked deep into Patience’s eyes and almost made her shiver. “You drew that!” He accused her. “I didn’t even recognize you!” She protested. He turned towards Anne. He stepped closer to her. “Then you did it!” “Me? Believe me Mister, had I done this you would have been able to look at yourself in the Great Hall – life-size!” She promised. Snape knew her long enough to know that that was probably true – of all of them. He sat down angrily. Dumbledore knew very well that Hengist had made the drawing. He was a man with a good portion of humour and just enough morality to know that a drawing like Hengist’s would do no harm except hurting the teacher’s pride. He had found it in one of the potions’ books in the library nobody else had seen it.

“This will be all. You may go now. I think there will be no more drawings of you circulating around the school.” Dumbledore said and turned his back to all of them. Professor McGonagall who had remained passive during all this ushered the students out of the office. Snape waited for half a minute until he followed them. He knew there was no point in arguing any further neither with the headmaster nor the Malignant Magpies. He had lost this time but he was sure that his day was still to come and then he would expel them with the greatest of pleasures. This thought finally made him grin and so he returned to his own office snapping at students on his way down.

Signs and Portents

“Now she’s really grown mad as a hatter,” Mike declared and threw his bag into a corner, nearly hitting Bethesda. “Watch out, idiot,” Patience hissed angrily and scooped up her cat. “I did not hit her, so calm down,” Mike replied. “Oy, Hengist, can’t you do anything against Trelawney’s madness? As a prefect, I mean,” he then called to Hengist who was just taking off some old notes from the board. “No, I can’t,” Hengist answered. Anne looked up from her Muggle Studies essay. “What has she done this time?” she asked curiously. “She’s going to make us proclaim the fate of the world,” Brian said gloomily. “And judging by her usual preferences, the world will go down next Monday,” Mike added. “That late?” Connor asked and everyone laughed hollowly.

“The problem is,” Hengist said, striding over to them, “the little ones might hear of it and get afraid.” Anne grinned. “Daddy looks after his kids,” she teased Hengist who flushed and glared at her. “Leave him alone – he’s right,” Patience quietly came to his help. “Anyway, I’m not going to do that homework,” she added. “What?!” Ghewyn exclaimed shocked. “Oh, Ghewyn, I’ll tell her that my inner eye was clouded all through the week,” Patience lazily said and shoved away her divination book to fetch her rune dictionary. “I’d rather translate the Merseburg spells.”

If that was all Patience had had to say about the homework, it certainly was not what the others did. Even though it was a Hogsmeade weekend awaiting them, most Gryffindor 6th years doing Divination buried their noses in their books to find out signs giving them hints of what the future might bring for the world. Patience and Anne were sitting in the yard, enjoying the sunlight, when a swarm of birds happened to cross from left to right. “Oh no! Another earthquake is going to happen!” Catherine shrieked and scribbled the omen down. Patience shielded her eyes against the sunshine. “I’d say that the birds are just as happy as we are about the sun,” she said giggling. “You had better get a go at the omens,” Catherine said angrily. Patience shrugged. “Maybe, maybe not,” she said vaguely, leaned back against a tree and closed her eyes.

When they all set off for Hogsmeade, Hengist had a small notebook with him. “What, reporting on misbehaviour, prefect?” Patience asked amused. Anne laughed. “No, I bet he’s looking out for omens,” she suggested. Hengist nodded with a deep sigh. “And to be sure it’s difficult to find happy omens,” he said miserably. “That’s because Trelawney sets the books, and she loves fatal things,” Anne said knowingly. Patience nodded. “But he’s right,” she said, surprising both her friends. “What does that mean?” Anne asked suspiciously. “I’m going to do that homework – and trust me, I’m going to do it thoroughly,” Patience said determined. “No!” both Hengist and Anne said shocked, but there was no way to make Patience stop.

Right in front of the Three broomsticks, a crowd of small children were playing. One was lying still in front of the others, and another was crying: “Oh no, oh no, dear grandpa has died!” “We must bury him, then, and have a good funeral meal,” a tiny blond girl said knowingly. Anne grinned. “Yes, the meal’s the best,” she whispered. But both Hengist and Patience looked at the play with deep interest. “Want to bury your grandfather, Wood?” called Vargas from the other side of the street. Patience swivelled around. “No – how about yours?” she asked, but her voice was shaking a little. Vargas strode over, followed by the eager duo of Cook and Banks.

“My grandfather, Wood, is still alive, whereas yours… I happen to know he isn’t. So you did not even bury him decently?” Hengist placed a warning hand on Patience’s wand arm. “He was buried,” Patience said hoarsely. “Sure. If they found anything of him,” Vargas sneered. Anne glared at him. “You do know that this is not funny!” she said. Vargas smiled coldly. “If I were you, Symmons, I’d keep my mouth shut. How can you live in a school run by the man who…” “Ramon! Honeydukes’ got a new brand of toffees!” It was Melanie Pallet who cut into the boy’s words. Vargas turned around and waved at her. “Coming, Melly,” he answered. Giving the Magpies a derisive look, he went to Melanie. “What did he talk about?” Anne asked puzzled. Hengist took a deep breath. “He’s foul – I’d love to draw up a horrorscope for him!” “But you’d have to make it true as well,” Patience reminded him.

“Your grandpa is dead?” Hengist asked Patience when they were standing in Zonko’s. “Yes,” Patience said curtly, taking a closer look at toy mice that really squealed and ran away. “How did he die?” Hengist asked. Patience blinked. “Do you reckon Bethesda would like that?” she asked, pointing at the mice. “You don’t want to talk about him?” Hengist concluded. Patience sighed. “Okay, Hengist, my grandpa was killed by some of You-Know-Who’s minions,” she revealed. Hengist raised his eyebrows. “Good lord,” he said. “Well, what do you think about the mouse?” “Take it,” Hengist advised his friend, then went to Anne who was choosing some fireworks. “Did you know that Patience’s grandpa was killed by You-Know-Who?” he asked quietly. “Yes,” Anne answered. Hengist frowned. “Oh.” “Hengist, don’t worry about that – Vargas is bound to know, all of You-Know-Who’s followers have been in Slytherin.” Anne went to the counter to pay, and they all went out again.

The children were still playing at ‘grandpa is dead’. Hengist suddenly stopped. “What?” Anne asked. Patience slapped her forehead. “Plague!” she cried. “Yes,” Hengist agreed. “What are you two talking about?” Anne asked. “Well, children playing at funerals are a sign for an epidemic to occur,” Patience said. “According to the books,” Hengist added. “You are just as mad as Trelawney!”

However, the bad signs began to come in crowds until the next Divination lesson was about to start. A flock of ravens attacked Hagrid’s giant pumpkins, destroying five of them completely. The Quibbler reported on the birth of three children being able to talk from the very first second they drew breath and all three prophesying famine and great mortality. There had been a heron sighted on top of the Astronomy tower. Rumours were flying about the sighting of a very bright red star in the sky. “If Mars is bright, it’s gonna be war,” Brian said nervously. By Thursday, everyone had grown extremely tetchy and anxious. Anne as usual enjoyed her free lesson and the fact that she had loads of time before her day started – she was lucky to start the day with Potions just before lunch, and the others had had to endure three lessons before that. She stayed in bed, while Patience dressed and went to the Great Hall. “It doesn’t look good, maybe we’d better skip school and start living before we die,” Brian gloomily remarked. “Or we hurry death – let each of us die as it seems best to him,” Connor added miserably. ”Stop that,” Hengist sharply said. It certainly stopped the morbid conversation, but not the thoughts.

The whole Divination class was very silent and pale when Professor Trelawney entered. “Welcome, class,” she said cheerfully. “Now, what is the future of the world?” Nobody dared to answer. “Well, Miss Rhys?” the professor asked Ghewyn. “There’s going to be an earthquake and a flood that will swallow all of the Netherlands,” Ghewyn reported in a very low voice. “Yes, yes, dreadful,” Trelawney said happily. “What else, Mr Cullen?” “There’s going to be a great epidemic that will leave a third of the world’s population dead,” Brian said. “Excellent,” Trelawney told him. “Mr Alret?” “There’s going to be a war, and a rupture that unhinges the stability of the creatures in the Forbidden Forest,” Hengist replied in a fake-calm voice. “Oh, indeed! Miss Wood, anything to add?” It was on the tip of Patience’s tongue to say that every calamity had already been named, but there was still the one, ultimate thing to say: “You-Know-Who will return.”

A gasp answered that statement. “Dear, dear, that goes way too far, Miss Wood. Please reconsider it. I am sure the signs do not say that,” Trelawney said with a shaky little laugh. “No,” Patience said, “no, the signs are alright in saying that. The thing is only – can the signs be wrong? Can we interpret too much into them?” Trelawney looked warily at the girl. “You might be right, but then… The signs never lie.” She turned to the front, obviously to gather a little more composure. “However, I do think that you read the signs wrongly, Miss Wood. We shall leave it at that. Please write a report on your findings, so that we can hand it in to the headmaster who will decide what to do with that.”

Dumbledore indeed received the report, with a note saying that Patience Wood had prophesied the return of the Dark Lord. The headmaster sighed deeply. “What if she is right?” he asked the portraits on the wall. “Well, Dumbledore, you know that she is right. However, don’t you think it is time to stop Trelawney predicting the future of the whole world when she isn’t even able to divine tomorrow’s weather?” “You are of course right, Phineas,” Dumbledore smiled. “But how else will I ever get such information?” He had another look at the report. Then he frowned. Hengist Alret’s prediction stuck out from the usual calamities. It was too specific. Had Dumbledore missed something about the boy?

“So you’ve finished killing us all?” Anne asked when they met in front of Snape’s classroom. “Yes, for now,” Patience replied and rubbed her temples. “Got a headache?” Hengist asked concerned. “Only a bit,” Patience dismissed his concern. “Well, don’t do such stupid subjects as Divination and you won’t have a headache,” Anne replied cheerfully. “Or take a potion,” Hengist suggested. They burst into laughter and hurried inside when Snape opened the door to get their usual seats at the back of the class.

Tarot

The list of things to buy for the new school year had also contained the item of a tarot set for Divination, but as yet they had not used it. Hengist had tried to get through it by himself but hadn’t managed to get very far as he wasn’t really interested. Now he sat in front of a heap of cards in the Gryffindor Common Room and stared at them. Mungus was sitting in the midst of the cards, seemingly fast asleep. “Hey, what are you doing there?” Anne called over to him. Hengist looked up. “Nothing special, I’m just trying to figure out how these things work,” Hengist sighed. “You should mix them first and then place them in a certain order,” Ghewyn informed him patronizingly. “Oh no, you don’t say,” Hengist only answered.

Anne got up from the floor where she had been amusing herself with a jigsaw puzzle and seated herself next to Hengist. “Let me see,” she offered kindly. “But you do not even like Divination!” Hengist exclaimed astonished. Anne grinned. “Clever boy. But as our fortune teller number one is not around, you will have to cope with me.” “Where is Patience?” Hengist asked promptly. “She’s outside, watching the Quidditch practice,” Anne answered. Hengist looked out of the window. “It’s raining cats and dogs,” he said in a worried tone. “She’ll like that, more cats falling from the sky,” Anne joked.

But Hengist was right, raindrops were splashing against the window glasses and over the Forest even darker clouds threatened a thunderstorm. “She is old enough to know if she wants a bad cold or not,” Anne shrugged it off. Hengist smiled. “Aha. You don’t take it as lightly as you make it seem, but as I know you will not want to talk about that, show me what to do with these cards!” “We could play poker,” Anne suggested, took up a card and pulled a face. “Or not. Without numbers and colours it will not work. A pity!” Hengist pointed out that there were actually numbers and four different kinds of cards. “And those people here, what about them?” Anne asked. “I read that up somewhere and it is the Journey of the Fool,” Hengist informed her. “I don’t see any fool in here, so where is he?” Anne rifled through the cards. “You are the fool, Anne. Or anybody running through the circle,” Hengist said in a low voice.

At that moment a streak of lightning lit up the sky, almost immediately followed by a roar of thunder. “I give her five minutes from the Quidditch pitch up to this room,” Anne said grinning. “But you need even when you run more than five minutes,” Hengist held against her. “By the way, why aren’t you with the team?” “I wasn’t asked to come, they train the second seeker.” The door was thrown open and some totally soaked figures appeared. Some first years shrieked in panic. “Out of my way,” one of the figures said, causing the screaming girls to back away quickly. Another figure was standing still in the doorway, calling: “Oliver Wood, the weather is not my fault neither is it yours or the team’s, so will you behave like a normal human and not like a troll?!” It was no good, the first-year-shocking monster had already stomped upstairs to change into dry clothes. The rest of the team also went upstairs.

Patience stopped next to Hengist and Anne for a moment. “How was the training?” Hengist asked carefully. “Very, very, very bad indeed. Oliver is furious. You should be prepared for having no substitute seeker,” Patience warned her friend. “You’re dripping water on the tarot cards,” Anne pointed out. “Tarot? Hey, I like tarot. A shame we haven’t started yet with Professor Trelawney,” Patience brightly said. “Anne wanted to tell you that you should go and change your clothes,” Hengist laughed. “Oh. Right.” And Patience vanished into the upper storey. “What do you know about tarot, Anne?” Hengist now asked. “Nothing at all,” Anne confessed. So they sat together brooding over the cards until Patience came down again. “Are you dry again?” Anne asked. “Yes, thank you for asking. So, did you get any further?” “Not one bit, but maybe you can help,” Hengist hopefully said.

Patience looked at the cards. “You sorted them into staples after colour and numbers? Well, that is not exactly the right approach,” she giggled. “Isn’t it?” Hengist and Anne asked in one voice, both grinning broadly. “Then what is? Any idea?” Anne finally wanted to know. Patience shrugged. “I need my book to tell you, but I’m too tired tonight. I’ll tell you tomorrow. Good night!” And off she was, leaving Hengist and Anne staring at each other in disbelief.

The next morning at breakfast the first thing Hengist said was: “Explain me this tarot thingy!” “And a good morning to you, too,” Patience answered, grinning broadly. “You haven’t found out? Well, then let me explain… Oh, I’ve got to hurry, we have Care of Magical Creatures now and it’s late already!” “You did that on purpose!” Hengist accused her. Anne nodded. “She has been idling the time away up in our dormitory so that she could say she had no time to explain. You know what, Hengist? I think Patience herself has no clue about tarot!” Patience swivelled around, glaring at them both. “Yes I have. If you want to I explain while Kettleburn is talking,” she offered. “Okay,” Hengist quickly agreed before Patience could change her mind again.

Together the Malignant Magpies strolled down into the dungeons, for a sign had told the Gryffindors to get down there for their lesson. Kettleburn was already waiting for them. “You’re late, but that’s not too bad as our creatures are late, too,” he snarled. “Creatures that come too late? How odd!” Catherine whispered. “Odd it is, Miss Hayes, that you are talking during a lesson,” Kettleburn snarled. Anne frowned. What was wrong with Kettleburn today? Usually he didn’t care if anyone talked as long as they all read the respective chapters in the book. “Professor, are you alright?” Mike asked. Kettleburn rounded on him: “Flatley, this is nothing to ask about! My private life should not concern you!” Nobody dared to speak from that moment on. But they could not understand what had happened to kind old Professor Kettleburn. “Ah, there they are. Be silent now,” Kettleburn whispered.

As if they had not been silent before! What crept out of the shadows was known to most of the Gryffindors and not even remotely frightening. “Puffskeins,” laughed Connor. The first Puffskein looked up and seemed to brighten up. Another one was trying to get Ghewyn’s attention. All in all there were 5 Puffskeins, one “cuter”, as Patience put it, as the other. Soon each student had fun with attempting to get one Puffskein to cuddle and lure it out of another student’s arms.

The unusually nice Care of Magical Creatures lesson ended far too quick – although the load of homework made the students groan. Professor Kettleburn looked at them all with an arch smile. “Ah yes, you might wonder why I do that. I think I’ve been much too lenient to all of my students and thought I’d take a leaf out of other teachers’ books.” Mike sighed deeply. “Don’t do that, Professor,” he begged. His best friend Brian seconded him: “We like you much better when you’re kind and not as strict as today.” Kettleburn laughed his dry, old-man’s cackle. “Sure, sure. Let us say you were my experimental class.” He let them go and caught the Puffskeins to set them free outside again.

The Gryffindors went to their next lesson, Defence Against the Dark Arts, and Kettleburn, his arms full of cuddly fur balls, walked humming through the cellar corridor when he encountered Severus Snape. “What is this?” the Potions Master asked revolted. “Puffskeins. One must love them, don’t you think so?” Kettleburn answered cheerfully. Snape’s face said clearly “no”, but he didn’t choose to answer. “Ah, Severus, I tried to be as severe as you are. It didn’t work out too well. How can you stand being hated by everyone?” And Kettleburn walked on, leaving an exasperated Snape behind.

“Now you tell us the Tarot thingy,” Hengist urged when the Malignant Magpies had found seats in the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom. Holly Balloon was already there and asked for the class’ attention, so that Patience didn’t need a better excuse for not telling anyone anything about tarot. Holly had the gift to interest her students, and today she tackled a very interesting topic indeed: counter curses against vampires. “I thought only garlic helps,” Nelly said surprised. “No, Miss Dean, no. Garlic is what Muggles fancy will help, and in some cases it indeed does. But you should always have some proper curses at hand,” Professor Balloon explained. “And we will practise those curses?” asked Brian, clearly keen on making someone fly against a wall. “We will not practise them today. We will only discuss their use and powers,” Holly patiently said. “Now, will you please open your books on page 116. Read the paragraph on counter curses and think about some curses you already know. Are any of them fit to be used against vampires?” As usual, the Magpies discussed this in a low whispered conversation.

Holly did not intervene. She rather encouraged teamwork than stop it. For Hengist and Anne time passed incredibly slow. Both of them were getting more and more impatient and their thoughts were concerned rather with tarot than with vampires. “Tell us what tarot is,” Anne finally burst out in a hiss. Patience sighed and began telling them that there were sets of cards like the Journey of the Fool, the Chalices, the Staffs, the Shields and the Swords. She didn’t get much further as Holly stepped near. “Please do work with vampires and not with tarot cards,” she said amused. Patience blushed and nodded. Hengist was furious. ”Does she have to interrupt when it’s finally getting interesting?” “We’ve got Muggle Studies next, so calm down and wait,” Anne soothed him, hardly able to restrain herself from asking questions to Patience.

Even on the way to Muggle Studies Patience resumed her explanation. “There’s the Journey of the Fool, consisting of 22 cards,” she began. “The Fool, The Wizard, the High Priest, the Empress, the Emperor, the Hierophant, the Lovers, the Chariot, the Power, the Hermit, the Wheel, Justice, the Hanged, Death, the Devil, the Tower, Restraint, the Star, the Moon, the Sun, the Court and the World. All of them have a place in the Journey from birth to death, you see. The other sets of cards contain the numbers 1 to 10 and of course the Knave, the Knight, the Queen and the King. Those usually have a word explaining their meaning. Each colour is a symbol for a season.”

They had by now entered Emerson Dicket’s classroom. On the blackboard was a complex diagram of muggles lifting heavy loads. “Ah. He had third years last lesson,” Mike remarked, flinging his bag onto a desk. Patience was still talking about how the different colours represented special information about the one reading the tarot when Emerson himself came in. “Morning, have a closer look at the blackboard, I hope you remember that still,” the professor cheerfully greeted the class. “But that’s actually not what we’re doing today. We will tackle the complex use of electricity.”

With a wave of his wand Emerson erased the writing and replaced it by the word ‘electricity’. Everyone copied it down. Hengist grinned seeing Anne writing another version first and, seeing her own mistake, correcting it. “I don’t know why you think that word so difficult,” he muttered. “Shut up, muggle boy,” Patience told him friendly. “Tell us more about the cards,” Anne begged. “But this is important, it will be part of the exams,” Patience pointed out. “Since when did that stop us doing something else?” Hengist asked ironically. “Since now,” Patience said decisively and seemed bent on listening to Emerson.

Unfortunately electricity proved to be quite dull for her, and so she began scribbling down information on tarot instead and gave the notes to Hengist and Anne. “Swords: spring, east, sunrise, air and intellect. Deals with mental abilities and methods to develop them. Staffs: summer, south, midday, fire, spirituality, creativity and transformation (actually a kind of wand). Deals with creativity and energy and the way to develop and enhance them. Chalices: autumn, west, dusk, water, feelings, intuition and supernatural abilities (for muggles this must be something like turning toads blue). Deals with balance of emotions and satisfaction of needs of the soul. Shields: winter, north, midnight, earth as well as practical and material things. Deals with the material sphere, the body and physical health.”

Unfortunately this parchment fell down and Emerson caught sight of it. “You three behind there, can one of you explain how a kitchen machine works?” It was a challenge, but as Hengist was muggle-born there was nothing to be lost – if not… “No, Hengist, I don’t think you should answer it. You can explain to us for what in your house electricity is used,” Emerson said smiling. So it was up to Patience and Anne to explain something they had no clue about. “A kitchen machine is something used in… a kitchen?” Patience began carefully. Dicket grinned. “No, really, we wouldn’t have known that!” Ghewyn turned and scowled at Anne and Patience. Anne resisted the urge of sticking out her tongue to Ghewyn. If Ghewyn was able to listen every second of the lesson, that was fine, but Anne was not willing to do so. Not always, that was.

“Okay, then, Muggles use it to prepare meals,” Patience went on. She tried not to squint too obviously onto the notes Hengist was scribbling frantically. “Anne, go on,” Dicket said. Patience sank back to give Anne a free look at Hengist’s bit of parchment. Anne gave a short summary of what Emerson had most probably talked of for the last ten minutes. Emerson seemed content. “Next time, Hengist, don’t write so obviously,” he advised the boy nevertheless. “And now to the uses of electricity at the Alret’s.”

Unfortunately in the last lesson of the morning there was no opportunity for talking. Professor McGonagall did not allow for any chat in her lessons. They were transfiguring midgets into shining beads, very difficult indeed as midgets were so tiny and constantly trying to escape. By the end of the lesson McGonagall asked the Gryffindor students to count the beads. Ghewyn had only managed three which crushed her as she heard that Anne had managed ten and Patience at least seven. But the others had only four or even less beads lying in front of them. “That isn’t enough even for a bracelet for Patience,” Hengist grinned. “Who says she wants one?” Ghewyn asked testily. “It was just because Patience has such tiny wrists hardly any bracelet fits,” Hengist explained patiently.

As always, Ghewyn was in a very bad mood. Every time someone was better than herself in any subject she took it very personally. Lunch was a nice time for chatting, though, and while eating the Magpies went on with discussing tarot. Hengist sighed. “When do we have the next Divination lesson?” he enquired. “Tomorrow, first lesson tomorrow,” Patience said, looking revolted. “Ah yes, and why don’t we present Trelawney with this enormous load of knowledge and then predict something we know will come to pass because we plan it?” “Right, or we might get her into predicting something and make it work,” Patience suggested, brightening up again.

“Yes, do that, while I’ll be still asleep,” Anne grinned. “And we have also time to set it to work because we have the second lesson off,” Patience said gleefully, ignoring Anne’s comment. “But alas, alas, we’re facing Double Potions with the Slytherins right now,” Hengist said. “And we should hurry or we’ll meet Snape in the doorway!” “And after that we can go on with tarot,” Anne suggested. “Sorry, I have Ancient Runes, I can’t, but, Anne, the tarot book is in my chest of drawers, the second drawer, fetch it and read for yourselves,” Patience offered. “Great!” Hengist exclaimed satisfied. It was something to look forward to.

Double Potions always was very unpleasant, and today would certainly make no difference. Snape waited until all students had found seats and then began listing the ingredients for a potion to undo any transformation, be it of a human or an animal. “It is known as the animagi-test, because you can find out if an animal is a real animal by putting a single drop of this fluid onto them,” the professor explained and then told the students to begin whipping up the potion. Patience sighed.

This was by far the most complicated mixture they had ever had to do. Hengist looked scared. His toad Mungus was wriggling in his pocket, and it was not too far-fetched to fear Snape would take Mungus as an example. “I wonder what will happen when the potion hits a real animal,” he whispered nervously. Anne shrugged. “Presumably nothing.” The first things to fill into the cauldron were vinegar, lemon juice and vitriol essence. This had to be stirred carefully, then some ash of salicornia and a bit of chopped emetic root. It smelled horrible, sour and foul at once. “Add the mint now,” Snape said. Banks ran out of the room, looking extremely green. “One down, 19 to go,” Anne joked. Hengist scowled at her. “That’s not funny.” “Yes, it is, as long as it’s Banks and not a friend.” With the mint added, the smell vanished.

Suddenly the liquid turned clear and looked and smelled like water. Now only sage and milk were left. These added, the potion had to stir for about half an hour during which Snape made the class copy down the uses of animagi-test. “You have to carefully filter the potion,” he then announced. “What’s the use of filtering an already clear liquid?” Anne whispered. “Miss Symmons, this is not a clear liquid yet. Parts of mint and sage are in there and the milk as well.” “So I add things just to get them out later? Curious!” Snape looked daggers at Anne but did not let himself be provoked into retorting. It did not matter much if the potion dripped to the ground or hit the desk. It did not even affect the skin, except that it was wonderfully cool. “I think Mungus can safely undergo a treatment with this,” Patience told Hengist. “I take your word for it,” Hengist muttered.

Snape was walking through the class to examine the potions. He stopped in front of Hengist’s cauldron. “Alret, have you got your toad with you?” Just when Hengist wanted to shake his head, Mungus’ head poked out of his pocket. “Ah yes, I see. Then we will test the toad later on,” Snape smiled coldly. Hengist was furious. “You idiot, couldn’t you keep your head down for once?” he hissed. Mungus blew up his cheeks. Patience offered to check Hengist’s potion. “I’ve copied yours, so what should be different?” he asked. “Fine. I could try it first on Mungus,” Patience suggested. “No, don’t, thanks,” Hengist declined. The end of the lesson came far too fast, and Snape called Hengist to the front. “Bring your toad and a phial of your potion,” the teacher added. Hengist did as he was asked.

Both Patience and Anne watched him anxiously. Anne whispered: “Are you sure nothing can happen?” Patience looked at her friend. “No,” she mouthed and Anne felt her spirits sink. Snape placed Mungus in the middle of the teacher’s desk and then took a spoon. Carefully he gave three drops of Hengist’s potion onto Mungus’ back. “We will have to wait for five minutes,” Snape explained. Hengist looked plainly scared. “What if Mungus IS an animagus?” Anne whispered. Patience frowned. “No. He can’t be, animagi must register,” she said slowly. Anne snorted. “Yes, and everybody lives strictly according to laws and rules, especially here at Hogwarts!” Patience had to admit Anne got a point there. If there is a rule, you can be sure there is also somebody finding a way to bend it – or simply overlook it.

When, after five minutes, still nothing had happened and Mungus was sitting on Snape’s desk in his usual shape, Snape nodded. “So you can be sure, Alret, you really carry a toad in your pocket!” The Slytherins sniggered. ”And how can we be sure that potion works?” Melanie Pallet asked. Had Gryffindors asked this, there would have been points lost, no doubt. But Melanie got away with it – she was a Slytherin. Snape turned to her. “Miss Pallet, I suggest you look up the list of animagi and then ask one of them to be your guinea-pig! Homework: Find out possible remedies for burns caused by Bubotuber pus. Dismissed!” The class filed out, Patience took leave of her friends and Anne and Hengist began planning the surprise for Professor Trelawney.

Grim Ending

“Can we somehow make cats and dogs fall off the sky?” Hengist asked dreamily and stared out of the library window. Anne grinned. “You want to get Trelawney to predict a heavy rain?” “Right. But it’s impossible, huh?” “Yes. Still, imagine her face!” They both giggled and earned angry looks by their surrounding students. “No, it’s impracticable,” Anne sighed. “But what about: Something dreadful will happen if you see a huge black dog?” Hengist corrected her: “It’s the Grim, Anne. Not a huge black dog!” “The Grim is a huge black dog, Hengist. Come on, what do you think?” “No. Or else every time we see Fang something dreadful would happen. Hang on! I think I’ve got it!” Hengist’s eyes gleamed with malicious joy and he leaned over to Anne. “We make her think she is not a fraud!” “Yes, I know we’re going to do that, tell me how!” Anne groaned. “You wait and listen,” Hengist whispered mysteriously.

During the next Divination lesson, which happened to be the first lesson of Thursday, Hengist and Patience set their plan into action. The tarot cards were placed on the third, empty chair at their table and instead of gazing into their crystals, the two were studiously placing cards in the correct positions. “No, don’t put that there, it won’t give the meaning we need,” Patience hissed. Hengist quickly hid the wrong card under the others and placed the appropriate one in its place. Their behaviour was de to attract Professor Trelawney’s notice, and consequently the teacher came over, looking rather like an enraged glittering dragon-fly.

“What are you doing there?” she demanded. Patience looked up and Hengist had to applaud her in mind for the appearance of great fear she gave. “We did some tarot, and I… I fear…” She broke off. As expected, Professor Trelawney bent over the set of cards. “Oh my dear, is this your set?” she asked Patience. “No, it’s Hengist’s,” Patience explained. Hengist nodded eagerly. “Dear, I am sincerely sorry to tell you that something dreadful awaits you!” Professor Trelawney obviously delighted in telling Hengist this. “What will happen?” Hengist asked, trying hard to sound anxious. “You will be involved in an accident with an animal and it won’t turn out well for you!” Professor Trelawney revealed. Patience put both hands to her mouth as if in shock.

But Hengist saw she did it to hide her grin. It went exactly as they had planned. “By tonight we will know more,” the professor mysteriously predicted and swept off. It was fortunate the lesson should end soon after that as neither Patience nor Hengist were much longer able to suppress their laughter. Anne awaited her friends at the bottom of the stairs and was treated to a full account of the proceedings. “Great! I talked to Hagrid and everything’s ready, Hengist,” Anne told them. The Magpies could therefore enjoy their better knowledge of what would come to pass all the remaining day. Even Potions simply flew by as their thoughts were rather with the plan as with the theory of potions.

At last it was aft dinner. Hengist begged to be allowed to visit Hagrid, and Professor McGonagall agreed to it. “You are interested in Care of Magical Creatures, aren’t you, Mr Alret?” she said. “Yes, professor. It is a really fascinating subject,” Hengist nodded. “Then go. I assume your friends Miss Wood and Miss Symmons will accompany you. Don’t be back too late!” “Thank you, Professor McGonagall!” Hengist gave Anne and Patience the thumbs up and together they strolled down the lawn to Hagrid’s hut.

The gamekeeper was sitting outside, carving something. Fang, his boarhound, was lying at his feet, drowsing. “Hello, all of you,” Hagrid greeted the Magpies. “Hello Hagrid. Are you ready?” Anne enquired. “I am, bu’ Fang seems to be a bi’ tired, don’t he?” Hagrid chuckled and patted the dog’s head. “Yeah, but what a ferocious beast he will be in five minutes!” Hengist laughed. Patience shook her head. “Pretend to be,” she pointed out. Hagrid nodded approvingly. “So off we go. Fang, c’mon boy!” Hagrid got up and so did Fang. Hengist smiled at Fang. “Hey, Fang! Let’s play!” Even though Fang had seemed to be lazy a moment ago he was all for playing.

Patience and Anne waited for the right moment and then began to raise havoc. Both of them screamed for help, but while Anne stayed in the grounds, Patience started for the castle. The few students still outside hurried near and saw tiny Hengist Alret being attacked by Fang and a helpless Hagrid standing by and trying in vain to get hold of his dog. But before anyone could come to the rescue, Hengist called: “It’s okay, it’s a gift to professor Trelawney!” All spectators burst into laughter. “Act as if it was real, Patience has gone to fetch the dragonfly!” Hengist advised the crowd. All of them helped best as they could.

It did not take long for Patience to get back with Professor Trelawney. The poor professor looked white with shock and was momentarily speechless. “You predicted that,” Patience said almost reproachfully. “Yes, I think so, dear,” Trelawney stammered. “Fang’s never before attacked somebody,” Hagrid wondered aloud. “I certainly did not set him on the boy! Can’t you stop him?” Trelawney snapped. Hagrid grabbed for Fang’s collar and the dog became at once the sleepy pet he had been before. Trelawney frowned. “Ah, thanks,” she said stiffly.

“You tried to make me predict something that came true. Be careful what evil might come of that!” She turned and walked back to the castle. “Uh… That wasn’t intended to end like that!” Hengist said helplessly. Patience stood by, unable to move. Anne looked at both her friends. “We must apologize,” she decided. The three started to run and caught up with Professor Trelawney. “We’re sorry,” Patience panted. Trelawney looked at the Malignant Magpies. “It’s all right,” she slowly said. “You gave me a fright, though. Work extra hard the next weeks!” And with that she reassumed her airy-fairy self and glided away. The Malignant Magpies grinned at each other. “And whom do we get at next?” Anne cheerfully asked.

On the Warpath

The first Quidditch match of the season was Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw. Oliver had sent out his spies Fred and George to the Ravenclaw team and seen they had only one newcomer, a girl named Eliza Bennet who had been a reserve last year and now had to fill in for injured beater Laura Russell. Patience had taken to watching Eliza Bennet in class. Eliza wasn’t a brilliant student, rather unusual for a clever Ravenclaw. “She’s rather boring, I think she’d be a good match for John King”, Patience said one evening thoughtfully to Anne. “Talking about matches, I’ve seen something”, Anne said mysteriously.

Hengist drew nearer. “Holly Balloon is followed by looks everywhere she goes”, Anne revealed her secret. “That isn’t exactly new to us”, Hengist grinned. “Well, no, but remember I told you Dicket would be watching her? Well, I’ve overheard a conversation by accident. Dicket invited Holly for a butterbeer in the Three broomsticks in Hogsmeade. I think next Hogsmeade weekend we should look out for them.” Patience giggled. “Yes, we really should. Maybe they need a kind of a Cupid?” At that moment Oliver came over. “Hengist, I want to talk about tomorrow’s strategy with the team.” He beckoned his seeker towards the fireplace. Anne and Patience went back to their respective homework.

The next morning Patience told Anne about her plan. “What do you say?” Patience wanted to know. Anne shook her head. “You must be crazy. The son of a bat will have a fit if everybody suddenly likes the Slytherins.” Anne told her. “That’s a marvellous idea!” She added. Patience had decided to bewitch the entrance door to the Great Hall. It would send the Volo Charm on everybody who entered the Hall. It was early and nobody was in the Great Hall yet. Anne acted as look-out. A couple of waves with her wand and Patience had done the trick. “After you.” Patience invited her. Anne shook her head “After you my dear.” Anne replied. “I don’t want to be the first one who likes the Slytherins.” She added. Patience had no choice she had to be the guinea pig. Carefully she entered the Great Hall. “And?” Anne asked when Patience had entered the Hall. “I love the Slytherins!” Patience told her.

Slowly Anne entered the Hall. “It’s great! I love the Slytherins.” Anne agreed. The tow girls sat down at the Gryffindor table and watched the entrance. Nobody noticed anything. Some looked a little surprised but that was it. Until Hengist entered. He sighed as soon as he was inside of the Great Hall. He sat next to Patience. “So you really did it all alone.” He whispered in a reproachful voice. “Not all alone.” Patience replied. And winked at Anne. Anne raised her orange juice to hide her grinning face. “Et tu, Anne!” Hengist whispered theatrically. “Brush up your Shakespeare!” Anne replied laughingly. “Start quoting him now!” Patience added.

Hengist shook his head. “Grow up girls!” He sighed and started his breakfast. Patience and Anne were very happy all day long. “Did you notice everybody loves the Slytherins now. They don’t know how to cope with that new situation!” Patience said merrily. “They have never been loved before.” Anne resumed. It was true, everybody loved the Slytherins. All teachers, all students and even Filch. Patience and Anne didn’t know why but Filch had entered the Great Hall that morning. The Slytherins were very suspicious. They didn’t trust the situation and so did Snape. He had the strong feeling that the Malignant Magpies weren’t innocent concerning this incident.

It was Wednesday and he taught them potions on that day. After the lesson which was especially peaceful on that day. He ordered them to stay. First he wanted to talk to Hengist. He confronted him in his office with his suspicion. “I’m a prefect professor. I’d never do that.” Hengist told him. “You might have to drink a verity serum to prove your statement.” Snape warned him in his cold voice. Hengist shrugged. Snape led him go. Next he talked to Patience. “So it had been you who bewitched the whole school.” Snape snarled. Patience looked innocently at him. “What do you mean?” Patience wanted to know. “Com’on don’t tell me that you didn’t notice that everybody started to like the Slytherins.” Snape spat at her. “Aren’t the Slytherins wonderful. I don’t know why I despised them for such a long time!” Patience replied.

“I’ll make you drink verity serum.” Snape warned her. “Then I’ll only reveal my true love for the Slytherins.” Patience said rather pathetically. Snape shook his head and sent her away. Last but not least he talked with Anne. “You love the Slytherins, I assume.” He snapped. Anne nodded. “You’re not confessing that it has been The Malignant Magpies who did that, are you?” Anne shook her head – deeply shocked or rather playing to be deeply shocked. “And it doesn’t make sense to make you drink a verity serum because you know how to drink potions without getting influenced.” Snape finished his speech. Anne smiled at him – it was her triumphant smile. That made Snape even surer that it had been The Malignant Magpies who were responsible for the situation. Of course they had made sure that he wouldn’t find out.

Shortly before dinner the three sat in the common room. “I’m disappointed.” Anne sighed. “Why?” Hengist wanted to know. “I thought he’d try the prisoners’ dilemma.” Anne told them. “You mean he would have locked us until we confessed that it had been us?” Hengist asked. Patience shook her head. “No, you have two criminals. You tell the first one that he’ll be punished mildly if he confesses his deed and witnesses against the other criminal. You tell the same thing to the other one. If they don’t confess both will be free, if one confesses he’ll get a mild punishment and the other a severe one, if both confess, both will be punished severely. The most probable out come is that both confess because they don’t trust each other.” Patience explained. “Now I know why Anne would have liked it. You go for stuff like that, don’t you?” Hengist said to her. Anne shrugged.

Dinner was very funny. The Slytherins felt very uncomfortably especially when Dumbledore raised his voice to make a speech in praise of them. He closed with the following lines. “...Let’s drink to the health of our beloved Slytherin students.” He raised his goblet and drank. Patience grinned at Anne and mouthed “And to us!”. Soon Anne had to leave to go to the Hospital Wing to clean the bedpans. That evening Snape didn’t show up. Anne was still disappointed.

Cleaning the bedpans had no aspect of fun. Anne hummed a tune (‘A spoonful of sugar’) later she changed to whistling (‘Whistle while you work’). The time seemed to pass very fast. When Anne had finished she went back to Gryffindor common room. At least she had intended to go back there. The Slytherins – let’s call them by their names Banks, Vargas, Cook and Greg have had a cunning plan. Anne heard a whisper. It was Banks, Vargas, Cook and Greg. They were talking about a plan.

“I bet it had been the Malignant Magpies.” Banks whispered. “Anne only pretended to like me all the time!” Greg said in a very upset voice. “They’ll pay!” Vargas promised. “What will we do?” Cook asked. “It’s best to do it now, because everybody likes us...” Vargas started. “I want Anne to pay and their awful friends as well!” Greg added. “We’ll set a troll on them.” Banks revealed. Cook breathed in sharply. “A troll?” He asked. “Where do we get one?” Banks whispered something, which Anne couldn’t understand. Banks, Vargas, Cook and Greg laughed out loud that didn’t mean good news, Anne thought. “They go for that Hagrid, don’t they. We’ll set his hut on fire and when they come running by we set the troll on them.” Banks said triumphantly. Anne gasped. The four were laughing again. They sneaked back to Slytherin common room. Anne ran back to Gryffindor common room. She dragged Patience and Hengist into a quiet corner. “I’ll have to talk to you.” She explained. “What?” Hengist exclaimed when Anne had told them the story.

“We better de-witch the school!” Patience whispered absent-mindedly. Hengist and Anne stared at her. “I mean after we have warned Hagrid. The three ran out of the common room. They didn’t care too much about the noise they were making. Out of breath they opened the door that led them out of the castle. In front of Hagrid’s hut Banks, Vargas, Cook and Greg were standing and waiting. “So you came to save your friend.” Banks sneered arrogantly. Patience gave him a very dark look. Hengist, Patience and Anne grabbed their wands. The others were holding theirs in their hands. “Anne how can you prefer such a thing to the Slytherins!” Greg said in a reproachful and accusing voice. “Not scared of a troll?” Cook asked the three.

Hengist had thought of the troll as well but he knew it would be fatale to turn his back to the Slytherins. He listened for any sounds that might come from a troll. “No, he’s not yet here. He’ll arrive as soon as he sees the fire.” Vargas informed them. He pointed his wand at Hagrid’s hut before he could even think of bewitching it Anne had pointed her wand at him. “Heterocephalus glaber” Anne whispered. Vargas was hit by the full strength of Anne’s spell. He was pushed backwards and fell. Suddenly he disappeared where he had just been a little animal lay. It looked like a naked rat. Patience and Hengist had Banks and Cook disarmed. Patience looked at Hengist. He nodded. Patience turned to Anne. “He’s yours.” She said. Patience was talking about Greg. He had gone very pale.

Anne stared at him. She tried hard to find a punishment for him. Anne waved her wand she mouthed ‘itidem’. A cold wind blew the moment Anne had done this. Nothing seemed to have happened but Greg had gone white. He looked horrified. He fell on his knees staring at Anne. First Patience thought Anne had used the imperius curse but nothing else happened. Anne looked at Hengist and Patience. The three went on to Hagrid’s hut. “Hullo ye! Ye should be sleepin’.” Hagrid greeted them. He saw the three Slytherins gathering strength again. “They wanted to burn down your hut!” Patience informed Hagrid. “Ye kiddin’!” Hagrid replied. They looked very seriously at him. Hagrid swallowed. Fang had run out of the hut. When he came back he carried something between his teeth. He placed it in front of Hagrid. Hagrid took the little creature carefully. “What are ye doin’ ‘ere?” He asked the creature which looked like a naked rat.

Anne cleared her throat. “That’s Vargas.” She admitted. “Think we better take him and the others to the Hospital Wing.” Anne added. She took Vargas’ tail and carried him not too carefully. “Wait!” Hagrid called and ran after them. “Ye’ll get a lot ‘f trouble. I’ll take ‘em.” Hagrid offered. The Malignant Magpies nodded. “And ye better get back to yer dorm’tory!” Hagrid advised them. The three left. On the way to the Hospital Wing Hagrid scolded the four Slytherins. Unfortunately Madam Pomfrey was able to de-witch Vargas. There were no further investigations because no teacher had seen or heard the little incident. Hagrid had told Madam Pomfrey that it had been an accident. Of course Banks, Vargas, Cook and Greg didn’t want the incident to be known as well.

When Hengist, Patience and Anne were back in the common room Hengist raised his voice. “I know what you did to Vargas but what happened to Greg?” Patience nodded. “It hasn’t been the imperius curse.” Patience added. Anne took off a silver chain which neither Patience nor Hengist had ever noticed before. On the chain hang a little pendant. “My grandmother gave that to me.” Anne explained. Hengist and Patience looked at her questioningly. Anne passed the chain to Patience. She looked at it. “It shows another spell every day. Today it showed me ‘itidem’ – a spell to confront somebody with a short vision of his or her greatest fear.” Anne reported. Hengist looked at the pendant. “Have you ever used one of these spells before?” He wanted to know. Anne shook her head. Hengist passed her the pendant. Anne put it around her neck again. She hadn’t told her friends that it only showed mean spells, spells that were intended to hurt somebody.

Patience was up very early the next morning. She sneaked down to the Great Hall and put a spell on the door that reversed the volo charm. Silently she climbed the stairs. “Miss Wood!” It was Snape’s voice that called her from below. Patience turned around. “What do you think you’re doing out of your dormitory?” Snape scolded her. “Usually I pick up the muggle paper in the morning professor. I forgot that I’m not at home, sorry!” Patience lied. “You don’t think that I’ll believe this story!” Snape barked. Patience shrugged. “What else should I have done?” She asked innocently. Snape hesitated. He hadn’t seen anything. He just wanted to give her a detention for being up too early when other students climbed down the stairs. Without another word Snape turned away from her.

Patience grinned. She went back to the common room. Anne and Hengist got just dressed and entered the common room shortly after patience. “There you are!” Anne exclaimed. Patience gave her a smile. “You must have been kicked out of your bed very early today.” Anne yawned. “I’m so happy that the Christmas break will start soon. Sleep as long as I want to.” Hengist told them dreamily. Anne put her arms around Hengist’s arm. “Oh Hengist!” She cooed. Hengist blushed a little but Anne grinned broadly at him and he knew that she had only joked. He smiled relieved. Anne let go of his arm.

Together they went down to the Great Hall. Hengist stopped when he had entered. He looked at Patience. “I fell much better now!” He whispered. Anne had stopped as well. “I feel like hating the Slytherins.” She confessed happily. That morning the Slytherins behaved very foolishly. They were making a mess of their and the other tables until a very bad tempered Filch made them stop. That intimidated to them that the spell wasn’t working anymore and they had turned back into Hogwarts’ most hated students again.

Snape as well had noticed the change. After breakfast he stopped Patience. “So it had been you.” He snarled. Patience looked at him questioningly. “Unfortunately I can’t prove that it had been you.” He added. Patience didn’t move she still wore the questioningly look. “Congratulations.” Snape finished. Patience was very upset. She had realized that Snape was trying to make her give herself away. “Professor, shame on you. I told you I didn’t do anything.” Patience spat at him and left. Hengist and Anne had waited for her. “What did he want?” Hengist asked in a whisper. “He tried to make me reveal that it had been me who did that to the Slytherins.” Patience told them. Still she was very upset – not because Snape had accused her of doing the trick but because he thought her so stupid that she would give herself away so easily.

Anne shook her head grinningly. During the lessons they had with the Slytherins Vargas threw angry looks at Anne. After Care for Magical Creatures Vargas stopped her. “You think you’re safe. You’ll pay for last night. I swear you will!” Vargas threatened her. Anne put her bag on the floor. “What could you do?” She asked him mockingly. “You’ll see what I can do!” Vargas took out his wand. Patience and Hengist grabbed theirs as well. Anne didn’t reach for her wand but used the time when Vargas’ hand was in his robe to push him backwards. With a loud noise he fell on the floor. He lost his wand. Anne drew nearer. “Never ever try to lick me!” Anne warned him. Hengist and Patience put their wands back. The other Gryffindors were giggling about Vargas who looked especially stupid lying on the floor.

Anne stayed in the Great Hall after dinner. “I organized a normal broom for you.” Snape told Anne passing her a very small broom. “You got that from the House-Elves, didn’t you?” Anne asked. Snape nodded. He looked around the room. “It’ll take you at least two hours until you have cleaned the Great Hall.” Snape informed her. Anne took the chance and engorged the broom so that it had normal size. Anne had already started when Snape turned back to her. “Two hours is a long time, I’ll keep you company.” Snape ordered. Anne shrugged. “So we are back to hating the Slytherins again...” Snape started his investigation. “I wouldn’t give a damn on what Vargas says.” Anne replied thinking Vargas had told Snape that Anne had pushed him and perhaps even more.

Snape got suspicious. Vargas hadn’t told him anything. “Well, what do you say to defence yourself?” Snape asked provokingly. “Nothing!” Anne replied. “Nothing, you might get another detention.” Snape warned her. “I couldn’t change that anyway. I’m in Gryffindor remember?`” Anne asked. “You’re not getting a detention because you are in Gryffindor...” Snape defended himself. “But Slytherins don’t get a detention because they are in your house.” Anne explained. “Are you telling me that I’m biased?” Snape asked furiously. “C'mon, Professor, don’t tell me that you haven’t noticed yet!” Anne said in a surprised voice. “I’m not biased!” Snape spat at her. “Then Vargas gets a detention as well?” Anne asked innocently. “None of you will get a detention.” Snape told her.

Anne stared at him. “What did Vargas tell you?” Anne wanted to know. “He certainly didn’t tell you the whole story.” Anne added. Snape remained silent. Anne stopped cleaning. She looked at Snape for a very long time. “He didn’t tell you anything.” Anne stated. “I don’t believe it!” Anne shouted. She took out her wand and shouted “Biffido!”. The Great Hall was clean. “I won’t need that!” Anne spat at Snape and passed him the broom. Without another word she left and went back to the common room.

“Have you finished?” Patience asked in a surprised voice when Anne entered the room. Anne fumed. “That son of a bat pretended to know about the incident with Vargas!” Anne barked angrily. “What did you tell him?” Hengist wanted to know. “Nothing.” Anne replied. “Did he ask you about Vargas?” Hengist interrogated. Anne shook her head. “He said something about hating the Slytherins again.” Anne reported. “I don’t think he was after you this time!” Patience whispered. Hengist nodded. “He wanted you to give away Patience.” Hengist agreed. “What? Of course!” Anne exclaimed. “Wait you bat...” Anne started. She headed to leave the common room. Patience and Hengist made her stop. “Are you mad?” Hengist asked. “You can’t go and tell Snape off for cheating!” Patience reminded her. Anne trembled with anger. Anne gave up. “Okay, you’re right.” She admitted.

Struck by an Arrow

“Do we have to go already?” Hengist asked, looking up from the chessboard. “Anne’s going to win anyway, and Trelawney said we should meet her in the grounds today,” Patience reminded him. Anne grinningly took Hengist’s bishop. “Do you really want to go down like that?” she asked. Then she realized what Patience had just said. “Trelawney – in the grounds? Doesn’t she fall apart in fresh air and sunlight?” “No, Anne. I thought you were of the opinion that Snape is a vampire – so now it’s Trelawney, isn’t she?” Patience taunted her friend.

“Well, if she is we can use the new charm. What was it?” Hengist frowned. “Approximella?” Patience asked with a grin. Hengist nodded. “Exactly.” “And what use is it to make a vampire come nearer?” Anne asked sarcastically. “I thought you’d want to keep them as far as you can.” Hengist shrugged. “Not if you’ve got enough garlic with you.” “Do you have garlic with you?” Anne wanted to know. “No,” Hengist cheerfully said. “Have you got a cross, then?” Patience asked. “No,” Hengist said again. “Then what do you intend to do when the vampire is approximately ten inches away from you?” Anne enquired curiously.

“Stun him – her, in this case,” Hengist declared proudly. “Okay, point taken,” Patience sighed and took Hengist’s hand. “C’mon, let’s go, we’re already a bit late.”

They were late indeed. The class was already assembled, and Basil Evans grinned. “What have you been doing that you’re so late?” he asked in an audible whisper. Patience blushed fiercely in her anger, which made the others laugh. “We see,” Brian chuckled. “May I have your attention?” called Professor Trelawney more crossly than she had ever spoken. “Sorry,” everyone demurred. “Attention? Since when does she get it?” Brian couldn’t help asking. Hengist shrugged. “Today her chances are better than ever – we’re not intoxicated by the smoke.”

“Hullo, y’all,” boomed a friendly voice from behind them. Patience jumped in surprise. “Hagrid, what are you doing here?” she asked. Hagrid smiled at her. “I’m keeper of the grounds,” he replied. “We know,” Hengist assured him. “Ah, wonderful.” Trelawney had swept over and now laid her hand, glittering with dozens of rings, onto Hagrid’s arm. “Come with me,” she begged. Hagrid grimaced and followed. “Why does he carry his crossbow?” Brian wondered. “Maybe he also thinks Trelawney is a vampire,” Patience guessed and they all lapsed into silent laughter.

“I have already taught you many different ways of unfogging your inner eye and helping you to draw back the veil to get a glimpse at the future,” Trelawney said and made an artificial pause to let her words sink in. “And today we will find yet another path to the realms of the uncertain.” Catherine and Nelly stared at the professor with round eyes, apparently too excited to move or speak. Patience rolled her yes and looked at Hengist. “My inner eye’s blind today,” Hengist mouthed. “But the sky’s clear – that’s something,” Patience stated amused.

“Today, we will do belomancy,” the professor announced dramatically. Mike turned to the others. “What? Bells?” he asked perplexed. “I didn’t know we needed bells.” “I know something,” Hengist grinned mischievously, “bells announce somebody will be buried.” “Or married,” Patience added. Brian nodded. “Or christened.” “Cool,” Mike said bored.

“Or maybe she pronounced it wrongly,” Patience suddenly said. “Maybe its below-mancy, and we just have to sink below our worst predictions.” “That’s below you, to say that,” Mike chid her amused. Patience shrugged. “But what is Hagrid doing here?” Hengist sensibly asked. The riddle was solved only a minute later.

“Belomancy is the art of predicting the future by watching the flight of an arrow,” Trelawney explained. “Does the person who wants to know the future have to shoot the arrow?” Nelly asked eagerly. “Belomancy is not fit to be used for single persons, but yes, if you do want to predict the future of a single person that person has to shoot,” Trelawney answered. “If it’s not for single persons, what shall we predict?” Catherine enquired, scribbling as fast as she could. “The future of nations,” Trelawney said curtly.

A general gasp and murmurs were her answer. “Nations. Wow,” Brian said impressed. “So she isn’t satisfied any longer with us dying – now we shall drown Atlantis.” “Atlantis has been drowned before, Brian,” Patience reminded him. “If you say so.” Brian was not very interested in history.

“I just hope Hagrid will do the shooting – and that he aims well,” Hengist whispered concerned, craning his neck to look at the crossbow. “Do you think he will shoot one of us?” Brian enquired. “That would make a prediction true, so it’ll never happen.” “Which one?” Patience asked curiously. “I predicted Mike would drop dead this week. It was in the stars,” Brian explained. Mike grinned. “Yeah, but I said you’d be shot this week – now who’s gonna be the arrow’s prime target?”

Hagrid was indeed the one to shoot an arrow. In an elegant curve, the missile flew over the heads of the class and landed safely in the middle of the lawn. “Such a curve,” Professor Trelawney explained,” says that a nation or a group of persons will rise, but on the height of power will meet their downfall.” “You-Know-Who,” Patience whispered thoughtfully. “That’s not a prediction – that’s a fact,” Hengist reminded her. “Then… Well, maybe someone else will rise to power and meet his or her downfall – who knows?” Patience shrugged.

The next arrow was blown off course by a sudden blow of wind and landed much nearer Hogwarts Castle, with a slight quivering in its flight. “That,” Trelawney called delighted, “means that someone inside the castle has to beware of a sudden change of life. Maybe we are all in for a change – to the worse.” “Why doesn’t that surprise me?” Brian asked amused. “Maybe Slytherin will have to face they lose the Quidditch Cup this year,” Patience hopefully guessed. “That’s too good to come true,” Mike sighed. “But with you as Beaters, and Hengist as Seeker – c’mon, guys, make it true,” Patience begged, but at the same time knew that the Slytherin team was much too strong to let newcomers win easily. “We’ll try – but mind you, that would be a change for the better,” Hengist reminded her. “Not for Slytherin,” Patience retorted grimly.

“Now you will each shoot an arrow and try to interpret its movements with the help of your books,” Trelawney announced. “Shoot? We shall shoot?” Nelly asked nervously. Hagrid handed her the huge crossbow. “Now,” the gamekeeper soothingly said and took Nelly’s right hand. “You’ll ‘ave to pull the string an’ the arrow back like this, an’ then release it. That’s the thing.” With Hagrid’s help, Nelly had managed to move the tight bowstring and the arrow flew a few feet through the air, narrowly missing the head of John King. Deeply relieved for it to be over, Nelly opened her book and began to make notes on her arrow.

One by one, the students tried their luck. Brian managed the crossbow without help, and his arrow flew almost as far as Hagrid’s. “Done a lot of Beater training lately,” he explained proudly. Catherine giggled and stared at Brian admiringly. “Well done, anyway, Brian,” Hagrid told him with a grin.

Then it was Hengist’s turn. Patience made sure she stood right behind her friend. Knowing that Hengist was rather accident-prone, she preferred not being in the way of a sharp arrowhead. Hagrid watched Hengist apprehensively. “Now you draw the string back, careful, yeah, that’s the thing, very good. Release!” Hengist’s arrow flew in a nice, only slightly quivering curve and landed right behind Mike who grinned. “Missed by some inches,” he called over. Hengist shook his head. “Such a pity,” he muttered grinning.

When he handed the bow to Patience, she was surprised by is weight. “Hagrid, do you hunt with that thing?” she asked, steadying the bow and aiming without an arrow on the string. “Sometimes I do,” Hagrid told her and placed an arrow on the string. “It’s rather heavy,” Patience said and aimed again. Suddenly she saw a person appear and walk with confident strides across the lawn, heading for the lake. She grinned mischievously. “I just have to pull back the string, right?” she asked and at the same time, with some effort, did as she was saying. She released the arrow, and to her own surprise it flew up high and got speed in the air. “Watch it – you’re going to hurt somebody,” Brian suddenly said. Patience frowned. “No way – it can’t fly that far!”

Then a yell of pain echoed over the grounds. Patience dropped the crossbow and turned to Hagrid. “I couldn’t have done that!” she said, very pale and shaking. “I know you couldn’t,” Hagrid grimly said and patted Patience’s shoulder. It felt like being nailed into the ground, but it was also soothing. Hengist stayed with Patience while the others ran to the spot where the person had fallen down. “That was a real good shot,” he said amused. “You hit Banks.”

Professor McGonagall was less amused than Hengist. She had taken charge of the incident, purposefully excluding Snape. Now she sat behind her desk and watched Patience and Hagrid. As usual, the half-giant looked too big to be allowed inside the castle, let alone her office. Patience looked diminutive next to him, and crestfallen.

“Miss Wood, do you have any explanation for this accident – if it was an accident?” McGonagall sternly asked. Patience shook her head. “I have no idea, professor. Really, I aimed to the lawn, and yes, there was a person, but as the string was so tight I hardly drew it far enough back for the arrow to fly some feet.” Hagrid nodded fervently. “She couldn’t ‘ave done it, professor.”

“Were you there, Hagrid?” McGonagall enquired. “Yes. I was standin’ right behind Patience, an’ she ‘ad problems ‘olding the crossbow,” Hagrid reported truthfully. “Then I can’t see how the arrow flew so far,” McGonagall plainly said and sighed. “Mr Banks will recover in a day, you hit his bottom.” Patience couldn’t help grinning. “I hope Madam Pomfrey can mend it,” she managed to say, but she sounded far from wretched.

McGonagall gave her a sharp look. “You had better not show your pleasure that openly, Miss wood,” she advised her student. “I’m not pleased. It looks as if I had shot Banks, but it wasn’t me – how can I be pleased?” Patience demanded. “Are you sure you did not bewitch the arrow?” McGonagall asked shrewdly. Patience’s eyes widened. “Oh. Yes. I could have done that,” she thoughtfully stated. Then she gave McGonagall her wand. “You can test it. I didn’t use it ever since Charms today.”

McGonagall checked the timetable in front of her. It should be true, as Patience had done Muggle Studies and Ancient Runes in between the Charms lesson and Double Divination. “We shall see. Until the examination has been concluded, I will keep your wand,” McGonagall resolved. Patience nodded. “Yes, professor.”

Outside, she turned to Hagrid. “Can the arrow be bewitched?” she asked. Hagrid shrugged. “I had my quiver filled with arrows, all the arrows needed for the class.” “One each?” Patience asked, although she knew the answer. “Yes. One each,” Hagrid agreed. “Where do you keep the quiver?” she wanted to know. “In my hut, on the wall,” Hagrid answered and scratched his head. “Blimey, I can’t see how anyone could have bewitched the arrow.”

That night, the Magpies sat together, discussing who could have bewitched the arrow. “It doesn’t make sense! Banks was just strolling down the lawn, and he or anyone else could have walked out there any time! And nobody knew who would shoot the bewitched arrow!” Patience stated. “It’s a mess,” she added sadly. Hengist grinned. “Actually, it’s quite funny… Banks’ bottom pierced, a headline worthy of the Daily Prophet.” “If it had been your arrow, you wouldn’t think it funny,” Patience told him.

Anne shook her head. “Listen, one of us must talk to Banks. Maybe we find out more if we talk to him.” “And what do you want to find out?” Patience asked. “Well, maybe he was told to go out at that moment,” Anne explained. Hengist and Patience stared at her. “You mean, it was somebody who is not doing Divination?” Hengist enquired. Anne nodded. “That’s the likeliest conclusion.”

“No, it isn’t,” Patience said after some thinking. “Nobody knew what we would do today.” “Everybody knew you’d meet outside, and – can I have a look at your Divination book?” Anne begged. Patience handed her the book, and Anne ruffled through it. She grinned satisfied. “Yes. Just as I thought. The only method of Divination, apart from star-gazing which is apparently better done when it’s dark, is Belomancy. Anyone could have guessed at it.”

“Are you sure it wasn’t you?” Hengist asked jokingly. Anne sighed. “I wish it had been me, but then I’d have made sure that neither you nor Patience shot the fatal arrow.” She looked at her friends. “Now, who’s going to visit Banks?” “Not me,” Patience said at once. “He wouldn’t talk to you anyway, I suppose,” Anne nodded. “Neither would he talk to you, Anne,” Hengist pointed out. Anne nodded again. Hengist blinked. “What? Me?” he asked, realizing the implication behind the fact that both girls were no use in talking to Banks. “You,” Anne said satisfied. “Hurry, and you’ll be back in time.”

Hengist went to the Hospital Wing cursing inwardly. Most probably Banks’ so-called friends Vargas and Cook would be there as well. But he was pleasantly surprised: nobody was there, not even Madam Pomfrey, and Banks was reading a book. Hengist raised an eyebrow. Banks could read – amazing. “Roland, a word with you,” Hengist began briskly.

Banks looked up. “I’m not going to talk to you,” he spat. Hengist grinned and sat down on Banks’ bed. “How is your bottom?” he enquired politely. “Doesn’t hurt any longer, thanks,” Banks grumpily muttered. “Why did you walk out of the castle this afternoon?” Hengist asked. He did not want to stay longer than absolutely necessary.

Banks frowned. “That’s really none of your business, Alret,” he replied in feeble imitation of Vargas. Hengist shrugged. “I thought you’d be interested in who wanted to hurt you, but if you’re not...” He got up slowly. Predictably, Roland changed his mind: “Wait! It was that Bagoony, of Ravenclaw.” Hengist grinned. “Yeah, tell that to Flitwick.” “No, really, Alret, it was. Bagoony said I’d have to have a look at you idiots shooting arrows, and that Woodlouse was going to be next and she’d fail.” Banks smiled bitterly. “But she didn’t.”

Hengist laughed out loud. “That’s something we’ll never know, I guess. Well, better you keep your mouth shut about my visit up here, or your bottom may start to hurt again. See you.” Hengist walked out whistling a cheerful tune.

Back in the Common Room, he sat down next to Anne. “It was the Ravenclaw Quidditch team,” he revealed. Patience burst into laughter. “What?” Anne asked bewildered. “Remember Halloween?” “Sure. Ashraf’s pumpkin head,” Anne nodded. “But it’s ages ago,” Patience added. “Still, there hasn’t been any revenge, has there?” Hengist shrewdly asked.

“No,” the girls answered in one voice. “See. Now they took their chance. Ashraf sent Banks outside, and someone must have aimed the spell from a window facing the lawn,” Hengist explained. Patience nodded. “Makes sense. There are loads of windows facing the lawn.” “Exactly. Now, will we give them away?” Hengist asked. Anne snorted. “That’s a rhetorical question, isn’t it?” Hengist shrugged. “I just wanted to make sure you were of my opinion.”

And so nobody but the Ravenclaw Quidditch Team and the Malignant Magpies ever knew how Banks came to get an arrow into his backside.

Slytherin Against Gryffindor – Not in the Pitch

Snape had noticed that Vargas, Banks and Cook hung around a lot with Greg Nott. It was no secret that Vargas, Banks and Cook couldn’t stand The Malignant Magpies. And Greg’s affection for Anne had turned into hate. Snape decided to watch the four carefully. Greg received an owl from his parents the next day. He showed it to Vargas, Banks and Cook they seemed to enjoy it.

Snape didn’t talk to Anne much that day even though he kept her company during her detention. Anne had decided to hum to keep herself calm. Anne had never cleaned the entrance hall before. “Stop it!” Snape snarled. Anne turned around and looked at him. “If you go on humming I’ll consider your detention to be joyful for you. Of course that’s not what it was meant to be. I’d have to think of another detention for you.” Snape informed her.

Anne leaned on the broomstick looking at Snape. “What would the alternative detention be?” She asked. “Then it is fun for you to clean the entrance hall.” Snape stated. Anne grinned. “You could look up some recipes for potions.” Snape told her in his severe voice. “No, professor, please don’t make me do that. I’d really hate that!” Anne replied in an exaggerated begging voice. “You’ll never take anything serious, will you?” Snape whispered in a reproachful voice. “That’s exactly what I’ve planned.” Anne reported and went on – without humming – cleaning the entrance hall.

The next day was a Saturday. It was a Hogsmeade weekend but McGonagall didn’t allow Anne to leave. Patience and Hengist went alone. Anne strolled around the castle chatting with some of the moving pictures. Shortly before lunch Anne went back to the common room. The younger pupils had gathered in front of it. Anne was taller then most of them and so it was easy for her to see the reason for the little crowd. Some words had been written next to the Fat Lady. ‘You’ll die A. S.’ Anne went pale when she realized that there was nobody at the school who had the initials A and S like she had.

The pupils turned to face her. They hurried away whispering conspicuously and exchanging different theories. Fred and George looked at her. “Lee went to fetch professor McGonagall.” Fred told Anne. “If I knew who has done this...” George started. “I’m sure we could find out where this paint was bought...” Fred thought aloud approaching the words and stretching out his hand to touch it. “DON’T TOUCH IT!” Anne shouted and drew him back. She put her hands on the shoulders on Fred and George. “You two better go now to have lunch.” She advised them. Fred and George nodded and left. McGonagall had sent Lee to lunch as well. “Miss Symmons, do you have any idea who could have done that?” McGonagall asked in a warm voice. Anne shook her head. “Then go down and have lunch with the others.” McGonagall told her. “Sure, somebody threatens me with death and I’ll go down and have lunch!” Anne whispered but she left. She didn’t go to the Great Hall but left the castle to visit Hagrid.

“Hullo Anne!” The giant man greeted her. “Hello Hagrid! Do you mind me staying for a couple of hours until Patience and Hengist are back?” Anne asked. “Ye can always stay with ‘Agrid! ‘Ey Fang, look ‘ho’s visiting us.” Hagrid said. Fang ran towards Anne wagging fast. Anne caressed him. “Wan’ te see my new pet?” Hagrid asked grinnin broadly. Anne nodded. Hagrid led her to a big cage on the other side of his hut. „That’s a Haggis!“ Anne exclaimed in a surprised voice. The small creature had wings, three legs (all different lenghts), it sounded like a bagpipe which was out of tune – well I guess that’s just what bagpipes always sound like. “Where did you get a Haggis?” Anne wanted to know.

“A good frien’ of mine ga’e it te me. I’ll take ca’e of ‘im fer a couple of weeks.” Hagrid explained. Seeing Anne’s questioning look he added. “Prefesser Dumbledore knows tha’ I’ll take ca’e of ‘im.” Anne smiled. “He’s beautiful.” Anne whispered caressing the friendly creature (the Haggis – not Hagrid!). “’Is name is Al. Ye helpin’ me tenigh’. Professor Snape tol’ me.” Hagrid said. Anne nodded. “If he asks you could you tell him that I hat to be out with you doing detentions?” Anne wanted to know. Hagrid laughed. “Wha’ woul’ tha’ be good fe?” He asked. “Professor Snape thinks a detention shouldn’t be fun!” Anne informed Hagrid. “Well, tha’s wha’t used te be in my schooltime.” Hagrid remembered. “Don’ worry. I’ll tell ‘im ye ha’e it!” Hagrid assured her. “What are we doing tonight anyway?” Anne wanted to know. “We’ll go ‘n’ catch some ji’erbug.” Hagrid informed her. Anne smiled. She loved those little jitterbugs. They made a beautiful sound jittering. They looked beautiful as well. They glistened in all the colours of the rainbow. Jitterbugs had the size of Maybugs. It wasn’t easy too catch them. You had to sing, hum or whistle a little tune. Jitterbugs loved music. “Ye better think of some nice tunes fer tenigh’!” Hagrid advised her. Anne nodded.

Somebody knocked violently at the door. Anne jumped scared. She remembered the words on the wall. Hagrid opened the door. Anne stopped breathing. “Have you seen Miss Symmons?” McGonagall’s voice could be heard. “I’m here professor!” Anne replied shyly. McGonagall entered the hut. Anne looked guiltily. She awaited McGonagall’s lecture. But instead of telling her off McGonagall hugged Anne. “You fool. We were so worried about you.” McGonagall whispered. “Wha’ is wrong, prefesser?” Hagrid wanted to know. McGonagall let go of Anne. “You didn’t tell him, Miss Symmons?” McGonagall asked. Anne shook her head. McGonagall took Hagrid aside. Anne sat down on the floor next to Fang who wanted to be caressed by her. “Ye shouldn’ ‘ave lef’ the cas’le!” Hagrid told her in a reproachful voice. “Ye’ll take Fang with ye. He’s no’ a good watchdog but he migh’ scare some people of!” Hagrid said. Anne gave him a smile. Anne stood up and together with McGonagall she left the little hut.

“Somebody is sneaking around inside of the castle!” McGonagall exclaimed. “Somebody is threatening a student and you want us to stay calm?” Dumbledore nodded. “It doesn’t help if we get set up as well.” Dumbledore assured the teachers. Flitwick sighed. “But who would do such a thing?” He wanted to know. “The Malignant Magpies and Miss Symmons being one of them didn’t please all of the students.” Sprout thought aloud. “I don’t think it is about The Malignant Magpies...” Dumbledore started. “Dear colleagues, I think we should inform her parents. They will be able to protect their daughter.” Dumbledore suggested. “You can’t invite them and ask them to protect their daughter. They have never been to Hogwarts. They don’t know what Hogwarts is all about. They don’t know Anne’s friends or her enemies. It’s too dangerous!” Dicket told him. The others nodded. “What then?” Dumbledore wanted to know. “We’ll protect her.” McGonagall said. “I still hope it was only a students prank.” She added optimistically.

When Patience and Hengist returned the first thing they heard were the rumours about the threat on Anne. They went to meet her in the common room. Fred and George sat next to her and Fang. Bethesda ran away when Fang looked at her. “Hey, I’ll keep him!” Anne exclaimed in a fake happy voice. Patience gave her a reproachful look. “What are all these rumours about?” Hengist wanted to know. Anne shrugged. “Do you know who wants to kill you?” Patience asked. “Well, I might have said this before but I think there is only one person in this school who could do that.” Anne started. Patience raised her hand to indicate her to stop. “Let me guess. It’s Snape.” She said. Anne nodded. “Yes, the good old son of a bat.” Anne agreed. Hengist shook his head.

“Patience do you remember the young man and his house-elf?” Anne asked when the boys had left them to do some research. Patience nodded. “Do you think he came back?” Patience wanted to know. Anne shook her head. “Don’t you remember he was after you? No, I’m thinking of his entering our common room as if there was nothing to it.” Patience nodded. “That might happen again.” Patience thought aloud. Suddenly somebody knocked at the door. The two girls turned to the door. “Who could that be?” Anne asked. Patience shrugged. “Go and open the door. I know a good spell to protect us.” Patience whispered. Anne nodded. Patience held her wand tightly and pointed it at the door. Anne opened it slowly. She looked at Patience. When Patience lowered her wand and looked relieved Anne looked outside. “It’s you!” Anne whispered almost happily. “I just wanted to inform you that your detention will be delayed until we know who wrote those words on the wall.” Snape told her coldly. Anne put her hands on her hips. “You better forget that, professor. I’ll help Hagrid tonight and after all Fang is there to protect me!” Anne told him. Snape looked at Fang who hid under one of the tables. “Miss Symmons I won’t discuss this with you...” “Me neither!” Anne interrupted him and closed the door. Patience gave her a reproachful look. “What?” Anne spat at her. “You shouldn’t walk around the Enchanted Forest.” Patience told her. “You heard it, no discussion about that.” Anne repeated.

After dinner Anne left the table accompanied by Fang. “Oh, we’re back to observing Anne again.” Hengist whispered watching Snape following Anne. Patience sighed. “I’d feel much happier if she wasn’t out there tonight.” Anne had closed the door to the Great Hall. She leaned against the wall waiting. Snape opened the door silently and went out of the Great Hall. Anne watched him. Fast he went to the entrance door. He opened it and looked outside. “Looking for anyone in particular?” Anne asked casually. Snape turned around. He stared at her. “I’ll take you to Hagrid’s hut.” Snape informed her. Anne shook her head. “What should that be good for?” She asked him. “To protect you!” Snape added. “Yeah, you didn’t see me next to the door but you think you see a wizard or a witch who is up to attacking me. Not very convincing performance.” Anne replied. “After you professor. I’d rather have you in front of me than behind me.” Anne told him. He left the castle. Snape didn’t walk in front of her but next to her side. On Anne’s other side Fang trod happily.

Hagrid carried a little box in which he wanted to put the jitterbugs. “Ye prepared?” Hagrid asked kindly. Anne beamed at him. She nodded. She had chosen Hagrid’s favourite song. Anne cleared her throat and started humming. Hagrid’s face lit up. “Ye hummin’ my favou’ite tune!” Hagrid whispered. He joined her humming ‘Puff the magic dragon’. Soon the jitterbugs flew close and Anne and Hagrid could catch them. After they had hummed all four stanzas they started another song. Anne hummed ‘I’m gonna be’ while Hagrid hummed something he had heard in muggle London recently (‘Stairway to heaven’). Snape watched the surroundings. Nothing could be seen or heard. Suddenly something grabbed Anne. She tried to free herself but couldn’t. Hagrid and Snape tried to help her but she was dragged away too fast. The two ran after her until she was out of sight.

Whatever it was that had caught Anne was stopped violently. Anne fell on the ground. A centaur stood next to her stretching out his hand to help her up. “Hello Anne Symmons!” He greeted her. Anne stared at him. “How comes that you know my name?” Anne asked. Then she realized that he had saved her and she added. “Thank you for saving me from...” “I owe you my life. Don’t thank me.” The centaur interrupted her. Anne shook her head. “I’ve never seen you before.” She told him. He smiled. “The stars sent me here tonight.” The centaur told her. “Did they tell you the way back to the castle as well?” Anne asked carefully. The centaur put his arm around Anne’s shoulder and led her back to Hagrid and Snape who were searching for her. Hagrid went to hug the girl. “Don’ ever do tha’ again.” He whispered sobbingly. “Hagrid, I can’t breathe.” Anne told him. Hagrid let go of her. Snape stared at her. Anne caressed Fang who was happy that she was back. Hagrid talked to the centaur. When he had vanished Hagrid approached the others. “We be’er ge’ back te the cas’le.” Hagrid informed them. Snape took Anne’s arm and dragged her back to the castle fast. Anne followed him – she had no choice any way. Snape didn’t even stop at Hagrid’s hut to bit him good-bye. Fang followed the two.

In front of the Gryffindor common room he stopped. Still he was holding her arm. “Will you promise me not to go out this night – don’t tell me you have never done anything like this before I don’t care – just promise not to leave the common room tonight.” Snape whispered. Anne nodded. Together with Fang she entered the common room. Snape turned to leave when he heard Anne’s scream. He had heard the password and repeated it or the Fat Lady. Anne ran out of the dormitory. She pointed at the dormitory. “Somebody has been in there.” She stuttered. All of the sixth years had been in the common room. Patience had jumped up. She wanted to see for herself what had happened. Snape drew her back. “You’ll stay here!” He ordered looking at Patience. Then he looked at the others. “All of you.” He added. Snape entered the girls’ dormitory. When he came back he looked very worried. “None of you will sleep here tonight.” He informed them. “The prefects will go and get the younger ones. I’ll go and get professor McGonagall.” Snape left.

“What made you scream?” Patience asked while Hengist was busy to wake up the younger students. “My bed was full with red paint – fresh paint. A knife stuck in my cushion.” Anne stuttered. Patience put her arms around her friend. Snape returned with professor McGonagall. “Prefects!” McGonagall called. Hengist and Catherine approached her. “You’ll take the students down to the Great Hall. Miss Symmons and Miss Wood will stay behind. Severus please accompany the students to the Great Hall.” McGonagall asked him. Snape nodded and left with the students. Hengist looked at Patience and Anne but he turned to leave with the first years. McGonagall produced a huge cloak out of her robe. “We’ll put this on.” She informed the two students. When they had put on the cloak the started walking – very carefully so that they didn’t step on each other’s feet. They left the castle and approached the Whomping Willow. The Willow didn’t see them and therefore didn’t try to kill them. But this might have been due to the fact that McGonagall took a long stick and pushed a button. They walked through a hidden entrance and then along a secret passageway. When they had reached a cosy room they stopped. With a wave of McGonagall’s wand the fireplace lit up. She put of the cloak. “You’ll stay here for a couple of days.” McGonagall informed them. “I’ll get you something to eat.” McGonagall added and disappeared.

“Sorry, Patience.” Anne whispered. Patience gave her a weak smile. “Shouldn’t be too bad in here.” Patience said optimistically. “If I had known we had to stay here for a couple of days I would have brought my wizard’s chess.” Anne sighed. Patience rolled her eyes. “Well there is a good thing about spending the next couple of days in here.” Patience reminded her friend. Anne looked at her questioningly. “Your detention!” Patience added. “That’s true, poor son of a bat. But I’ll have to do it as soon as we are allowed back in the castle, don’t you think so?” Anne wanted to know. Patience shrugged. “Do you think we’re still in the castle?” Patience asked. Anne nodded. “It’s going to be pretty boring.” Patience whispered after a while. “Actually, I’m pretty bored right now!” Anne confessed.

Our friends had to stay in the room somewhere in or around but perhaps far away from Hogwarts. In the meantime the two house-teachers and Dumbledore tried to find the culprit. “It’s obvious that he, she or they had an invisibility cloak. Otherwise they would have never been able to enter the common room without being noticed.” McGonagall thought aloud. Dumbledore nodded. “There are many people who have an invisibility cloak.” Dumbledore sighed. “Where has Anne been during the last holidays?” McGonagall wanted to know. Dumbledore shrugged. “It will be best to ask Hengist.” Dumbledore suggested. Snape shook his head. “She spent it at a farm somewhere in Southern Germany.” McGonagall stared at him. “How comes that you know that?” She asked suspiciously. “I heard it accidentally.” Snape lied. “What else did you hear? I mean is there any hint at an enemy?” Dumbledore wanted to know. “Greg Nott.” Snape said.

“The Notts are Death Eaters. They would never dare to attack Anne.” McGonagall reminded him. “Perhaps they don’t know...” Dumbledore threw in. “Greg seemed to be very fond of Anne. It didn’t work out though.” Dumbledore whispered. “What about their Slytherin arch-enemies: Banks, Vargas and Cook?” McGonagall asked. “Greg spent a lot of time with them. He got a letter from his parents and he and the others seemed to be very happy about it.” Snape informed them. An owl entered through the window of Dumbledore’s office. Dumbledore paid the owl and opened the letter. “It is from Arthur Weasley. Fred and George have written to him.” Dumbledore explained. “He writes that the Notts aren’t at their home and nobody has seen them since the first incident. He adds that he has seen the Notts talking to Anne on Platform 9 ¾. “Severus, is it true that Voldemort is afraid of the Symmons?” Dumbledore wanted to know. Snape nodded. “Are you sure?” McGonagall added. “Yes!” He replied. “You know what has to be done?” Dumbledore asked. Snape nodded and left the office.

Some hours later Patience and Anne were taken back to the common room. “Does that mean Anne is save now?” Patience asked professor McGonagall. She nodded. “As safe as she can ever be.” She replied. “Let the joyous news be spread the wicked old witch at last is dead!” Anne whispered happily when McGonagall had left them. Patience rolled her eyes. “Never mind that’s from a movie I saw last summer with my muggle farmers.” Anne explained.

A Lovely Pet

Bethesda strolled around the greenhouses, in search for the occasional mouse. The cat’s mind was bent on hunting, and so when she sniffed the strange smell and heard the faint rustle of leaves, Bethesda began to sneak up on the thing hiding. She jumped upon it, and the stifled squeak resembled that of a mouse. But it was no mouse that looked at Bethesda. The cat stepped back, surprised and puzzled. What was to be done about that? The thing did not look like sport, it was trembling too much. Neither did it look like something to eat. Bethesda decided to carry it to her mistress. Carefully she took up the thing as she would have carried a kitten and marched off to the castle.
            Patience and Anne had been up for an hour already, trying to finish all their homework for the day. “Maybe we shouldn’t have played Exploding Snap for so long last night,” Patience remarked, sucking her quill absent-mindedly. “Maybe you shouldn’t have challenged Brian for a duel in that hideous game,” Anne yawned. Patience shrugged. “But it was fun.” “Sure,” Anne sighed and they wrote on in silence.
The door to the Common Room opened. Hengist entered, followed by Bethesda who was carrying something strange. “Where have you been?” Patience asked both of them. Hengist grinned. “I can’t answer for Bethesda, but I’ve been running along the lake.” “What?” Anne asked incredulously. ”I need to keep fit as a Seeker, don’t I?” Hengist asked. “Absolutely,” Patience agreed, then bent down. “And what did you bring in this time, Bethesda, dear?” she enquired. Anne shuddered. “You really should not encourage her to bring her half-dead playmates in here. Urgh!”
            “It’s not a mouse. Nor is it a bird,” Patience observed. “Bethesda, now, let me have a look. I won’t hurt it, I promise, and if it’s quite dead you can have it back to play outside, right?” The cat seemed to consider her mistress’ words and decided it was save to let Patience have the little trembling thing that still squeaked feebly. Patience took it up in her hands, very carefully. “What are you?” she murmured. The thing was dark green, with a face rather like a baby lion, a body that looked almost human, wings of a dragon and claws that would have made Bethesda envy the little thing. But despite all of this the little thing looked just so pitiful that Patience’s heart went out to it.
               “You poor dear, where have you come from?” she asked. Anne and Hengist bent down fascinated. “What is this, anyway?” Hengist asked. “I’ve no idea,” Anne mouthed. The little thing turned to each of them, then crawled a little towards Patience, looking into her face and squealing endearingly. “I shall take care of you, of course I will,” Patience promised at once. “What will you call it?” Hengist asked amused. “Jerome. He’s Jerome,” Patience answered and scooped up Jerome. “Maybe Hagrid has an idea what Jerome is.”

                The problem was, the Magpies had no time to find Hagrid to ask him about Jerome. They had lessons to attend to. On their way to Charms, Hengist suggested: “You could ask Professor Kettleburn in Care of Magical Creatures.” “No – he might take Jerome away from me,” Patience answered at once. Anne frowned. “You do know that he might be dangerous? Look at those claws.” “Yes, but little Jerome won’t use them on us, will you?” Patience cooed. Anne gave up. “You’re completely nuts,” she sighed.
                Professor Flitwick was already perched upon his usual stack of books when the class filed in. Patience had Jerome hidden in her pocket, but the tiny being was not to be shut up. Unfortunately, Flitwick had decided to revise the topics that would most likely come up in the exams. Usually the class was rather noisy, but today it was bound to be silent. Patience made quite a show of taking out her writing things, trying to impose silence upon Jerome. It was no good. Every now and then Jerome would utter a sound as if to enquire if Patience was still there. Patience patted Jerome’s head and told him to shush up.
                Finally Flitwick was attracted to the spot where people’s heads craned to get a look at Jerome who was perched upon Patience’s knees. “Miss Wood, will you please put away whatever is of so much interest?” the professor asked. Patience blushed deeply and muttered an apology, folding her robes over Jerome’s head in the futile hope the little animal would go to sleep. Jerome began to sneeze instead. Patience closed her eyes, mortified, but Professor Flitwick simply went on with the lesson.

                It was easier to keep Jerome happy during Care of Magical Creatures. Patience simply wound a string of yarn around his neck and let him run around her while Anne, Hengist and herself were drawing Bowtruckles for the umpteenth time. Professor Kettleburn was not as sharp as he had used to be, and his age was beginning to show. However, nobody minded him much doing Bowtruckles again, for if they came up in the exams for the third time in a row they were bound to get the points awarded for that particular exercise with no trouble at all.
“You should ask Kettleburn for advise with Jerome,” Hengist urged Patience under his breath. Patience shook her head. “I’d rather ask Hagrid. Hagrid’s going to understand,” she replied. Anne frowned. “Hagrid would like a dragon for a pet. I don’t think he quite grasps the concept of dangerous beasts at all,” she muttered. Patience blinked. “Jerome is not dangerous,” she said indignantly. “As you say,” Anne said wisely, but she and Hengist kept exchanging worried glances.

                “Maybe you should leave him in the dormitory until lunch,” Hengist suggested when they were walking back up to the castle. Jerome celebrated the change of environment by an enthusiastic chirping and twittering. “All very nice, but somehow I think Jerome would cause havoc when left alone,” Patience groaned. As if in answer, Jerome began tugging at her robe and trying to gnaw a hole into the fabric. “Stop that,” Patience told him sternly. Jerome hooted and went on. Patience gave him a sharp tap on his front paw, which caused Jerome to show his sharp little fangs. “Oh, come off it,” Patience grinned. Apparently disappointed that he could not enrage Patience, Jerome settled for a nap in her pocket instead.
                “We can take him,” Anne offered. “He’s asleep in my pocket, Anne,” Patience pointed out. “You’ve got Ancient Runes now – in a minute, actually,” Hengist said warningly. Patience gave a short cry and dashed off. “That will be a disaster,” Anne predicted gloomily. Hengist shrugged. “Or maybe Jerome will feast on Vargas, what do you say to that?” They laughed.
                Jerome was fast asleep during most of Ancient Runes which was just as well. But then, in the last ten minutes, he woke up with a loud yelp. Tonks jumped. “What was that?” she asked in an excited whisper. “Jerome,” Patience replied. “Who is Jerome?” Patience dragged the struggling pet out of her pocket and perched him on her knees again.
                “That’s a sweet little creature,” Tonks muttered and held out her finger to let Jerome sniff at it. Promptly Jerome held onto the finger with his paw. “Jerome, don’t,” Patience whispered frantically. Too late. Jerome’s sharp teeth had sunk into Tonks’ finger. “OUCH!” she yelled. “Sorry, Tonks, I’m so sorry,” Patience hissed. Vargas turned. “Can’t you even survive a lesson on runes without getting hurt?” he asked bored. Meanwhile the professor had hurried towards them and examined Tonks’ finger. “You had better go to the Hospital Wing, that’s a nasty cut. I wonder how you got it.” “Clumsy,” Tonks answered with an apologetic shrug. Patience had her robes over Jerome, but he did not seem to want to sit still and wriggled rather energetically. “What’s that you’ve got there? Your cat?” Vargas asked when the professor had returned to the blackboard. Patience simply shook her head. “No, a foundling.”
                Vargas grinned. “Yes, you might take in any rubbish you find – make up a menagerie of outcasts, well, you must not forget to have a cage for yourself.” “Shut up,” Patience advised Vargas furiously. “And always provide enough to eat for that Alret-beast you tamed. All your money will be running out of your pockets like sand in feeding him, I dare say,” Vargas went on, unawares of the fact that the professor was standing right behind him. “You might want to translate the last two paragraphs of Widukind’s account of the slaying of the Saxons as an extra-homework,” she quietly announced. Vargas fell silent at once, but when she had gone, turned around to cast a nasty glance at Patience.

                Outside, Patience took Jerome up and looked at him. “You know that you are a nuisance, don’t you?” she asked him fondly. Jerome looked as if he was the sweetest creature in the world, with no harm on his mind. “There you are – I heard that Tonks got bitten,” Hengist greeted Patience and Jerome. Anne joined them only a moment later. “I was checking for references to such creatures in the library, but Madam Pince says she knows nothing of such books, and if there were some in the library, then most probably in the Restricted Section,” she reported. “Then he is dangerous,” Hengist said alarmed. Jerome chirped up. “He’s hungry right now,” Patience said defiantly. She did not want to hear about any danger concerning that sweet little Jerome.
                Hengist rummaged in his bag and brought out a slice of apple that he offered to Jerome. Carefully the animal took it and sniffed. “It’s fine for you,” Patience assured him. Jerome sniffed again, then tentatively tasted the apple. “What shall we do with him?” Anne asked seriously. “We cannot think of keeping him.” “Why not?” Patience asked longingly. “He’s already finished that apple,” Hengist said stunned. Indeed Jerome had left nothing of the apple. “Still hungry?” Patience enquired, but Jerome seemed content for now. “So, why can’t I keep him?” “Fangs, claws, wings and a look that gives everyone the shivers except of you,” Anne listed. “Tonks thought him cute as well,” Patience pointed out. “I doubt she thinks him cute now,” Hengist muttered darkly.
                They had arrived at Professor McGonagall’s classroom. “If you can’t keep him shut up you should better report sick,” Anne said nervously. Patience swallowed. “Yes, but what should I do at the Hospital Wing?” she asked. At that moment Hagrid came around the corner. “Salvation,” Hengist joked. Patience hurried to the gamekeeper. “Hagrid, can you do me a favour?” she asked with her sweetest smile. Hagrid smiled down at her. “Course I can,” he said.
                Patience showed him Jerome. “Bethesda found the little tyke this morning. Can you look after him for a while?” she asked. Hagrid nodded and held out his hands for Jerome. “You fetch him after dinner, and we’ll have fun,” he promised. Hengist and Anne exchanged another worried glance. So Hagrid was partial to Jerome as well. It was a dark foreboding indeed.

                During the lunch break, Patience ran down to Hagrid’s hut to check on Jerome, but the gamekeeper was in the Forest apparently and had taken Jerome with him. Maybe that Monday was the very first time not even Patience paid attention to History of Magic. Binns droned on about the role of midwives in the medieval witch hunts. Patience kept looking out of the window, even through Binns’ translucent body, for a glimpse of Hagrid.
                “You wouldn’t be able to see Jerome anyway,” Anne soothed her friend. “Maybe Hagrid lost him in the Forest, and Jerome’s so tiny, he can’t possibly survive without me,” Patience said lowly. “He’s survived fine until the flee-farm caught him,” Anne reminded Patience. “I know,” Patience admitted and sighed deeply. “Maybe I should report sick and run down to Hagrid’s again?” Patience suggested, shifting uneasily in her seat. Hengist shook his head. “No, you had better not. We’ve still got Muggle Studies and I for one won’t cover for you.” Patience blinked surprised. “Since when don’t we cover for each other?” she asked perplexed. “Since you came with a creature that is highly dangerous and fell in love with it,” Hengist explained calmly.
                “I don’t know why you think Jerome’s dangerous,” Patience said, tears beginning to glitter in her eyes. “Patience, I won’t be responsible if anything happens to you. You’ll stay with us,” Hengist firmly decided and unnecessarily straightened his prefect’s badge. ”Yes, sir,” Patience replied but she was obviously angry with him. “Don’t be upset, it isn’t long until you see Jerome again,” Anne said and grinned when she saw Nelly’s surprised face. “I bet Nelly thinks we’re talking about your highly unsuitable boyfriend.” Patience grinned as well.

                Not even Muggle Studies proved to be very interesting today, although Emerson Dicket had brought a collection of drills, screwdrivers and other tools. “What are these for?” Anne wondered, taking up a pair of pincers. “If you’ve got a nail in the wall that you want to take out, you can try with these,” Hengist explained patiently. “Nail?” Patience asked. “In the wall?” Anne added. It was clear that neither of the girls had an inkling why anyone would be as daft as to have nails in their walls. “Is it a kind of decoration?” Anne asked doubtfully.
                “It’s to make the decoration hang from the walls. I know, I know,” Hengist raised his hands, “you use a simple Sticking Charm and everything’s fine – that doesn’t work with Muggles, I’m afraid.” “Weird,” Patience commented and took the hammer. “And that?” “Used to put the nails into the walls,” Hengist explained. Dicket came over to them. “Will you try it?” he asked Hengist who shrugged, took a nail, the hammer and the pincers and walked to the wall. “I’m not sure if the nail will go far in, that’s stone. Stone and concrete aren’t that fine. Wood or rockwool isolation are better,” Hengist apologized before he had even started. He kept quiet about the fact that nails hammered into stone were likely to get crooked.
                Aiming carefully, he hammered the nail with quite an effort into the wall. “And now?” Catherine wanted to know. “Now we can put a picture frame there, or a calendar, or anything we want to have hanging from the walls,” Hengist said satisfied. “And to take the nail out…?” Brian asked. Hengist waved the pair of pincers. “Tell us why you do that, show-off,” Vargas sneered. “Tell us why you do this, I thought you were of the opinion that Muggles were lesser people,” Hengist retorted unimpressed. “To know what one can avoid is highly useful, Alret,” Vargas shot back.
                “Right, that’s your idea of a defence-subject, isn’t it?” Hengist mused. Dicket cleared his throat. “Whatever your intentions, gentlemen, I think you see how tedious and full of work Muggle life can be at times when wizards and witches just wave their wands.” The bell sounded, and Patience jumped up. “A moment, Patience – hey, what’s wrong with you?” Dicket wondered. “Your homework is to find one tool that you like and make a little experiment with it. Preferably don’t hammer nails into the walls.”

                Patience hurried through her dinner. “You’ll get sick,” Anne worried. Patience grimaced. “You’re not my mum,” she said. “Are you ready to go to Hagrid?” Hengist grabbed a handful of biscuits before following the girls and munched them on the way to the hut at the border of the Forest. “I wonder what you want to do with Jerome tomorrow,” Anne said conversationally. “You can’t leave him with his babysitter forever, I guess.” “No, of course not. Jerome will stay in our dormitory, and tomorrow I’ll report sick first and then care for darling Jerome.” Patience looked very content with that plan.
                Hagrid opened the door of his hut. “Ah. Been waitin’ fer yer,” he said by way of greeting and opened the door more fully. The Magpies entered – and faced the headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. “Good evening,” Dumbledore smiled. The Magpies greeted him as well. Jerome was sitting on the table. When he spotted Patience, he spread his wings and stood up on his hind legs, twittering delighted. Patience caressed his head gently. “This is what I wanted to talk to you about,” Dumbledore nodded.
            “I know he’s not included in the list of pets allowed at Hogwarts, but can’t you make an exception? He’s still so small,” Patience begged. Dumbledore shook his head. “I’m afraid you must take leave of Jerome now, Miss Wood. He is going to be fetched by a Ministry official.” “What?” Anne burst out. “Don’t you know what Jerome is?” Dumbledore asked surprised. Hengist replied for them all: “No, sir.”
“Jerome is a gargoyle. Gargoyles have been thought to be extinct, but apparently Bethesda stumbled on a last specimen. Maybe there are more in the Forest, but Jerome for one will be taken into custody.” Dumbledore looked at Patience with those kind, blue eyes that expressed his feelings so much more than his words.
                “Custody?” Patience repeated stunned. “Gargoyles are classified as highly dangerous, Patience,” Dumbledore explained. Hagrid hovered in the background, preparing tea. He cast a glance at Patience’s white face. “Yes, well, dangerous,” Hengist coughed. Patience swallowed hard. “But he is so sweet,” she said. “For now he is, indeed,” Dumbledore agreed. “Gargoyles grow up to two metres of height and are not to be tamed. I’m sorry, Patience. Jerome has to go.” Dumbledore got up and scooped up Jerome who tried to get to Patience instead. “Say goodbye,” the headmaster told the girl. “Bye, darling Jerome,” Patience whispered and caressed the gargoyle, tickling its chin. Jerome squealed delighted. “Bye,” Patience repeated. Dumbledore nodded and left quickly, before it got too hard.
                “Now, have a tea,” Hagrid grunted and placed mugs and pot onto the table. “How did Dumbledore know?” Anne asked the question that all Magpies had on the tips of their tongues. “He saw me with Fang, and Fang was playing with Jerome. The little tyke was so nicely playing, I couldn’t bring it over me to put him away, and anyway, there was no imminent danger, was there?” Patience shook her head. “Of course not,” she agreed fervently.
                “There was danger – a gargoyle, good heavens,” Hengist said angrily. “You two, you’re just nuts,” he added, staring accusingly at Hagrid and Patience. “You could be bitten by a weevil,” Patience reminded him. Hengist grinned. “Yes, but I don’t have a weevil as a pet. Two metres high – just imagine!” “A weevil?” Anne asked confused. “A gargoyle,” Hengist hissed.
                “Hagrid – you wouldn’t have given him away, would you?” Patience asked. Anne sat up very upright. “No,” she said. “Can’t we fetch him back?” Patience went on, ignoring her friends. Hagrid shook his head. “No way, Patience. As much as I would like to, there is no way to fetch him back.” “But you yourself…” “I say that I want a dragon, but do you see one around here? No,” Hagrid said gravely. “And if you found one?” Patience slyly asked. “Look, Patience, I could maybe deal with it, but you – look at yourself, girl,” the gamekeeper reasonably said.
                    It was of course true. Where the half-giant could have dealt with the gargoyle, Patience, 16 years old, slender as a willow-branch and small, would have stood no chance. She hung her head. “You’ve still got Bethesda, and honestly speaking, Bethesda is a thousand times better as a pet than a gargoyle,” Anne sighed. “Yes,” Patience whispered. Hengist put his arm around her shoulders. “Come on, let’s get on with life – at least lessons will be easier without a gargoyle baby to attend to.”
 

Ravenclaw Versus Gryffindor – in the Pitch

Oliver looked miserable the morning before the Quidditch match “Oh, c’mon, Verres, it’s Quidditch!”, Patience said cheeringly. “And that is the problem. I’ve told them about strategies, but… I just hope our seeker will succeed in catching the Snitch really fast!” “Hengist will do so, no doubt. But why? I’ve watched Ravenclaw’s new beater, and there’s nothing very striking about her. Your spies have no threats to report, so be calm.” The Woods walked to the pitch together, accompanied by Anne. Hengist came running after them. “I’ve seen something very interesting”, he announced. “John King lost his way and was eaten by a werewolf?”, Patience asked hopefully. “No, not really, and it isn’t about our Slytherin foes either. Dicket has obviously asked Balloon to accompany him. They’re walking over there, and they seem to enjoy their talk very much.”

Patience turned instantly. “Oh yes, really cute”, she agreed. Anne grinned. “I’d rather watch the progress of this would be-affair than watch Quidditch!”, she joked. Patience scowled. “We know that”, she coldly said. “Oliver, Hengist, off with you. May the best team win!” Oliver looked doubtful. “I mean Gryffindor”, his sister assured him. Anne sighed. “D’you think your brother’ll stand that pressure?”, she asked concerned. Patience smiled broadly. “Of course he will. It is what he always dreamed of.” Anne joined Ghewyn, Nelly and Catherine in climbing the Gryffindor stands, while Patience as usual climbed the teacher’s stand. McGonagall greeted her excitedly. “Your brother must be very nervous”, she said. Patience shrugged. “That’s only good, for then he’ll play even better than usually.” Patience pointed her wand at her throat and Sonored her voice.

“Good morning everyone to this first Quidditch match of the season”, she cheerfully said. The Gryffindors applauded loudly, Fred and George shouting back “Good morning, Patience!” Patience grinned and waved over. “Now the teams come to the pitch. Ravenclaw with captain David Bantam has only one new player, beater Eliza Bennet. The Gryffindor team, though, presents us a new captain, keeper Oliver Wood, as well as three new players. Chaser Brian Cullen, beater Mike Flatley and the new and brilliant seeker Hengist Alret!” The Slytherin boos were drowned in violent Gryffindor cheers. The Hufflepuffs were divided in their loyalties. “The referee Madam Hooch whistles and lets off the bludgers and the Snitch. Ravenclaw in possession, chaser Orlando Benign is racing towards the Gryffindor goalposts. It seems his fellow chaser are going to join him. Oh dear, they’re doing the Hawkshead Attacking Formation!” Patience was completely surprised, as well as the Gryffindor team. “Don’t let yourselves be chased away!”, she advised the Gryffindor tam.

Oliver was furiously flying around the goalposts in amazing speed. “It seems almost impossible for Wood to save that one, and indeed Ravenclaw puts the quaffel through – FOUL!!!” Madam Hooch agreed with Patience. “That was haversacking at its best”, Patience informed her audience. “Benign had his hand still on the quaffel when supposed to throw it through the goal hoop. Penalty to Gryffindor, taken by Brian Cullen who SCORES!!! Ten points for Gryffindor!” The crowd in the Gryffindor stand cheered their team.

Oliver looked much better now, concentrated and ready to defend the goal hoops. The match proved to be very difficult. It seemed as if David Bantam had read too much in any Quidditch books he could find. His team kept trying out various famous tactics. Suddenly Patience saw her brother give Seamus O’Brien and Brian Cullen a sign. Patience wondered what he was up to. Already Gryffindor was in the lead with 50:20 points. “Gryffindor chaser O’Brien in possession of the quaffel. He’s flying upwards – seems he’s going to score from above or trying to irritate Ravenclaw chasers White and Grant. But what is that? O’Brien drops the quaffel! What a pity – oh no, what a great Porskoff Ploy!”, Patience corrected herself to the amusement of the crowd. “Cullen caught the quaffel and scores! Great, really!”

It didn’t help Gryffindor much, though. From that point on the match became nastier. Ravenclaw began to play hard and even slightly unfair. “That’s looking rather like Slytherin versus Gryffindor”, Patience mused to the anger of Snape whose looks seemed intended to kill the commentator. Ravenclaw was in the lead after over an hour of Quidditch. It was one of the longest plays Patience had ever witnessed. And still no sight of the Golden Snitch! Or was it over there? Patience frowned. “Is the Snitch over the Hufflepuff stand?”, she asked carefully, causing the seekers to go upwards and look. Hengist dived quite suddenly.

Snape demanded to make Miss Wood leave the stand immediately. “This was cheating in favour of Gryffindor!”, he told McGonagall. “No”, the Gryffindor House Teacher replied. “I also saw something golden over there.” In the Gryffindor stand the Weasley twins were shaking with laughter. Anne grasped the situation at once and caught one Weasley with each hand. “You two have conjured up something over the stand”, she accused them sternly. Fred and George grinned and nodded. “Fine. Maybe Patience gets into trouble for that, she’s known to comment rather in favour of Gryffindor, really.” That made the grins vanish from the twins’ faces. “Never do that again”, Anne advised them. They promised that, but Anne doubted that that would stay the last trick in Quidditch.

In the meantime, Ravenclaw seeker Bagoony had caught the snitch millimetres in front of Hengist who was cursing badly down on the ground. Patience, her voice being de-sonored by McGonagall to prevent her forgetting it, was down in the pitch as well, congratulating the Ravenclaws grudgingly and consoling Oliver and Hengist. Brian and Mike were still up, catching the bludgers for Madam Hooch. They kept driving them with their clubs towards the stands, and more often than not the Slytherins were in danger of getting hit by one. Patience saw this and sighed. “That doesn’t help”, she said. Hengist looked up, grabbed his broom and told her it was a t least better than doing nothing. Patience grinned. “Verres, want to have a turn as well?”, she offered. “No, thanks, I’m going to drown myself in a shower”, he said and walked off. “Stop! Will you lend me your broom?”, Patience begged.

Oliver threw it to his sister without another word. Patience smiled and flew around the pitch. Anne and the Weasleys were still in the stand, watching the angry Gryffindors. Oliver and the rest of the team had gone, the pitch was absolutely clear – except of Brian and Mike. “How’s it, boys?”, Patience asked casually, stopping right in front of Brian and almost causing him to fall off his broom. “Could be better, could be worse”, Brian answered after stabilizing himself again. “Did a good job”, he acknowledged. Patience grinned. ”Thanks. You, too. Wasn’t your fault you didn’t win, it was only a second that mattered.” That cheered Brian up a bit.

Madam Hooch called for the bludgers and Mike and Brian went to the ground to put them safely away. That left the Malignant Magpies and the Weasley twins in the pitch. “Did I show you how to duck under bludgers?”, Patience called out to Anne who shook her head. The twins gasped seeing Patience suddenly hanging head down from her broom. Anne shrieked, but in an instant Patience was up again. “Oliver and me practised that all the holidays.” Hengist applauded – the only one who did so. “Stop that and come down, both of you”, Anne told her friends. “I think we really have to do something to help Professor Dicket.” Fred and George leaned forward. “Help him in getting Holly Balloon?”, George asked curiously. Hengist, landing softly on the ground next to Fred, sighed. “Anne, don’t you think Dicket’s old enough to know for himself what he wants to do?”

Patience still was hovering over their heads. “Down there!”, Anne ordered, ignoring Hengist. Patience only laughed and began to fly higher again – but not for long! Very fast she was down on the earth again and landed very hard on the ground. “Ouch! Anne!”, she cried, rubbing her bruised back and arm. “That is Verres’ broom, you could have broken it by that silly charm!” “Stop complaining, we have much more important measures to discuss.” “Indeed”, Patience said snappishly. Anne rolled her eyes.

“Dicket is in love and I don’t think a woman of Holly Balloon’s kind would fancy a weird guy like him.” Patience grinned involuntarily. “Yes, Dicket is weird”, she said thoughtfully. “And maybe this is his greatest advantage.” Hengist stared at her. Patience shrugged. “You would be surprised, Hengist”, she said mysteriously. “About what?” Hengist didn’t trust his friends in such things. Anne laughed when she recognized what Patience was up to. The twins only listened. “I’ve overheard poor Eliza Bennet these last weeks, and she thinks you very cute.” Patience’s revelation made Hengist groan. “And I’m weird, you say”, he asked her. Patience nodded. “Hengist, you look really cute. Your curls, your warm brown eyes, your freckles on your nose… C’mon, you’re really cute! And you’re witty and amusing. So a boring know-it-all like Eliza would fall for you naturally.” Anne shook her head. “Don’t believe a word she says, Hengist, she’s never overheard Eliza saying something like that!”

Now Hengist didn’t know what to think. On the one hand the thought of a girl fancying him cute made him nervous, on the other hand Anne’s suggestion that he wasn’t cute made him angry. Patience could read his mind at once. She put her arm around him. “Eliza’s not in love with you, and you’re positively cute”, she whispered in his ear. “Back to Dicket”, she said in a louder voice. Hengist smiled again. “We should lay a trap for them”, he suggested. Fred and George agreed instantly, but Anne intervened: “No, this time we need to do it without you, sorry, boys”, she said. “But why?”, Fred blurted out. “Because we know Dicket much longer than you do…” “But we could help you, Anne, you simply have to tell us what to do!”, George cut in.

Patience smiled about his enthusiasm. “My dear George, we could do so, yes, and we will”, she decided the matter. Anne looked furious. “Anne, we can’t let them out. Anyway, we might need more hands than we think just now.” “Well, I reckon they’re too young”, Anne protested. “Anne, when did you start your pranks?”, Hengist asked sarcastically. “But making people fall in love is something completely different!” “Undoubtedly, Anne,. By the way, have you ever read Emma? Match-making doesn’t seem so easy!”, Patience warned her friends. “Do you want to stop it?”, Hengist asked seriously. “No!”, Patience cried instantly. “Okay, we’ve got the next week to plan something”, Anne decided. The twins were happy to be in again at a Malignant-Magpies-project.

Evil Weevils

Old Professor Kettleburn had a strange basket with him in the next Care of Magical Creatures lesson. Inside the basket something was frantically trying to get out. It sounded like a million nails scratching over the blackboard. Patience clapped her hands over her ears. Ghewyn scowled at her and hissed she shouldn’t behave so childishly. “My teeth hurt when I hear that!”, Patience defended herself in a whisper. Ghewyn only sneered and turned to face the teacher’s desk again. Patience grimaced at her back and got a kick from Hengist under the table. “I’m a prefect as well”, he apologized when she looked questioningly at him. “Only when you think it fitting”, she retorted. “Miss Wood, would you be so kind to listen to me instead to your friend Alret?”, Kettleburn called, only mildly enraged.

Snape, in the same situation, would have given her a detention after taking some points from Gryffindor. Patience smiled guiltily at the old man. Kettleburn smiled back and opened his basket. Some extremely ugly heads poked out immediately. They belonged to immensely big, greyish-brown weevils. “These are magical weevils”, Kettleburn began. “They are called Waranion Weevils. Waranions were the horses in medieval France, and these weevils were used as horses by leprechauns, pixies and fairies. The Little People had no chance of having other beings to ride on.” One of the Waranion weevils had managed to get out of the basket. Catherine shuddered. Hengist grinned evilly and took out Mungus. “Maybe they eat toads”, he said under his breath. Both Anne and Patience had to stifle a laugh. “Put your poor toad away, Alret, they are no carnivores”, Kettleburn said quickly. “Miss Hayes, the Weevil won’t eat you, it’s simply looking for something to eat.”

That didn’t soothe Catherine at all. Ghewyn pinched her fiercely. Catherine stayed on her seat, but backed away as far as possible from the beetle. Anne had already her wand out to Summon the beetle when Hengist intervened. “Don’t”, he advised her. “I have a nasty feeling about them.” “These are grown-up Waranion Weevils. They do look ugly, I know. If you take a closer look you will notice they are covered in fur.” Kettleburn had now one of the beasts in his hands and walked around the class showing it to everyone. “This one is a male. Three are young weevils as well in the basket. The other Weevil, now coming towards Miss Hayes and Miss Rhys, is the female. It will be your task to feed and acre for the young Weevils in the next two weeks.” Patience grinned because Catherine had stifled a cry and now sat on her feet to prevent the beetle touching her.

“And now, while I put these little darlings into a glass basin, please read the chapter on Waranion Weevils!” They all opened their books. Anne began at once to make notes. “I can copy them later, can’t I?”, Hengist asked lazily. Anne snorted. “And you want to be a prefect, really!”, she grinned. Patience added: “And he plays tricks on other pupils and even on teachers, what a shame!”

The first few days of caring for the Waranion Weevils were fun. The babies were black fur balls with bright orange eyes, every now and then whining and tumbling one over the other. Those who had to feed them had first to Stupefy the parents to get to the babies, then to separate the fur balls and place the food into the mouths. Kettleburn warned them to wear their dragon hide gloves, but some, like Nelly and Hengist, ignored that advice. “They are so fluffy”, Hengist said to Anne who rolled her eyes. “If I were you I would listen to Kettleburn.” Patience giggled. “he’s become careful after that dragon bit his hand off!” “You just Stupefy Mummy Weevil and I’ll get Humphrey out”, Hengist snapped. Humphrey was everyone’s favourite and the tiniest of the Weevils. Patience sighed and did her job. Kettleburn insisted on having always three students to feed the babies.

Anne simply watched. She hadn’t trusted the weevils from the beginning. Patience loved to caress the little ones, though. Hengist put his hand into the glass basin and shovelled away Humphrey’s brothers and sisters. He looked over his shoulder to Anne and smiled triumphantly. “join Trelawney in the club of unfortunate prophetesses!”, he laughed. Patience looked into the basin and went pale. “Take your hand out, quick!”, she cried. “And I shall believe that? Humphrey won’t do me any harm!” Patience shook her head and tried frantically to convince Hengist. Unfortunately that kept him from looking into the basin. Anne drew nearer and shuddered. Had she been a baby Weevil she would have thought that rosy thing had crushed little Humphrey.

It seemed as if Humphrey had unluckily been suffocated by his family. And then, faster than Hengist could react, the weevils attacked all at once. Hengist screamed in agony. Patience Stupefied the baby Weevils quickly and pulled Hengist’s arm out, plucking two Weevils off. Hengist’s right hand was a bloody mess, the bones of three fingers completely lost and the others severely injured. “Damn!”, Hengist swore. “I’ll take you up to Madam Pomfrey”, Patience urged him. “Anne, will you inform Kettleburn that the Weevils have grown fangs and are worthy specimens?” Anne nodded, looking deeply concerned. She watched her friends leave, saw to it that the basin was closed and hurried to the staff room. She hoped Snape wouldn’t be there. She knocked. “Let him not be in!”, Anne whispered desperately. But it was Snape’s voice that answered.

“I’m going to take this day out of the calendar”, Anne thought, took a deep breath and opened. “Yes?”, Snape barked. “I need to see professor Kettleburn”, Anne said. On the far end of the room the old man stirred. “Well, Miss Symmons, wasn’t it the Malignant Magpies’ turn of feeding my Waranion Weevils?”, he asked. Anne was stunned. How came a teacher to know their chosen name? Snape’s lips curled sneeringly. “Yes. An accident has occurred, that is, your Weevils have grown fangs and practiced sucking out bones.” “What?!”, Kettleburn asked and almost jumped up. “Show me”, he commanded and led Anne out of the staff room towards his classroom.

In the meantime Patience and Hengist had arrived at the Hospital Wing, by now both smeared with blood. Madam Pomfrey was shocked. “Sit down!”, she said and hurried to examine Hengist’s hand – or rather what was left of it. “Oh dear, you’re in for a very unpleasant night”, she announced. Patience gently took Hengist’s other hand to console him. Though he was very pale he gritted his teeth and showed no sign of fear or more pain than everyone concluded he must feel. “I will give you some SkeleGro, when you’re in bed”, Madam Pomfrey declared and ushered Hengist to a bed, telling him to get undressed. “Er… could someone please help me?”, Hengist asked behind the curtain.

Patience giggled and followed his plea before Madam Pomfrey could intervene. “No false prudence”, Patience grinned, “I’ve got a little brother.” Madam Pomfrey, outside, snorted derisively. Hengist tried to smile. “Do you want me to stay?”, Patience asked in a low voice while helping Hengist getting out of his pullover. “I can’t ask you to fight a dragon, can I?”, eh asked from somewhere under the pullover. “You can ask me anything”, Patience replied earnestly. Hengist smiled at her.

Kettleburn had congratulated Anne on her handling the Weevils. “I didn’t do anything”, she protested. “Where are your friends?”, the professor asked calmly. He had taken dead little Humphrey out and fed the others himself. Now Anne had to confess that Hengist was severely injured and at the Hospital Wing. “So that stupid boy didn’t believe me!”, Kettleburn sighed, shaking his head sadly. “Miss Symmons, come, we’ll see how Alret is.” When they arrived at the Hospital Wing, Hengist was lying in bed. Madam Pomfrey held a tray with two goblets and Patience took one. “Hallo”, Kettelburn growled.

Hengist attempted to get up, but was softly pushed back by Patience. ”You’re a fool, Alret, but as you have the worst now I don’t need to punish you”, the professor said. “Get well, Alret!” Then he nodded briefly and left. “Hey, Hengist”, Anne said. “no. Only one of you may stay”, Madam Pomfrey quickly commanded. Anne sighed. “Hengist?”, she asked. “Sorry, Anne, I think as Patience has been here for so long now… I’ll endure it all with angelic patience!” Anne laughed. “As long as you’re able to joke everything’s alright. I’ll look for you tomorrow. Patience?” “Yes, I will see he’s asleep, then I’ll come to the Common Room, okay?”, Patience asked. The girls smiled at each other and Anne left them.

“Hengist, I guess you’ll fall asleep soon, but… Do you think we could talk over the Dicket-Balloon-matter?”, Patience asked. She knew she should talk about anything, because the SkeleGro Potion would hurt almost as much as the Weevil bite. Hengist groaned. “I don’t think I can think of romantic things while I’m lying here and waiting for death to come!”, he complained. “Nonsense, my dear”, Patience said cheerfully. “Try to work with your little grey cells, that will make things better.” Hengist grimaced at her, but set nevertheless to work. “We could send them letters with faked signatures”, he said after a minute. “And who should take them? One of us? No, that would be too obvious”, Patience followed his thoughts. “Bethesda”, Hengist suggested.

Patience grinned. “She likes to play with rustling paper, but she wont deliver a letter safely, believe me. An owl.” “An owl. Well, nice, and don’t you think it’ll be suspicious if a school owl delivers a letter into the school?”, Hengist asked her. “We should use the next Hogsmeade weekend – but…” “But what?”, Hengist asked, sounding a bit sleepy. “I thought we could have them have a rendez-vous in the Three broomsticks. The next Hogsmeade weekend…”, Patience trailed off because Hengist had gone to sleep. Madam Pomfrey looked into the curtained corner. “Ah, good, he sleeps. Why don’t you go to your dormitory as well, Miss Wood? He’s up for a hard night, but you should not stay.” Patience nodded, gently pushed one of Hengist’s curls off his forehead and left on tiptoes. “Wee Missy Wood out of bed?”, the cackle of Peeves droned upon Patience. “It’s not yet bed time, Peeves”, she simply stated. “Where have you been? Up to mischief again? Should tell Filch or Snape or set Mrs Norris to your cat!” “Bethesda always wins her fights, so if you want to enrage Filch do what you want”, Patience said haughtily and told the Fat Lady the password: “Hovercraft!” Peeves stretched out his tongue when the girl disappeared and went off to look for further victims.

Anne was sitting in an armchair engaged in a match of Wizard’s Chess with Fred Weasley. George was watching them as well as Percy. “Hey you!”, Patience greeted them and sat down on the floor with crossed legs. “How does Hengist?”, Anne asked eagerly and paid for that with the loss of her knight. “He is sleeping now. But Madam Pomfrey thinks he’ll have a hard night. Nevertheless, we’ve talked over our Cupid matter a little.” Percy looked at Patience. “Cupid matter?”, he asked. “You do know love potions are strictly forbidden at Hogwarts?” “Yes, Percy, I do know that, and though I would love to brew some one day that is not what I was talking of. Aren’t there any of your year to bore?” Patience knew she was rather rude, but she simply disliked Percy so much she couldn’t help it.

Besides, she really needed to talk matters over with the Malignant Magpies, to which she by now counted Fred and George as well. She saw her brother on the other side of the room engaged in talk with Alicia Spinnet and Angelina Johnson. “Verres!”, she called him. He looked up. “Do me a favour, please!”, she demanded. Alicia and Angelina giggled. “What?”, Oliver asked without being in the least embarrassed. “Take Percy and teach him the love for Quidditch!”, Patience grinned maliciously. “Oh, fine. The girls here will help me for sure”, Oliver smiled archly and took the relenting Percy with him. “Well done, Patience”, George acknowledged. “Hengist thinks we should send them messages with falsified signatures”, Patience said in a low voice.

“Not a bad idea. Should we write real love letters?”, Fred asked, his eyes sparkling. “No”, Anne and Patience said in one voice and grinned at each other. “A pity”, Fred stated, though sounding not in the least disappointed. “We should simply send them letters asking for a meeting in the Three broomsticks. The trouble is, we cannot send these letters by school owls and have to wait for the next Hogsmeade weekend. The other problem is that we cannot have the meeting before the next Hogsmeade weekend after that – and we do not know when that’ll take place!”, Patience sighed. “Hogsmeade”, Fred said disappointed. “We are not allowed to go there”, George added. “Oh”, Anne said surprised. “We haven’t thought of that”, she admitted. Patience put her head into both her hands. “I will think of a way”, she promised.

Practical Defence

A new notice had appeared on the Gryffindor notice board, stating that the students doing Defence Against the Dark Arts in the 6^th year should bring their wands only to the next class and make sure nothing breakable was in their pockets. Hengist grinned. “Anne, check your pockets,” he ordered. “Why, ickle prefect?” Anne asked annoyed, thinking Hengist was just teasing her. For an answer Hengist only pointed at the note. Anne groaned. “What the hell is this?” “No idea, but check your pockets,” Hengist repeated patiently. “You can check them tomorrow if you go on like that,” Anne said and slumped back into her chair. “I don’t want spells fired at me. I think I’m going to report sick.”

Patience frowned. “What? Anne, you love charms, so if we do practical defence, won’t that be great?” “No. I hate it,” Anne repeated. She rose so suddenly Patience blotched the essay she was writing. “I’m going to see McGonagall, that’s what I’ll do.” And she went out of the common room before either Hengist or Patience could stop her. Speechless, the two stared at each other. None of them knew what Anne was on about.

 

McGonagall, however, knew very well why Anne complained about the upcoming practical lesson. She would never tell Anne, though, and so she said briskly: “Well, Miss Symmons, I can see why you are feeling uncomfortable about jinxes directed against you. I can offer you a theoretical lesson with Professor Dumbledore instead, if you like.” Anne stared at McGonagall. She had not thought that the professor would agree with her. “You mean I don’t have to go?” “Correct, Miss Symmons. Now, what do you say?” “Yes, of course, yes. Thank you!” Anne beamed at McGonagall who smiled back. “You are welcome, Miss Symmons.”

 

The next day, while Hengist and Patience cleared their pockets, Anne watched them amused. “Do that too, Anne, we know you’ve got loads in your pockets,” Hengist warned his friend. Anne brandished a letter signed by McGonagall and grinned. “No, I won’t. Here, give that to Holly Balloon, will you?” “Yes, alright – hang on, McGonagall lets you off?” Patience asked surprised. “Exactly. Have fun at being jinxed!” Anne laughed and left the common room, leaving her friends speechless for the second time in two days.

She walked up to the entrance of the headmaster’s office, said the password and was allowed upstairs. Dumbledore was already awaiting her. He smiled broadly. “Welcome, Miss Symmons. Come over here, if you please.” He beckoned Anne towards a door in the wall. “Are you ready for a very practical lesson?” he asked with a merry twinkle. “If it doesn’t include jinxes thrown at me, yes,” Anne replied truthfully. “I promise you, Miss Symmons, that no such thing will happen.” Dumbledore opened the door and Anne stood facing a basin engraved with runes.

“This is my pensieve, as you will know, Miss Symmons. Come, let us have a look.” Anne stepped forward tentatively as if unsure if the ground would hold her. But Dumbledore took her arm firmly and drew her to the basin. “Touch the surface, like this, yes. Off we go,” he said cheerfully, and suddenly Anne and Dumbledore were falling into the whirl of bluish liquid.

They landed in a village that looked very shabby and poor indeed. “Where are we?” Anne asked. “Oh, in the country somewhere,” Dumbledore said lightly. “Here – that’s why we have come here.” He smiled when a door opened and a wizened old man stepped out. He looked like a gnarled oak tree. Only his eyes were pale as milk. Dumbledore pointed to the man’s hut. “This is the home of Antonin Dolohov. You will not know him. He is currently a prisoner of Azkaban.” Anne shivered involuntarily.

A younger man came out of the house now and looked around. When he saw nobody, he went to the old man and squatted down in front of him. “The old man is his grandfather, a good man as far as I know,” Dumbledore said quietly. Suddenly three figures apparated on the dusty street. The old man smiled and said: “Welcome, friends.” The younger man, however, sprang into action at once and drew his wand. Jinxes and curses flew over the place and sparks were coming up. Anne watched the fight with a mixture of fascination, fear and disgust. The old man, hit by a curse, went down. “He was dead,” Dumbledore said sadly.

Anne looked at him. “Can we leave?” she asked. Dumbledore nodded. The next moment they were in a dark corridor somewhere else. “Oh,” Anne said surprised. “This is the Ministry of Magic,” Dumbledore explained. “And who…?” Anne asked but couldn’t finish her sentence because a blond man suddenly jumped out of a door and laughed madly. When Dumbledore and Anne entered the room, they saw three bodies on the floor. Anne screamed. “That happens when you do not learn to defend yourself,” Dumbledore said sternly. “Come, let us visit one other thing.”

And Anne, who had no chance but to follow, closed her eyes in fear of what was to come. In fact, she was glad to have her eyes closed. Hearing what happened was bad enough. People were shouting curses and defensive jinxes. Dumbledore said nothing. “That was a fair fight,” he said when they were back in the office. Anne opened her eyes again. “Why did you show me that?” she asked shakily. “Did you want to shock me?” “Yes, I did. Anne, please listen to me. Sometimes defensive magic might be useless. For some it is not even needed, because they have a different means to protect themselves. Others give up easily and succumb to the curses. But, Anne – Holly Balloon acts on my orders. That you were allowed to skive off today was my idea. I know what happens when spells hit you.” “Nothing,” Anne mumbled. Dumbledore chuckled. “Indeed. And I do not want your classmates to know. Yet I wanted to make sure you understood why practical studies in Defence Against the Dark Arts are so important. Can you understand that?” Anne looked at the headmaster and nodded. “Yes, I think I can.”

A Map

The next morning Hengist returned to the Gryffindor table with all his bones back. “I can move my hand, I can even put Mungus onto Catherine’s plate if I want to”, he grinned. Catherine quickly covered her porridge with her hands. “Don’t worry, dear Cathy, Mungus is upstairs in the dormitory.” He glanced at Patience and Anne. “Anything new?”, he asked lowly. Patience shook her head. Hengist sighed. “A pity.” Suddenly his gaze became dreamy. Patience followed his eyes and saw David Bantam. “Hengist!”, she hissed sharply. “He didn’t distract me through Quidditch, so please let me dream a little”, he whispered back, not taking his eyes off Bantam.

In secret, Patience could imagine why. David Bantam was tall, blond, with blazing dark blue eyes, he was witty and intelligent. Not the worst fellow at Hogwarts presently. And he was in their own year, though not very close. “Anne”, Patience said thoughtfully. “What?”, Anne asked back, looking up from a book she was reading. “Isn’t it strange we do not know the other students of our year of the other houses very well? Shouldn’t we get to know them better?” Anne dropped the book. “Patience Wood, what are you talking of? I don’t want to know the Slytherins any better than I do. The Hufflepuffs? No way, they’re stupid enough without knowing how far that stupidity goes. The Ravenclaws? Okay, they’re not all bad, but still… Stick to our lot, I say!” Hengist looked doubtful. “Really? I suppose we cannot do that after school, can we?” “Hengist, I think we always do. We stick to our lot and let the others live as they want to”, Anne replied. Patience smiled. “You two seem to be in a philosophical mood. I’m not. I simply wanted to know my fellow students better, but as Anne said, some of them are not worth knowing better. Maybe I will try next year to talk at least once to everyone of our year.” “You should write that down, little one, so you won’t forget it”, Hengist advised her. At that point the owls swept in.

It was, in Anne’s eyes, always a magnificent sight. Bethesda usually looked for shelter in Patience’s lap and Hengist presented Mungus to the flock of owls – but, as he had said, the toad was not there this morning. A strange red envelope was delivered to Hengist. “Oh no!”, Patience said, recognizing what it was. The Gryffindor table stared at the dangerously red envelope in silence. “You have the choice, open it outside in the Hall or in here, but do it quick!”, Anne reminded her friend. “Here!”, Hengist decided. “Why that?”, Patience wanted to know. “Because they will here my mother’s voice either way. And if they have to hear it then I prefer to be there myself.” “Very brave”, Ghewyn sneered lowly.

Hengist simply bowed mockingly to her and opened the envelope. Patience drew back instantly. Mrs Alret’s voice sounded angry, and there were sobs intermingled with her accusations. “YOU WERE MAD TO FORGET WEARING YOUR GLOVES! YOU COULD BE DEAD BY NOW! HONESTLY, DON’T YOU EVER THINK BEFORE YOU DO SOMETHING? AND WE THOUGHT BEING A PREFECT WOULD MAKE YOU BEHAVE BETTER! YOU SHOULD GIVE UP THESE FRIENDS OF YOURS!” “Ouch!”, Anne said, knowing it was she and Patience who were mentioned there. Hengist shrugged apologetically. It went over five minutes. The Slytherins were roaring with laughter. Hengist had not even blushed. He seemed to have been prepared. “Did you know you would get a Howler?”, Patience asked when they went upstairs to fetch their books. “No. I thought it likely, but I did not know. Hell, what is that?”, Hengist suddenly exclaimed.

There was a horrible stench in the third corridor on the left. “Dungbombs”, Oliver Wood said knowingly. “Who could have done that?”, Anne asked, clutching a hand in front of her mouth. Patience’s wrinkled nose showed her disgust plainly enough. Filch, the caretaker, was enraged. “Whoever has done this will pay for it!”, he screamed at the top of his lungs. Peeves was floating over their heads, enjoying the mess thoroughly. “Maybe Missy Wood was it!”, he offered Filch. Patience shook her head. Filch let her off with one look at her face. “Naa, Peeves, she looks sick. Hey, you two over there, these Weasley twins!”, he called out and caught Fred and George by their necks. “Let me check your pockets!” He did so, and what he found made him going red as a beet. “So it was you!”, he yelled and dragged the twins off. They were grinning nevertheless. “See you later!”, Fred called to Hengist, Patience and Anne. “If you live then”, Hengist answered lowly and doubtfully.

The Weasley twins did live at lunch. They were looking extremely satisfied as well. “Do not tell me you got off without being skinned alive”, Hengist said incredulously. Fred shrugged. “That will be our secret forever”, he said. “But we need to talk to you. In the toilet, after dinner”, George added. The Malignant Magpies exchanged puzzled glances. But they had to practise patience until after dinner. By then, nothing restrained them.

The two girls literally burst into the calculated toilet and frightened Fred and George quite a bit. “And now tell us!”, Anne demanded. Fred smiled and presented to them a roll of parchment. “An old parchment?”, Hengist asked sarcastically. “Oh, we’ve never seen something like that!” “Oh no, it’s much more than that”, George said, taking out his wand and tapping it at the parchment. “I solemnly swear I am up to no good”, he said and suddenly ink began to spread across the parchment. The Malignant Magpies drew nearer to have a better look. Words began to form themselves in curly green letters:

Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs
Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers
are proud to present

THE MARAUDER’S MAP

“What is that?”, Patience whispered delighted. Anne took a closer look. “This is a map of Hogwarts, right?”, she asked the twins. “Yes. We’ve found it at Filch’s. Think it’s useful?” “Absolutely”, Hengist said awed.

“We think so too. There are even secret ways to Hogsmeade. We will go to all of them, or at least check some of them, to see how to get to Hogsmeade when we set our plan to work!”, Fred said with sparkling eyes. Patience laughed. “Wonderful! Really, we couldn’t do better without this darling map!” “Yes, but we also have to find out if Filch knows about any of these”, Hengist reminded the twins. “And: I want a promise!” They looked at him. Hengist sighed. “I am a prefect, and rightfully I would have to report you to McGonagall. But I won’t do that. Instead I want you to promise that as long as I am at Hogwarts you will not go to Hogsmeade but that one time. If I hear you had been there, I will go straight to McGonagall!” Hengist’s face showed the twins clearly he was making no fun. They nodded mutely. “You promise me that?”, Hengist urged. “Yes, Hengist we do”, Fred said. “Yes, Hengist”, echoed George.

“Good. Now, we will send letters to Dicket and Balloon, as I understood?” Hengist looked questioningly around. “Correct, and we will do that tomorrow so that they both can prepare. Bet they won’t talk to each other in clear words about that”, Anne giggled. “I agree”, Patience threw in, “but we shouldn’t make our errand, which is really Dicket’s errand, too clear. Let’s just write he wants to have a drink with her. Anne and me will go and see Dicket after his lesson to ask if he could do… whatever, and I will add some truth potion to his drink. You know that he has always a glass of water on his desk. I will brew it strong enough that it will work until he’s safely back at Hogwarts.” “Wow!”, George said impressed.

“We did that before”, Patience grinned and exchanged a knowing glance with Hengist. “And then we’ll go down to the Three broomsticks. You two will wait there for us, and no visits to any shop, understood? There’ll be loads of students down, and they’ll recognize you easily”, Anne reminded the Weasleys. “When Dicket and Holly arrive, we will go over and ask him if he’s dating her. He will answer the truth. If he says no, then we were wrong, if he says yes, Holly has to take her part. Or we will ask another question, though that would make clear he had had some truth potion”, Hengist thought aloud. “Sounds like the hell of a plan to me”, Fred grinned. “So you’re agreeing?”, Patience asked. “Yes, of course!”, George laughed. They parted, carefully leaving one after the other.

Cupid Magpies

“Okay, let’s write notes. Hope we won’t be caught by Percy the perfect”, Patience giggled, making herself comfortable on the floor in front of Hengist’s armchair. The boy grinned and patted her head from above. “Leave that”, Patience said lazily, flattening her parchment to be able to write on. “Shouldn’t you use a table?”, Anne asked. “Hey, Dicket’s handwriting is ugly enough, if I sit on a table I cannot copy it identically”, Patience defended herself. “Then start writing”, Anne advised her. “What shall I write?”, Patience asked, leaning back to look at Hengist. “Dear Miss Balloon”, he began to dictate. “I would appreciate if you accepted my invitation for a drink in the Three broomsticks at Hogsmeade. In hope of seeing you there, yours sincerely, Emerson Dicket.” Patience grinned.

“A little slower, Shakespeare Alret, that was pretty good!” Anne was leaning back and apparently thinking hard. “Finished with ugly writing?”, she finally asked. “A second.. yes”, Patience said and showed them a note that seemed to have been written by Dicket. “You’re a genius, Patience!”, Anne marvelled. “Thanks. Now I will have to use a table, Holly’s hand is so fine and curled”, Patience groaned. Hengist grinned. “Shall I help you up?”, he offered. “No, thanks, I’ll manage that. If only my feet wouldn’t hurt so much!” “You shouldn’t have sat on them so long”, Anne said mercilessly. “True. Now, what does dear Holly Balloon write?” Hengist and Patience looked enquiringly at Anne. “Okay. Let’s begin. Dear Professor Dicket – I bet he prefers being called professor! He’s just the type of man!” “I shan’t write that, shall I?”, Patience giggled. “No, of course not! Where were we?” “Dear Professor Dicket”, Patience read out. Hengist looked over her shoulder. “Looks nice”, he commented.

“Can I please go on?”, Anne asked impatiently. “Go on, go on”, Hengist said instantly. “Fine. So, dear Dicket, I have an urgent matter to talk over with you. Can we meet at the Three broomsticks next weekend? I’m really looking forward to see you. Yours, Holly Balloon.” “You two really should write your own love letters, I think every one would react on that”, Patience said when they finished the notes. “Okay, who’ll go to Hogsmeade?”, Hengist asked. The girls looked at him. “What, me? How shall I do that?”, he asked surprised. “With the use of the map, of course”, Patience told him.

Although Hengist had chosen the dead of night for his little excursion he felt extremely nervous. He wished to be invisible, but unfortunately he wasn’t. Patience had borrowed him Bethesda, and he had Mungus in his pocket. Who knew what the animals might be good for after all? At least it would be fun setting Bethesda at Mungus and seemingly struggling to get her away. He watched the moving dots on the Marauder’s Map carefully. Filch was in Slytherin Tower, which meant he was as far away as he could be. Hengist crept through a corridor when suddenly Mrs Norris jumped down a rattling armour. “You damn cat!”, Hengist hissed.

But Bethesda took over this special charge and simply raised one paw to threaten Mrs Norris. It seemed Filch’s cat had had enough from the last fight in which she had obviously come out worst for Mrs Norris took her chance and ran away. Hengist caressed Bethesda and thanked her. Oh no! There was a dot labelled McGonagall coming towards him! Hengist pressed himself in a niche in the wall which happened to be there. It was much too small to give him perfect cover. McGonagall paced the corridor, lighting into some corners. “Mrs Norris!”, she called out. So Filch had sent the whole castle looking for his cat! Hengist cursed that cat. Again it was Bethesda who saved the boy. She ran towards McGonagall, whom she particularly loved.

McGonagall returned that affection. “So it’s you who is strolling around. Bethesda, I hope your mistress will not be looking for you. Go back to her as soon as you can!” And she walked away without lighting the niche. Hengist needed a few seconds to recover. He could vividly imagine the teacher’s reaction to finding a prefect on a nightly excursion on Amor’s wings… At least he reached the secret door and opened it. Fred and George had oiled the hinges and it worked noiselessly, Hengist made a mental note to thank the twins for that. There he was, in a secret passage down the hill to Hogsmeade. It took about half an hour to reach the end. “Oh dear!”, he gasped, finding himself in the middle of Hogsmeade. The owl post office was still open. That had been made sure by Patience who had asked innocently (her speciality, though the teachers by now should get suspicious) when the office would close. Flitwick had been glad to be of assistance, and as he never got suspicious at even the most obvious hint he had been the perfect addressee for the question.

Hengist went in, greeting the clerk friendly. “Oy, a little late for so’one ‘s young ‘s you”, the old man stated, but he did not sound very interested. Hengist shrugged. “Important matters, he sighed, and the old man nodded sympathetically. Hengist paid the two owls and went back through the hidden passage. This time he was not threatened by anyone. Mungus was sleeping in his pocket and Bethesda had run away the moment he had opened the well-oiled door in the castle. Up in the Gryffindor common room, Anne and Patience were still up and waiting for him. They had been playing Wizard’s Chess, and as usual Patience had lost – three times in a row, and the match now set on the board looked pretty bad for her as well. “I’ve done the deed”, Hengist grinned and fell into an armchair. “But how much Bethesda has helped me I cannot tell you. That beast here hasn’t, of course”, he added, placing Mungus on the table. The toad was still asleep. “I will let him sit here. Maybe your cat wants him for a treat?” “Bethesda does not eat toads”, Patience smiled. “I’m glad she helped you. You should give her some cat mince, she loves that.” Anne rolled her eyes. “Have you paid the owls?”, she demanded. “No, Anne, I’ve threatened the clerk to send them off without paying for them. Of course I have!” “Fine. Then we should go to bed now. Tomorrow is Hogsmeade Saturday and we’ll have something really hard to do!”, Anne reminded her friends. Patience gladly swooped the chess men off the board, which brought her complains from both sets. “Oh, shut up, all of you”, Patience said simply and closed the lid of the box.

The next morning Patience was up very early. She had a small phial in her pocket which contained the clear, tasteless liquid she had secretly named “Cupid’s helper”. “Anne, I’m going to see Dicket over that essay of mine”, she said to her friend who was still in bed, reading. Catherine asked which essay. “I’ve done some extra work for him. I’m thinking of doing Advanced Muggle Studies when I’ve finished the seventh year here”, Patience explained. That was true. She had done an extra essay for Dicket. She had also done the truth potion.

Which meant that in the past week she hadn’t had much free time, but she deeply hoped it was worth it. One evening, when she felt exhausted and tired and still some paragraphs were missing in her essay she had told Anne that if Dicket wouldn’t call one of his children after her she wouldn’t write on. Anne had laughed and asked her how she would know it, maybe by crystal gazing? Patience had sighed and completed her essay. Now she grinned thinking of some obvious blunders she had made. She felt for about the tenth time for the phial and knocked on Dicket’s office door. He had his speaking hours on Saturday mornings for, as he said, he liked waking up his students early.

That he did, no doubt. Patience was called in. “Ah, Miss Wood, it’s you. Come to talk about your extra work?” “Yes. Good morning, sir”, Patience said politely. “Sit down, please, and a good morning to you as well. Yes, I’ve read your essay. Say, what do you want to do when you’ve finished school?” “I would like to do Advanced Muggle Studies”, Patience said. Dicket grinned. “Yeah, I reckoned as much. Wan some tea?”, he asked. Tea was even better for the potion, Patience rejoiced and agreed. Dicket waved his wand to boil some water. “See, Miss Wood, your essay is basically very good. To be precise, it is one of the best essays on Muggle life I’ve read in the last two or three years. But you still make some mistakes. You sometimes use the wrong vocabulary. For example you keep misspelling ‘electricity’ as ‘eckeltricity’.” Patience nodded sadly.

Dicket waved away one strand of his rather long sandy hair and rubbed his grubby nose. “And then.. Well, will you have a look at that?”, he asked, handing her over the parchment and busying himself in pouring out two cups of tea. Patience hid her grin behind the parchment. It went very well, she thought. But she was puzzled. In her opinion the particular paragraph Dicket had indicated contained no blunder. “You have been writing on ways of transport”, Dicket said. “Yes”, Patience said cautiously. “It is true that muggles have electric staircases and even what you call ‘leviators’ Indeed they are used for a certain kind of levitation, but they mainly elevate muggles.” Dicket allowed himself a broad grin. “Therefore, Miss Wood, they are called elevators.” “Oh”, Patience said, recognising her mistake.

Dicket snatched back the parchment and buried his nose in it. That was the very moment. As long as he was looking for other mistakes, Patience could give exactly five drops into Dicket’s tea. She did it, holding her breath and with quivering hands. Dicket was mumbling to himself. “So, well, if you want to apply for Advanced Muggle studies next year, I have no objection. Please keep up with the vocabulary, and especially the words concerning technology”, the professor said. “I award you and therefore Gryffindor 3 points for this extraordinary piece of work.” “Thank you professor!”, Patience beamed. “You haven’t had your tea, Miss Wood. Come, stay a little and enjoy it.” Patience thanked him again and stayed long enough to see Dicket drain his cup and to finish her tea as well.

She almost danced back to Gryffindor. In the common room, the Weasley twins and the two other Malignant Magpies were waiting for her. “Finished!”, Patience laughed. “Fine. Can we have breakfast now?”, Hengist asked. “Of course”, Anne assured him. Together they walked down to the Great Hall. It was buzzing with talk of what the students were going to do at Hogsmeade. The five plotters exchanged grins. “Dicket has had his dose, and I really hope his colleagues won’t ask too many questions – and none too embarrassing, or Snape might get suspicious”, Patience worried, watching the teacher’s table. “Is there an antidote?”, Hengist asked. “Not as far as I know.” “Then there’s no need to worry”, Anne concluded. After breakfast they prepared everything. “Fred and George, the Map is safe with you?”, Hengist enquired. “Yes”, said Fred. “We also have the red rose”, George added. “Red rose?”, Anne and Patience asked ion one voice. “That was my idea”, Hengist confessed. “It would be so nice to give Emerson the rose in passing.” “How shall this be managed?”, Anne asked him.

“I will have it in my hand when I enter the Three broomsticks where you two graces will be waiting for me, and when I pass Dicket and see Holly, I will give him the rose. For you are two, and so I would have to divide the rose, but he has only Holly. See?” “Yes”, Patience giggled. It sounded absolutely ridiculous. Hengist threw a cushion towards her, but she ducked and it caught Percy Weasley right in the face. “Helena, won’t you go to Hogsmeade?”, Oliver called from the door. “Of course I will, I’m running low in some useful things”, his sister answered. Percy put on his most arrogant face. “You don’t want to go to Zonko’s to buy any joke utensils?”, he asked. Patience smiled at him. “Percy, I promise I will try them all on you!” The others in the room burst into laughter and Percy left angrily. “Okay, in fifteen minutes at the Three broomsticks!”, Hengist whispered to the twins and the Malignant Magpies left accompanied by Oliver.

“Verres”, Patience asked on the way to Hogsmeade, “won’t you enjoy it more with your friends?” “Well, I… I…”, Oliver stuttered. “Money”, Patience stated laconically. Her brother nodded. “Well, then, here you have some sickles and knuts. Remember to give them back to me!” Patience put some coins into her brother’s hand. He left the three friends happily. “Now we’ve got rid of your little brother, shouldn’t we go through our plan again?”, Anne asked. “No”, Hengist said quickly, “too many people around. Besides, we won’t have any problems!” With this feigned certainty of succeeding the Malignant Magpies entered the Three broomsticks. Madam Rosmerta greeted them friendly. “And what may I serve you?”, she asked. “Three butterbeer, if you don’t mind”, Hengist ordered. “Oh, I never mind”, Rosmerta laughed and went to fetch the drinks. “I’m going to leave you now”, Hengist said after the landlady had brought the butterbeer.

Hengist placed some coins on the table and left. Rosmerta shook her head. “Just five seconds in here”, she murmured. Anne and Patience grinned. That much for normal behaviour! A few minutes later the Weasley twins crept in through the back door. Madam Rosmerta was used to students sneaking in, so she took no notice. “Want a drink?”, Anne asked them. “Yes, please”, Fred answered. Anne went to the bar to order two more butterbeer. Fred and George acknowledged that the three older students had chosen their table very well. It was in a dark corner and not easy to be looked into from the door, while the door was perfectly visible from the table. After Anne had returned, the four sat and waited for the things to come. Patience grew restless and started to worry that something had gone wrong, maybe appointments cancelled or a quarrel between Holly and Dicket. Time seemed to pass incredibly slow.

Every time the door was opened the four leaned forward and were disappointed ever so often. Once, even the Slytherin trio of Banks, Vargas and Cook entered. “Now this is a sight”, Anne groaned. Patience had her wand out. Her fingers were itching to perform some tricky little spell on her enemies, but Fred and George unanimously told her she shouldn’t do anything. “Unless you want us detected and the plan spoiled”, George said warningly. Patience sighed but put her wand away again. The Slytherins left soon, maybe due to the fact that there were more students, but all of them Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or Gryffindor. “Where do the Slytherins assemble?, Fred asked curiously. Anne shrugged. “Maybe in the garden of the Shrieking Shack, who knows?”, she said. “I don’t think they have the guts to meet there”, Patience thought aloud. The other three chuckled. The door opened again. “There they are, finally!”, Patience breathed.

Yes, there they were, Holly Balloon and Emerson Dicket. They were apparently involved in a most interesting conversation. “Maybe we don’t need our little hocuspocus”, Anne whispered. “A pity that would be”, Fred answered. “I wish we could sonore their voices”, Patience said wistfully. “Yeah, that the whole of Hogsmeade can eavesdrop”, George smiled. “Wouldn’t be too bad, they would have enough witnesses and none can say he or she hadn’t said something because it could be proved…” “Sh!”, Anne cut in and kicked Patience in addition to that. Patience shot her an angry look but fell silent immediately. They watched the couple seating themselves and talking animatedly. They strained their ears to listen but only the odd word reached their table.

Then Hengist entered. He held the rose in his hand. “The show begins!”, Fred whispered. “Hello, Professor Balloon, Professor Dicket!”, Hengist greeted the teachers politely. Rosmerta stared at the boy but kept silent. Hengist looked around as if he was looking for Anne and Patience. He seemed to have spotted them and waved over – into a corner where they were certainly not seated. “Is he blind or what?”, George asked amused. “Do you want to be detected here at Hogsmeade by any teacher?”, Patience retorted. George went brick red and fell silent again. Hengist was by now staring at his rose. He looked a bit sad. “Wow, that boy should become an actor!”, Anne marvelled. Patience smiled only. Hengist offered the rose to Dicket who took it smilingly and passed it to Holly who blushed.

Then Hengist went to the table he had waved to, to the great amazement of some third year Hufflepuff girls, greeted them cheerfully and walked on until he had reached his friends’ table. “Now what, wasn’t that good?”, he asked beaming. “What did you tell them?”, Anne wanted to know. Hengist grinned. “I told Dicket I had seen both of you, girls, and that I could not give one of you the blossom and the other the leaves and so he should take the rose. Dicket, being a little more talkative than usual thanks to something we won’t talk of passed it to Holly with the words ‘A rose to the sweetest rose of Hogwarts!’” “That sounds great”, Anne said jubilantly. “Maybe we won’t need to ask any question and he gets round without further help”, Patience said hopefully, watching the couple again. So far all went as planned.

But then it happened: McGonagall, Flitwick and Hagrid entered the Three broomsticks. “Duck!”, Patience hissed instantly and Fred and George vanished under the table. “Hope they don’t want to sit with us”, Hengist said. “Hagrid is the most dangerous”, Anne agreed. Hagrid had turned to Dicket and Holly. “Oh, hullo Professors!”, he boomed. “At least we’ll have no problem understanding him”, Patience giggled. “Out ‘ere for a date?” That question of Hagrid’s made the Malignant Magpies almost fall off their chairs with laughter. That had been, in plain words, the same question they would have asked Dicket sooner or later. Dicket’s lips moved, but they couldn’t understand a word. “A pity”, Anne mouthed. Patience was up to sonore the professor’s voice but decided against it. “We will see the results anyway”, Patience soothed herself and her friends.

The Weasley twins under the table proposed to creep to the front. “Do you love detentions so much?”, Hengist asked sarcastically. That made them quickly decide against their plan. Patience commented the proceedings for the unfortunate twins. “Now Flitwick has his wand out. I wonder what he’s up to?”, she said. George, under the table, burst into laughter and was kicked by three feet at once. “Sorry, I just thought he wanted to let hearts rain down on his colleagues”, the boy whispered. That caused the others to laugh as well, and Hagrid spotted them. He waved over and shuffled through the room. “Nice ter see yer here”, the giant man smiled. “Hagrid, what is going on there?”, Anne asked immediately. Hagrid chuckled. “Ah, well, Dicket’s courting Miss Balloon, I think. Reckon he’s successful, for she looks at him ‘s if he were a sugar cake.” “And he isn’t just kidding?”, Patience asked though she knew perfectly well that with the truth potion no one would be able to feign anything. Hagrid shook his head doubtingly. “I mean, he’s not normal, but, s’posing he’s in love he shou’nt be normal.” That was all the three needed to know their plan had been successful. “I’m goin’ ter have a drink wi’ the professors. See yer later!”, the gamekeeper said and walked to the table where McGonagall and Flitwick had seated themselves.

“We have a problem”, Hengist stated in a low voice. “What? Dicket and Holly are safely in love!”, Patience said with sparkling eyes. Someone pinched her into her leg. “Ouch! Oh, you, right”, she remembered about the twins. “It does seem we are in need of some blind. Anne, one of us should go to McGonagall and ask something. Or better ask Flitwick and try to draw McGonagall into the conversation”, Patience said. Hengist grinned. “You think I’m no good for that?“ Patience stared at him. “No, Hengist I just think you’re perfect”, she slowly said. Anne looked puzzled. “Anne, he’s a prefect. Maybe there is something you absolutely need to ask McGonagall. Flitwick is House Teacher of Ravenclaw, and will most certainly listen interestedly. Anne will fetch Hagrid and we will use him as cover for Fred and George who will now swear they will go straight back to Gryffindor!” The twins mumbled something under the table which Patience took for their promise.

Hengist got up and walked over to the teacher’s table. “Hagrid, Anne wants a word with you”, he said. The giant nodded briefly and got up to see Anne. In a whisper, the girl told him about the twins under the table and their need for help. Hagrid shook his hairy head, but finally agreed to help them. Hengist meanwhile talked about prefect’s duties with Flitwick and McGonagall. Anne, Patience, Hagrid and the twins were almost out of doors, when McGonagall spotted the group. “Hagrid, where are you going?”, she called. “Jus’ takin’ a bit of breath, professor”, Hagrid lied quickly, trying to shield the red-haired boys from view.

“Fred and George Weasley!”, McGonagall called next. There was no use in trying to sneak out. She had seen them. “Over here!”, the professor commanded. Flitwick looked stunned at the sight of two first-years at Hogsmeade, and Hengist tried to look as surprised. “You knew of course they were here”, McGonagall stated with a stern look that made Hengist feel deeply ashamed. Yet he refused every answer. Innocent until proven guilty, he thought. Anne and Patience could not say they had not known about the twins being there, but nevertheless they could say they had met them down here. “And instead of sending them back to the castle you took them for a drink?”, McGonagall asked ironically. “You do not think, Miss Symmons, Miss Wood, that we haven’t noticed the teamwork between you and the Misters Weasley. Pray tell me what was behind this?” Flitwick now looked slightly amused. In private, the tiny professor thought that life at Hogwarts would be quite uneventful, if not straightway boring, if there weren’t some cunning students playing nice little tricks.

“All of you will go back to Hogwarts now. I want to talk to you in my office at 5 p.m. Be there punctually!” McGonagall looked each culprit into the eyes and waved them out of the pub. Although they knew that detentions were set for them, they didn’t feel sad. A look on the heavily flirting Dicket and Holly had satisfied them that their plan had worked. “Now, we’ve got to do something unpleasant, but that’s nothing compared to what we have accomplished!” Hengist stated cheerfully. “Yes, and maybe it won’t be that bad after all”, Patience hopefully added.

Fred and George looked at each other. “We’ve already got some detentions, and they were always really unpleasant”, George said. “It depends upon who thinks of the detention. Some teachers take their pleasure in torturing students, like Snape. Getting a detention from him means doing really ugly things. McGonagall will think of something she deems appropriate for our deed”, Anne explained, earning an amused look by Hengist and a scowl by Patience. “Snape also thinks of things he deems appropriate”, she said a little stiffly. Anne didn’t bother to go into her favourite theory of Snape’s being a dark wizard again. The Weasley twins would find out soon enough.

Things turned out to be nastier than they had thought. By 5 p.m., the truth potion didn’t work anymore and Dicket wondered what had got into him. The Malignant Magpies couldn’t have known that Dicket had had some experience with a truth potion in the times of Voldemort’s reign and knew perfectly well when he had been under the influence of one. So he went to Snape to ask him if he had accidentally put some truth potion into his goblet. Snape’s lips curled. “A truth potion? Emerson, there might be worthier objects than you to test one”, he explained. Dicket sighed. “But who could have given it to me? It must have happened today.” “Whom have you talked to with a cup or whatever with you?”, Snape enquired. He himself had already formed a certain suspicion and only waited to have it confirmed.

Dicket paced through the chilly dungeon. “I met Minerva this morning, and Holly this afternoon, but then I was already influenced. So it must have been this morning. I was at breakfast with all of you, and before breakfast I had only a talk with a student”, he though aloud. “A student?”, Snape quickly asked. “Whom did you see?” “Miss Wood of Gryffindor”, Dicket answered, shaking his head in disbelief. Snape nodded vigorously. “I already thought there would be one of these Gryffindors in it”, he said satisfied. “And Miss Wood is quite an able potions brewer, she might have done it.” “Severus, no doubt she has done it, who else could? But why?” Dicket was extremely puzzled.

Snape shrugged that question off. To him, reasons did not matter much, only the deed mattered. “If I heard that right in the Three broomsticks, Minerva wants to talk to Miss Wood anyway, so we should simply tell her”, Dicket proposed. Snape looked a bit disappointed, but agreed to this plan. Together with Dicket they went to McGonagall’s office and knocked. “You do want to tell me Miss Wood poisoned you?”, McGonagall asked shocked. Dicket nodded, suddenly feeling he had done something very wrong. He cursed himself for having told Snape and McGonagall. He should have dealt with that himself. And he couldn’t get rid of the feeling that at the heart of all this was something very benevolent and not at all malicious. “Under these circumstances I think it fair if you stay as well, Emerson. But Severus has, as I conclude, nothing to do with the matter.” McGonagall left open what was the implicit meaning.

Snape pressed his lips together and bowed slightly before leaving the room. “Minerva, I really do think…”, Dicket started but was prevented from speaking further by the knocking of somebody. “Come in!”, McGonagall called friendly. In came the trio of the Malignant Magpies and the Weasley twins. “Ah, well, you are in time”, the professor said and indicated some seats for the students. Hengist looked ready to defend himself and the others, but he didn’t get a chance at first. ”Just now Professor Dicket has told me he has been poisoned”, McGonagall began. Dicket came into the light of the fireplace and smiled ruefully. “Sorry, Miss Wood, I assume it was your doing”, he said. Patience drew in her breath. A quick glance at Hengist and Anne seemed to confirm her and she cleared her throat. “Yes, I gave you a truth potion, professor”, she confessed. “And before anyone can ask why I will tell you. We saw that professor Dicket was… attracted by Professor Balloon but didn’t seem to get further. And we simply wanted to help them. Therefore we created a situation they could meet, and the potion was only administered because, if he didn’t find the words himself, we would have asked him and being only able to tell the truth he would have declared his love!”

It was an extraordinary explanation to both professors, but Dicket smiled brightly. McGonagall nodded slowly and turned to Fred and George. “And what was your part in all that?”, she asked. “We have only been proud to help”, Fred said. The five of them had agreed not to mention the Marauder’s Map whatever happened. Hengist added: “of course I should have told you at once, professor.” McGonagall frowned. “That you should have indeed, Alret, but I know that your loyalties lie first with your friends and only then to your prefect’s duties.” Hengist went brick red at that. “But isn’t that one of the qualities Gryffindors are known for?”, Anne asked defiantly. “True, Miss Symmons. I see that your intentions were good, but unfortunately you didn’t stick to the rules.” “But isn’t it said that all is fair in love and war?”, Patience asked thoughtfully. Dicket broke into laughter. “Yes, yes, and in my opinion your intention justifies the means. Come on Minerva, they only wanted to help me. Let them get out of it without anything but a lecture of yours!” The five students smiled thankfully at Dicket.

McGonagall sighed. “Emerson, these five students owe you something, I fear. You will not get any detention, but if I ever hear of someone poisoned again, Miss Wood, or if I ever see one of you, Fred and George Weasley, down at Hogwarts, I will remember this day and think of an appropriate punishment!”

Please Meet Nice Professor S.

Everybody was staring at professor Snape. It was almost seven in the morning and he had arrived in the Great Hall to enjoy his breakfast. “Is that a smile on his face?” Hengist asked incredulously. “Can’t be, must be a sort of facial paralysis.” Patience told him. “Damn it Patience he’s heard you, now you’re in for another detention!” Anne whispered as the professor turned and approached the Gryffindor table. He stopped a couple of steps in front of them. The students stopped breathing.

“Good morning my dear Gryffindors!” He said and turned towards the Ravenclaw table repeating the procedure and so he did with the other two tables. “He must have gone insane!” Anne remarked. “Gone?” Hengist asked. The three grinned. They watched him greet each and every person at the teachers’ table. Professor McGonagall looked angrily over to the Malignant Magpies. They only shrugged.

The day passed slowly giving birth to new rumours about professor Snape every hour. “Did you hear the latest news about professor Snape?” John King had approached the three students. “No, tell us!” Hengist replied. John King turned left and right to make sure no one was listening. “They say he tried a new potion on himself!” “Wow.” Anne said kind of disinterested. “Did you hear what we’ve heard?” She went on. John King shook his head. Anne stepped closer. “Professor Snape went into the Forbidden Forest. There he met a fairy who granted him a wish. He wished to be liked by everybody!” Anne drew back. “Wow!” John King said enthusiastically.

“Why did you lie, Anne?” Patience said reproachfully. Anne shrugged. “There are so many rumours, no one really believes them – except of maybe John King.” She admitted. “If you want to keep people from telling you the latest gossip you must invent some yourself!” She concluded. Catherine joined them. “Did you hear about professor Snape?” She asked ready to reveal her own knowledge. “Yes, he is kidnapped by extraterrestrial life forms and they sent a substitute to cover for the loss.” Anne replied. Catherine’s mouth fell open. “You don’t say!” “Oh, yes I do.” Anne whispered as Catherine walked away eager to spread the latest facts.

Hengist stopped hiding his grin. Patience could no longer be angry. She had been very close to having a laughing fit herself when Catherine had absorbed Anne’s story. “An extraterrestrial substitute?” She repeated. Anne shrugged. “Could be…” “Oh there it comes.” Hengist pointed out. “You know I only miss the antennas on his head!” He whispered. They laughed.

“Laughter, isn’t it the sweetest sound on earth!” Snape said. The three immediately stopped. “Three friends sticking together like the honey and the bee, isn’t it wonderful? Here flowers for you!” He produced a flower out of his basket. “A forget-me-not for Miss Wood, a busy Lizzie for Miss Symmons and a marigold for Mr. Alret.” “Thanks!” They said as the professor hurried off to spread his flowers among the students.

“Something must be wrong with him.” Hengist decided. “Is there any illness that makes you nice?” Anne wanted to know. Hengist shrugged. “I’ve heard of a gas that makes you laugh, maybe there is one that makes you nice, too?” He suggested. “Maybe he is just kind.” Patience stated. The other two paused for a moment. “What kind of illness could it be?” Anne asked. “Hello? Don’t you even consider the possibility that he could be simply kind?” Patience intervened. “No.” Anne and Hengist replied in one voice and without hesitation.

“Mr. Alret, Miss Symmons, Miss Wood could I have a word with you?” Professor McGonagall said in an almost cold voice. She led them to her office. “You have two possibilities: you confess and get punished or you don’t confess and get punished.” The Malignant Magpies were taken aback. “Honestly professor we didn’t do anything!” Anne said. “So you didn’t do any magic, a potion or used any other trick on professor Snape…” She started. “He would be dead if we tried a potion on him.” Patience reminded the teacher. McGonagall nodded. “And you didn’t send rumours around saying that the professor was exchanged for an alien, that he met a fairy in the Forbidden Forest or that he was knocked out accidentally and since then is the nicest person alive…I give you a week to confess. You may leave now.”

“That’s just not fair. Why do they always get at us when we didn’t do anything. Why can’t they catch us if we do something. That would at least be fair!” Hengist observed. The two girls frowned but didn’t comment on it. Anne shook her head. “I wonder who said that he got hit on his head!” She grinned. Patience blushed. “That was me.” She confessed. The three students laughed. “There’s only one way to prevent a punishment: We must find the real culprits.” Anne remarked as they strolled along the corridor. “But how can we know? We don’t even know how and when it was done.” He reminded them. “That is not true. It was Thursday morning when we noticed. We saw him Wednesday afternoon in class. There was just one class after us. They didn’t say a word about any change in his behaviour. He missed – as usual – dinner that evening. It must have happened that night!” Anne explained.

“Great but how can we find out what he did?” Hengist reminded her. She sighed. “Hey, why don’t we simply ask him? He’s in such a good mood he will certainly tell us.” Patience suggested. “You know being nice when meeting us and giving us a detention when we ask about private matters aren’t necessarily exclusive.” Anne said. “Then, I fear we just have to face detention!” Hengist and Anne looked at each other. They headed for Snape’s private rooms.

“Knock???” Hengist asked. “Just go inside!” Anne said. “He’ll kill you.” Patience whispered. “Well, the second will only kill us faster.” Anne replied. Patience knocked. “What will you ask him?” Hengist asked. Patience went pale. It was not the fact that she hadn’t thought of anything yet, but that it appeared that she was to do the talking. “Oh hello my three young friends. What a pleasure to have you here! Won’t come in?” “NO!” Anne and Hengist replied in one voice. Snape stopped for a moment – irritated.

“What they wanted to say is that it is such a beautiful day and, gee, why don’t we go for a walk!” Patience saved the situation. “What a wonderful idea. Let us stick flowers in our hair!” The teacher said enthusiastically. The three students stayed behind. Hengist indicated that he thought the teacher had gone mad. “Why did you ask him to go for a walk!” Anne complained. “Why didn’t you want to go inside?!” “Where are you?” Snape called. “Coming!” Patience shouted. She gave her friends another angry look and followed him.

“We could wait here…” Hengist suggested. “…or return to our common room.” Anne added. “She will kill us if we do…” Hengist thought aloud. “…we could go for it…” Anne replied. “NO!” They agreed. They hurried after their friend and the professor. “Where have you been?” Patience asked in a whisper. “We had to discuss an important matter.” Hengist replied. “Did you ask him?” Anne wanted to know. “Would I still be here if I did?” Patience replied annoyed. “But you had so much time!” Anne snapped. Shaking her head she approached the teacher.

“Miss Symmons, what a pleasure to have you here.” He took her arm and didn’t let go of her again. “Did you ever have a look at those beautiful strawberry fields next to Hagrid’s hut. The fruits must be ready now. We must find out, what do you say?” Anne turned her head as far as possible and mouthed the word ‘help’ to her friends. Patience grinned. She took Hengist’s arm and they followed the couple. “Sure…” Anne said slowly.

“Did you know that strawberries played an important role in Shakespeare’s play Richard III?” He didn’t wait for the answer but continued. “Richard sends the bishop of Ily to gather some of the strawberries in his backyard for they are famous for their taste. That’s what he says. In reality he just wanted to get rid of the bishop to decide about the death of some people. Isn’t that cruel? I hope nobody decides about the death of people while we are out a-strawberry-hunting.” He gave Anne a smile which she returned half-heartedly.

It wasn’t long before they reached Hagrid’s hut. Anne had tried to ask the teacher about his whereabouts and doings; however, the teacher just hadn’t stopped talking. “Do you like strawberries, Miss Symmons?” The teacher asked. He made a pause to give her a chance to answer. “She loves strawberries!” Hengist threw in helpfully. Anne gave him an angry looked but hadn’t much time to do so for professor Snape dragged her deep into the field.

“What is prefesser Snape doin’ with Anne?” Hagrid asked when he joined the two students. “He’s gathering strawberries for her.” Patience explained grinningly. He nodded. “Isn’t he sert ef strange lat’ly?” He added. Hengist nodded. “Professor McGonagall thinks that we are responsible. She said we bewitched him.” Hengist told the giant man. “But, ye didn’, did ye?” He wanted to know. “No!” Patience replied. “But we have to find out what really happened to him or else we will get punished.” She explained. “I see – but ‘ow de ye wan’ te find out?” He asked concerned. “Patience suggested to just ask him what he did…” Hagrid nodded. “Yes, ‘e might tell ye…” “Yes…” Patience sighed. “…if he wasn’t talking so much of other things.”

“Did you know that strawberries are the most important ingredient of one love potion?” Snape asked. Anne choked on her strawberry. “No…” She replied still coughing. “People say that the strawberry has special powers because…” He held up one specimen. “…it is heart-shaped, red and sweet.” He explained and offered the strawberry to Anne. “I think I had enough strawberries.” She replied and turned to look over to her two friends. “I think that’s just a fraud. Fruits and vegetables which have a certain outer appearance are said to apply to exactly those things. Walnuts are said to be good for the brain – I think that’s rubbish.” Snape nodded. “I suggest that we brew the potion together in class and find out if it works, what do you say?”

“It doesn’t look as if she found out anything new yet.” Hengist observed. “I wonder what they are talking about!” He added. “The forty-four uses of strawberries in potions and poisons…” “No, Anne would have to take notes then!” He joked. Hagrid had left them again. He had to do urgent business for Dumbledore – it was always urgent if it was for the headmaster. “Rumours say that he is in Hogsmeade every Wednesday evening.” Hengist thought aloud. Patience frowned. “You know that rumours are just rumours and since you know Anne you know how they come into existence as well.”

“I don’t think that the students will be very interested in love potions…” Anne tried. “Really – the first potion I brewed without the assistance of a teacher was a love potion. Funny how times change. What is the youth of today doing in its spare time?” “We read a lot!” Anne lied. “Read – isn’t that a pity. Maybe we should after all do the love potion. It might do them good! But you have Greg, of course.” Anne did not reply to that. “What are you doing in your spare time, let’s say on Wednesdays.”

“Do you think she has asked him?” Patience wanted to know. Hengist frowned. “Don’t you think he would have shouted at her and trampled all the strawberries if she had done so?” By this time they felt a bit uneasy to have left her alone with the teacher. “He has been talking almost all of the time – I don’t think she could ask him yet. It looks more like he’s telling her something and she is – gratefully – allowed to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’.” He thought aloud. “But he stopped feeding her with strawberries, do you think that is a good sign?” Patience wanted to know. “Yes, a good sign that she had enough strawberries. And a good sign that you ask too many questions. How should I know. I’m waiting here with you not over there with Anne.” Hengist replied.

“Wednesdays? On Wednesdays I go to Hogsmeade. I am a member of the Ballroom Dancing Society. We dance!” He explained. Anne did not know what to say. She was definitely surprised. There was first of all the fact that Snape mixed with other people and second, that other people mixed with him. “That’s great so you meet every week with the same people…sounds like good fun…and you dance…” Anne tried to think of a way to bewitch someone who was dancing – so that the others wouldn’t notice. Then again it might have been a trick of the whole society.

“Maybe we should join her!” Patience said and set forth to her friend. Hengist followed her though he checked first if there was anything else – of greater importance – which he could do. Obviously there wasn’t. They reached Anne when she was asking. “And you went there last Wednesday, too?” “Yes, every Wednesday.” Patience and Hengist stopped they didn’t mean to interrupt this conversation.

“Is that all you do on Wednesdays?” “Miss Symmons, are you asking for a date?” Anne blushed heavily. She hadn’t liked the old Snape but the new one was simply unbearable. “No, I wanted to know if you do anything else on Wednesdays. As for my own person, I am always very busy on Wednesdays.” Snape drew closer. “What are you doing on Wednesdays?” Anne sighed. “I give up. It’s your turn now!” She sat down on the next rock.

“Apart from the activities you usually follow on Wednesdays what else did you do last Wednesday?” Patience tried. Snape frowned. “Is that a game?” He asked suspiciously. “Can I join in?” He added in a much lighter tone. Hengist shook his head. “Yes, a game!” Patience said enthusiastically. “Now tell us!” “Well, I went to the Three broomsticks to have a hot butterbeer…” Anne looked up. “So you went to the Three broomsticks?” “No, I didn’t, there wasn’t enough room in there, so I went to the Hog’s Head.” Patience turned towards Anne. Her eyes had widened.

This was rather a bar than a pub. People who went there in the evenings and in fact any time of the day could be put down under the category suspicious – if not dangerous. The three friends agreed that no further questioning was necessary. They ran away. “But wait! You haven’t told me yet how your game is played!” Snape shouted after them.

“Who thinks it has happened in the Hog’s Head?” Hengist wanted to know. Patience and Anne raised their hands. “We cannot just go there!” Patience thought aloud. The other two nodded. The next weekend was a Hogsmeade weekend. “How old can we look?” Hengist wanted to know. “Age is not so important! The point is that nobody will recognize us.” Patience replied. Anne – who was a firm believer in magic – waved her wand. “Who are you?” Patience asked looking at her two friends or rather two totally strange persons. Patience herself didn’t quite look the same person as before. Her hair was black. She wore a red pullover and blue jeans. Sneakers added to her outfit. Anne had blond hair. Pink sunglasses, a pink shirt, a pink miniskirt and pink shoes. Hengist wore a white shirt and black trousers. His hair had turned to red and he had a beard.

They sneaked out of the castle and walked to the village. The Hog’s Head wasn’t exactly buzzing. “Fashionable!” Anne exclaimed acting the blond person as good as she could. “Oh darling, do get us some drinks, will you?” She cooed. Hengist sat down. “Get your own drink!” He snapped. Patience had sat down, too. She hadn’t said a single word since they had entered the bar. “Waiter!” Anne called. The man behind the bar approached the strange group.

“You will have to come to the bar – if you want something to drink.” He told them. “Maybe we don’t want to drink anything!” Patience suggested. “What do you want then?” The waiter asked. “Do you remember last Wednesday?” Patience continued. “That depends.” He replied.

Anne leaned back. They hadn’t talked about money. She produced some coins, put them on the table – noisily – and put her hand on them. “Yes, I do remember last Wednesday.” He nodded. “There was a group of people here?” Patience asked. “Yes. Dancers or something like that.” “Did they do…anything strange?” She went on. “Lady, listen. Anyone in here is – in a way – strange.” He explained and reached out for the money. “Not so fast!” Hengist stopped him. “There was a man, dressed all in black.” “That is no question – and anyway, you seem to know everything. Why do you waste my precious time?” Anne retreated the money. “Wait a minute!” He interrupted this process. “But we don’t want to waste your precious time.” Anne told him.

“Go on!” The waiter said. “A man dressed all in black, yes, a very friendly person.” “Tell us more!” Hengist told him. “He joked and…” “From the start?” Anne interrupted him. “Yes…” “That was that!” Patience said. They got up. “Thanks!” Patience said. They went outside and hid in a quiet corner. “He must have been bewitched before!” Hengist concluded. “Then we must find out whether he was like that when his dancing class started.” Patience decided. “And how?” Anne wanted to know. “We cannot just go there and ask!”

In fact they did go there – but they didn’t ask, not at first. They decided to change their outer appearance before they would do so. Another quiet corner offered shelter for this necessary task. Hengist wore a black suit now and so did Patience and Anne. Black sunglasses added to this disguise. Hengist felt quite the secret agent man he had always wanted to be. They approached the building where the dancing classes were held. They looked quite important.

“Good day…” A rather surprised young woman greeted them. The three friends looked carefully around before Hengist raised his voice to speak. “Is anybody else here?” He asked in a quite monotonous sort of voice. “No…” The woman replied a little scared. “Good. We have a couple of questions. You don’t have to fear anything – if you cooperate, that is.” “Okay…” “A ball takes place in these rooms every Wednesday?” “Yes…” “We were informed that something strange happened last Wednesday?” “Strange…?” She asked. “Yes, strange, anything that is not according to what usually happens!” Anne snapped. The woman paused but it was obvious that there was a story to be told.

“The party thought of a prank.” “What sort of prank? Did it involve magic, illegal magic?” Hengist insisted. “I don’t want to get anyone in trouble…” “The only one who will be in trouble will be you if you don’t cooperate!” Patience informed the woman. She realized that her only friend in this group was Hengist. She looked at him. “It did involve magic, but it was just a little thing. He’s a teacher. And he’s very proud that he is always severe…they thought of it a s a little gift for the students. They will undo next Wednesday…” “NEXT WEDNESDAY!” Anne shouted. Patience gave her an angry look. “What spell did they use?” Hengist added. The woman shrugged. “I really couldn’t tell…” “Thank you for your cooperation.” Hengist said and turned to leave. Patience and Anne followed him.

“Shouldn’t we have asked who performed the spell?” Patience wanted to know. “I think we know enough!” Hengist replied. “It’s not our business to undo the spell. Flitwick can do that and if you forgive me adding much better than we would.” “Then let’s hurry back to the castle.” Anne suggested. They ran all the way back to Hogwarts.

They opened the door. Patience checked her watch. “Do you reckon he will be in his office?” Anne shrugged. “Hey, what are you doing there. Who are you?” Filch boasted. At first they were surprised that he didn’t recognize them but then it occurred to them that they were still in disguise. “And who are you?” Hengist asked in his most official sort of voice. Filch was surprised by this reaction. “My name is Argus Filch. I am…” “…the caretaker…” Hengist replied thoughtfully. “Did we have any questions for Mr. Filch or his cat Mrs. Norris?” Filch shrank back. The thought that someone knew him who he didn’t know scared him. “No, not this time.” Patience replied. “Good for you. Where will we find professor Flitwick?” He added. “What do you want from professor Flitwick?” Filch dared to ask. “That, Mr. Filch, is none of your business, I’d say. Do you agree?” “Yes, of course…” And after a short pause he continued. “He is in his office, I think…it is…” “We know where it is!” Anne replied.

They were laughing silently all the way. “We definitely have to do that again!” Hengist decided. “Better not. You are too courageous. I think you will even snap at us!” Patience replied. Hengist shrugged. “It’s not that you wouldn’t have deserved it…” He thought aloud. They stopped in front of Flitwick’s office and knocked on the door. The tiny professor opened the door. He looked curiously up at the students. “Did I miss a masquerade?” He asked being quite sure he faced the Malignant Magpies. “No.” The three laughed. “Come in.” He invited them.

In the office they were asked to sit down. The students reported on their problem and offered the solution. “But don’t you think that professor McGonagall will get rather suspicious if all of a sudden we have our old professor Snape back?” He threw in. Patience nodded. “He is right. It will be us again.” Flitwick’s eyes sparkled. “And what if I told her that I had visitors – official visitors who told me about the prank…” “Yes, and Filch has seen us, too.” Hengist said delightedly. “Then that is settled. We will make this very official.” He got up and opened the door. “I thank you for this information and the trust you have in me, Mrs. Karbunkel, Mrs. Haye and Mr. Learth.” Flitwick shook the hands of the three students. “We count on your secrecy, professor.” Hengist said. Flitwick nodded and bowed.

Of course, this scene had been witnessed as had the arrival of the three persons. It was soon agreed that they had either been frauds or highly official people of the Ministry. McGonagall had to learn – and may I add she was glad to do so – that her three students had not been involved in the matter. She had had her doubts but when she heard that the three had been seen in the common room during the presence of the three Ministry frauds she was convinced.

“If you ever take another book out of the library to take a walk with it outside I will let you polish the trophies with a q-tip.” Snape shouted. Yes, definitely, everything was back to normal again.

The three students had suffered so much that they decided to have their go at the teacher now. They decided to visit him at the teachers’ table. Each had brought his or her chair. It was the Sunday morning and not too many people were around, yet. “Good morning, professor.” They greeted him. “What do you want?” He snapped. “Nothing, we just wanted to have another nice chat with you…” Hengist explained. “You know, we did discuss love potions in the common room and it seems that one or two students would really be interested.” Anne revealed. Snape’s eyes narrowed. “I won’t have another word of love potions!” “But you offered that…don’t you remember?” She didn’t get an answer on that one. “Maybe he can’t recall that he was dancing on the tables either…” Patience threw in. Snape got up. He looked very dangerous. Hengist was the first to call for a retreat. “You know, there are plenty of things we’ll have to do…” They hurried away – with their chairs.

“You don’t have to grin so stupidly.” Snape snapped at Dicket. “You know, I’m not one of your students.” Emerson reminded him. “I’m your best friend.” “Then why don’t you act like one?” Snape was in an extremely bad mood. “Well, as your friend I will give you a piece of advice. If you were friendlier more of the time, they wouldn’t tease you so much…and why don’t you pay them back. Do the strawberry love potion with them.” A short pause followed this outburst of thought. “No!” Snape replied. “But, wouldn’t it be fun to make them believe you were bewitched again…”

Snape had gone outside. He was humming a tune and was sure to be seen by the Malignant Magpies. “Maybe it hasn’t completely worn off yet…” Hengist thought aloud. “Maybe he will be like that forever.” Patience suggested. “No!” Anne burst. “C’mon, he wasn’t that bad.” Patience replied. “No? How much time did you spend with him? We were that short of a date!” She complained and formed with her thumb and indicating finger what looked like a millimetre or smaller. “Maybe he’s just gathering flowers for a potion.” Hengist threw in. “Yes, that will be it.” Patience agreed. “I don’t know. I just think it to be very strange…”

They turned away from the teacher. “That was an adventure. You know, sometimes I think we should write everything down!” Hengist mused. “And who would want to read that?” Patience wanted to know. Hengist shrugged. “Generations of students to come?” Anne suggested. They had to laugh. They didn’t notice that they were watched. Professor Snape choose this moment to approach them. “Hello my three young friends!” He greeted them. “Hello…” The three replied suspiciously in one voice. “You know, I thought about the love potion again. I will do it – but only if Miss Symmons will agree to try it out.” Hengist could hardly hide his grin.

Anne didn’t know what to say. She stood in between Hengist and Patience and Snape had placed himself right before her. She couldn’t escape. “A flower for you to make the decision easy!” He gave a rose to her. “I have removed the thorns so it won’t hurt you.” He told her. “Thank you professor.” Anne replied. It was a red rose and Anne’s face tried to match this colour. “See you in my office tonight, then we can have a go in private!” He told her and walked away.

“They will say it was us again!” Patience burst. “That’s not fair.” Hengist added. “They will expel us!” She added. “The sooner the better!” Anne said. She looked at the flower. While all this happened professor Snape was waiting behind the corner. He chose this last moment to pop up again. “Got you!” He said. “And if you mention any love potion ever again you will face a serious detention.” He warned them.

Anne was glad. This Snape was by far better than the bewitched one. The three had learned their lesson for this time. But as there were many more times to come there will be a lot left to learn. Snape and Dicket went to Hogsmeade to have a nice drink and a quiet – well, maybe not that quiet – chat about their prank. It had been a very long time since they had felt that young.

Cook Cooked Up

“… and Professor Figwit can give me as many detentions as he likes!” Cook boasted. Patience swivelled around. “Oh yes? I just wonder what you’d say if he really did. Besides, his name is Flitwick!” “And you, Miss Know-it-all, you were rubbish at the spells we did today,” Cook spat at her. Patience knew this was highly unjust, but she was hurt nevertheless. Moreover it was really hard to get a detention from Flitwick, and that Cook had managed it, was not entirely his own doing. Banks and Vargas had aided him quite a lot, and the class had witnessed for the very first time a furious Professor Flitwick. “Listen, Cookie Monster,” Patience began enraged, her eyes blazing green, when suddenly somebody coughed. “Don’t go on shouting, Miss Wood, I’m not interested in your petty grievances,” Emerson Dicket lazily stated. He had his arms folded in front of his massive chest and was waiting for the class to enter his classroom. “I don’t doubt it was all about a highly interesting subject, but keep your voices down, will you?” Dicket mildly suggested.

Patience lowered her eyes and fumbled for her wand under her robes. Dicket had just given her an excellent idea. She murmured something, pointing under her robes at Cook, and extended her hand after having put the wand away. “Sebastian, I want to apologize,” she said clearly. The surrounding students gasped. Vargas looked so stunned he almost dropped on his back. Hengist’s mouth had fallen open, and Anne’s eyes were darting from Cook to Patience and back again. Cook did not know how to react, but he clumsily took the offered hand for the split of a second. “No matter,” he said. Dicket reappeared in the door. “Come in, and keep your voice down, Cook,” he ordered. “We’re doing computers today.” “What?” Patience asked Hengist, but he was still too surprised to be able to tell his friend what computers were.

The end of the year feast took place in a green and silver decorated Great Hall. For the fourth year in a row Slytherin had won the house cup. Snape was looking very pleased, and the Gryffindors were shooting dark looks over to Slytherin. “We couldn’t have done it better”, Hengist sighed, playing absentmindedly with his fork. “Well, had you caught the Snitch more often”, Patience teased her friend. Oliver cut in: “No, that wouldn’t have helped. Someone said that this year we were losing points faster than we could get them.” The Malignant Magpies looked very guilty hearing that. “But it wasn’t your fault”, Oliver went on. “Whose fault was it, then?”, Anne demanded. “Oh, they say that this year our grades weren’t as good, and in addition to that the Quidditch team hasn’t proved to be so effective.” This time Oliver’s ears went red. “No doubt that’ll change next year. I do not want to have my last year finished with these Slytherins sneering at us!”, Patience said furiously, glancing to Banks, Vargas and Cook who were just raising their goblets to her in mocking salutation. Patience jerked her head back in anger and refused to look to the Slytherin table anymore.

Anne thought of jinxing some Slytherins, but with all the teachers watching and with the disaster of the table trick in mind she abandoned this idea. “Where are you going this year?”, Hengist asked Anne. She shrugged. “My parents haven’t told me yet”, she explained. Patience beamed at her. “Wonderful! I always wanted you to spend the holidays with us!” Anne smiled gratefully. “That would really be wonderful”, she agreed. “And maybe Hengist will join us for some time as well?”, Patience asked.

Hengist grinned. “I wouldn’t miss that, of course I’ll come. By the way, where do you live?” Oliver and Patience burst into laughter. “In the middle of nowhere”, Oliver said. “Not really in the middle of nowhere. It’s a village near Shrewsbury, called Alberbury. Unfortunately, we’re the only wizarding family in Alberbury, so be careful with all these muggles around”, Patience explained. “Where is this village?”, Fred Weasley asked curiously. “On the border to Wales”, Patience said, “seated on the banks of the Severn.” “And pray, how do we get there?”, Anne wanted to know. “Our fireplace is connected to the Floo Powder Network”, Oliver stated. “Oh”, Hengist said disappointed. “My parents are Muggles, and therefore use no Floo Powder.” “Oh”, Patience echoed mockingly, “then why don’t you come by train or by car? It’s easy to find, just go in the direction of Shrewsbury. By train, you’ll be fetched at the station there. By car, just go along the Severn for a few miles to come and you’ll no doubt see the church of Alberbury. I believe the Muggles also set up signs that say which village is called what.” Hengist nudged her. “Of course they did”, he chuckled.

On the journey back to London they talked over their plans for the holidays at the Woods’ in Alberbury. “Shropshire is really beautiful, and Shrewsbury is a medieval town. Did you know there was one of the battles in the war between Empress Maud and King Stephen of Blois?”, Patience asked her friends. “No. Are there any witches or wizards?”, Anne enquired. “At Shrewsbury? Certainly. There is even a magical bookshop and a sweet shop. They say that the lords of Shrewsbury, who were supporters of Maud, were wizards for they were able to flee out of the besieged castle to the Normandy while Stephen’s army was at the castle doors. They say they fled on broomsticks!”, Patience told them excitedly. “It’ll be fun visiting Shrewsbury”, Hengist decided. At Kings Cross Station, they left the Hogwarts Express. Patience drew Anne over to her parents before Anne’s father could drag her away again. “Just a second, please!”, she called over her shoulder. Anne giggled. Hengist followed the girls. “Mum, Dad, Anne is going to stay with us for the holidays, and Hengist will come too! Thank you ever so much for inviting them!” She hugged her mother and her father. Rupert smiled. “Well, we’re looking forward to having both of you with us. Anne, maybe you do want to go to your family at first?” Mr Symmons had by that time arrived, looking furious.

“Mr Symmons?”, Rupert asked friendly, extending his hand. “We hope to see Anne soon at Alberbury. When will she be able to join my daughter?” Frank looked first at Rupert, then at Anne. “What about tomorrow?”, he asked stiffly, shaking Rupert’s hand. Joan stared at Anne. “Well, dear, you are always welcome”, she warmly said. “Fine. I’ll send her over by tomorrow, then. Say goodbye, Anne!” And with that, Frank dragged Anne away. Patience only shrugged. “It’s always that way”, she sighed. “Hengist, when will you come?” “Shouldn’t we ask his parents first?”, Joan threw in laughingly. Oliver stood there, looking a bit sullen because all the attention centred on Patience. “They are muggles”, he now said. Rupert turned to his son. “Then let’s get the luggage and look for them in the station hall. I guess they will meet you there?”, he asked Hengist. Hengist nodded.

Rupert and Oliver went to fetch the luggage and were soon talking about Oliver’s school year. Joan had Bethesda in her arms and caressed the cat. “A pity she’s always at Hogwarts”, she sighed. “I wish we had a kitten at home as well.” Patience smiled. “Then why don’t you buy one? I mean, you can always have a kitten, can’t you?” “We can’t, for the neighbour’s little son, Algie, is allergic. We have an agreement with the St Jones’s that Bethesda will be kept inside most of the time. Sorry, dear.” Patience pressed her lips together. “Who are the St Jones’s?”, she asked stiffly. Hengist patted her arm sympathetically. “They are our new neighbours. Didn’t I write about them? Muggles, of course. They moved in only 6 weeks ago. Nice people, no doubt”, Joan said with a very doubting voice.

Patience smiled again. “So they are proud and arrogant?”, she concluded. “Yes”, Joan answered, grinning by now. “They have three children. Two girls and a boy, the youngest, by now only 7 years old. Algernon, they have called him, but his pet name is Algie.” “That’s a name?”, Hengist asked incredulously. Patience could have reminded him that his own name was unusual as well, but she didn’t. They had reached the station Hall, and there were the Alrets, smilingly waiting for their son to arrive. “Mum, Dad, this is my friend Patience Wood. She has invited me for the holidays”, Hengist told his parents.

“The whole holidays?”, Mr Alret asked amused. “Why not?”, Rupert retorted, raising one eyebrow. “Because we wanted to go on holiday to Guernsey”, Mr Alret explained. “But a week or so?”, Hengist pleaded. His mother laughed. “Of course! Dad is only joking! We’re only going to Guernsey for two weeks, leaving tomorrow. Then you may visit your friend!” Hengist looked extremely relieved. “How can we contact you for the way?”, Mr Alret asked Rupert. “Simply let Hengist send an owl”, Rupert said. Hengist nodded vigorously. “Wonderful!”, Patience exclaimed and hugged Hengist excitedly. “See you then in two weeks!” And the Woods left the station. “A nice friend, this Patience Wood”, Mrs Alret remarked and ruffled her son’s curls.

-THE END-

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Disclaimer: All names, characters and places are property of J.K. Rowling and Warner bros., except of those not found in the "Harry Potter" books and movies which belong to Ulrike Friedrich and Kirsten Seelbach. No financial and/or commercial gain is intended.