(All characters and locations within belong to J.K. Rowling unless otherwise stated.)

Chapter 5

 

Travels

Daniel’s voice carried through the open window to the side-garden.



Just when one thought the Ministry could not possibly make itself look worse, they continue to surprise us. While most of us thought that the Ministry could sink no lower after proving incapable of capturing the so-called ‘mass murderer’ Sirius Black, and also failing to execute a rogue hippogriff; now, even the events of 31 October 1981 are coming into question. The incompetence in handling these events is beginning to reveal the Ministry’s skeletons.  Needless to say, this particular journalist wonders just what it is the Ministry has been trying to hide for thirteen years.

Everyone knows the story of Sirius Black. You-Know-Who’s second in command, who killed twelve innocent muggles with a single curse, along with one of his childhood friends who cornered him after he was exposed when You-Know-Who fell.”


“Oh lordy,” Charlie muttered. “Where’s she going with this?”

“Shh,” Remus hushed.

Harriet bit her lip, tilting her head to listen closer. She could sense something in Daniel’s voice, but couldn’t put her finger on the emotion.


“Then, just a year ago, Sirius Black became the first prisoner to successfully escape from Azkaban prison. The only wizard to do so and avoid detection by the Dementors. He proceeded to terrorize the countryside, particularly Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He was nearly cornered, again, but managed to escape under mysterious circumstance. No doubt conveniently rescued by “Death Eater comrades” (or so the Ministry will claim and yet provide no proof for) only to turn himself in a week later.”


Daniel paused his reading and chuckled. “‘Death Eater comrades’? Dear, oh dear, they’re recruiting really young these days, aren’t they?”

“To say the least,” Remus chortled.


“Now, as any discerning citizen of this country would, this reporter finds herself having to ask: why would a man facing the Dementor’s Kiss readily turn himself over?

The roots of the ugliness go far back. All the way back to that fateful night thirteen years ago. And so we must ask ourselves: what has the Ministry been keeping from us all along? Well, as Special Correspondent, for the Daily Prophet, to the upcoming trial for Sirius Black; I, Rita Skeeter, can confirm that there are a great many things the Ministry has kept from us and covered up over the years.”


“Cover ups,” Percy interjected. “Paranoid rubbish.”

“Shh,” Mr Weasley hushed.


“Suspicions were first aroused last August, following the bombing of the Daily Prophet headquarters in Diagon Alley. The Ministry was very quick to blame the incident on Sirius Black. But, as I myself was able to uncover, the bombing was not in fact the work of Sirius Black, but that of mass murderer, Solomon Kinney. Kinney, some may recall, also conducted an even deadlier bombing the summer of 1992, when he blew up a Muggle sporting stadium, killing hundreds and severely injuring Muggle-Born witch, Holly Cambridge.”


Harriet gasped. She remembered, as if it were yesterday, how Ronnie had been so upset over the news of Holly Cambridge’s hospitalization. It was that which gave Mr Weasley the idea of flying them to Hogwarts instead of driving, resulting in their being pummelled by the Womping Willow. She also shivered at the mere memory of the bombing at Diagon Alley. That had been horrible enough, but it hadn’t killed ‘hundreds.’ She had to press herself against the Burrow to remember she was safe, and so she could focus on the next bit of the article.


“Kinney came to our country from America attempting to kidnap American refugees. Whether the bombing was in retaliation to Fudge’s refusal to hand the children over, or the children were simply an excuse to get into the country to conduct his terror, is yet unknown. Regardless, the Ministry allowed Kinney to escape and as a result Kinney killed thirty people, including children, and very nearly yours truly.

Now at the time, it was thought the Ministry pinned the blame on Sirius Black to distract from their failure with Solomon Kinney. They then focused exclusively on attempting to find Sirius Black. They even went so far as to claim that it was Kinney who helped Black escape in the first place. They also issued a proclamation permitting the Dementors of Azkaban to perform the Kiss upon Black on sight. Everything the Ministry did was to convince us all that Black was the real threat. Was this a mark of how dangerous Sirius Black is? Or, as this reporter discovered just last week, was the Ministry trying to silence Black from revealing the Ministry’s dark secret?”


“What dark secret?” Percy said, interrupting again. “All records of the trials are publicly available.”

“Yes, all records of trials are,” Daniel said, darkly.


“What secret could that be? You may wonder. Only that in the wake of You-Know-Who’s fall, the Ministry sent dozens to Azkaban merely on the suspicion of having worked with You-Know-Who, without trial.

That’s right, ladies and gentleman. Our Ministry sent dozens of its citizens to the world’s most secure prison without a trial to determine the truth of their innocence or guilt.

As one member of the Wizengamot put it in an interview under conditions of anonymity:


‘It’s a travesty of justice! Sirius Black’s case, whether he’s found innocent or guilty, will shine a very bright light on this ugly chapter in our nation’s history! Ask yourself what is more likely: Black breaking out of prison to avenge a wizard who by all counts is dead, or Black breaking out of Azkaban to clear his name and seek justice?’”


“I wonder who that could have been?” Mr Weasley asked, thoughtfully.

“No idea,” Daniel muttered.

“Knowing Skeeter, it was someone deep inside her own imagination,” Remus said darkly.


“So as we can see, clearly not all members of Magical Britain’s highest court are toeing the Ministry’s line. And who can blame them, when even the Girl Who Lived, Harriet Potter, has given testimony proclaiming Black’s innocence? In fact, it has recently been made clear in a Ministry hearing, not only was Sirius Black childhood friends with Miss Potter’s own father, but he was also made her godfather after her birth. At least according to one her friends who witnessed the events the night Sirius escaped the Dementor’s Kiss when her testimony was questioned by the Minister’s Senior Undersecretary, Dolores Umbridge.

‘Well I mean, Sirius is her godfather, isn’t he? He was right there with the Potters the whole time! What was the point of becoming a spy when the Potters would have just let him in if he knocked? Unless they made someone else their Secret-Keeper?’

Similar notions are being suggested by leaders of our educational behemoths. It is clear, whatever the verdict, that more people are aware of the Ministry’s shortcomings than it expects.

‘I know many people who seemed innocent turned out to be vile monsters in that time,’ says a senior faculty member at Rathlin School of the Arts (and Magic). ‘But it’s time we accept that such was the exception, not the rule. There are far too many inconsistencies in the Sirius Black case. His actions surrounding his break-ins at Hogwarts over the last year, for instance. But more of that will come out in the trial-proper.’”


“Crafty blighter,” Daniel said. There was another pause and Harriet wondered if Daniel was referring to Professor Sherrod Howe. Before she could muse further, Remus reopened the conversation.

“Well, I’m far from Skeeter’s biggest fan, but if there was someone to have on our side in swaying public opinion in Sirius’ favour…” Remus mused.

Charlie chuckled. “Senior faculty member at Rathlin… my foot.”

“Well, Howe does fit that description,” Mr Weasley said.

“Typical Skeeter,” Mr Weasley said. “Either way.”

“Bit more typical than usual,” Charlie said. “She’s never been a big fan of the Ministry, but…”

“By the sounds of it, Skeeter’s still smarting a bit after nearly being killed by a real mass murderer the Ministry let escape,” Remus said shrewdly.

“Pretty much,” Daniel said. “Which works for us at the moment.”

“Now, now,” Percy said. “We can’t blame the entire Ministry for the failings of one Auror.”

“The difficulty will come if she gets bored with this kind of attack,” Remus said. “She’ll change her tune in an instant if she thinks there’s more money in going against Sirius.”

Behind her, Harriet could hear the laugher of her friends. It was the Tuesday evening after Harriet’s birthday, and Ginny was teaching them a game she learned from Rayne Prismere called Capture the Flag. It was one of the reasons Harriet was under the window in the first place.

Her objective, along with Ginny, Dora, Hermione, and Luna, was to protect their flag from be taken by the boys: Fred, George, Kieran, Scott and Marcus – while also searching for and successfully taking the boy’s flag from their territory (the back garden and Quidditch paddock) to the girl’s territory (the front gardens to mid-back).  The first team to capture the other’s flag won.  

Harriet had been tasked with keeping an eye out for the boys sneaking into their territory to attempt to capture them and put them in “jail.” Jail in this game came when a player entered the other team’s territory and got tagged. Once in jail, players could be rescued by one of their own team members making it to the jail and hooking an arm in theirs. They could then walk back to their own side with immunity but could not go after the flag.

This was the reason Harriet hiding in the bushes under the kitchen window which allowed her to see people before they saw her, enabling her to make quick ambush attacks on any boys who snuck past her. And, she had to admit to herself, so she could eavesdrop on what Daniel, Mr. Weasley, Remus, Percy, and Charlie were talking about in the kitchen.

Daniel and Remus had showed up after work with the newest copy of The Daily Prophet to discuss the article with Mr Weasley. Mr and Mrs Weasley had summarily sent the kids “outside to play.”

“Hello.”

Harriet jumped. Luna was crouched next to her. Harriet hadn’t heard her approach.

“Oh, hi Luna, any sign?” Harriet asked, whispering as quietly as she could.

Luna shook her head, and whispered back. “No, Dora wants to see you. She has a plan.”

“Okay,” Harriet said and slowly the two girls snuck out of the bushes and over towards their headquarters behind the broom shed. Dora and Ginny were already there, looking grave.

“Bad news…” Dora said.

“What’s that?” Harriet asked.

“They got Hermione,” Ginny replied.

“How’d that happen?” Harriet asked.

“Sent her on a reconnaissance mission. Figured since she’s started into lacrosse she’d be a bit quicker and lighter on her feet than she usually is,” Dora grumbled.

Harriet blinked. “How do you two know about that?”

Ginny and Dora both gave Harriet the same exasperated look. “Harriet, she’s my sister, and I love her to death, but we’re not all as thick as Ronnie can be sometimes,” Ginny said.

“Hey,” Dora spat. “She’s not thick, she’s naïve.”

Harriet snorted. “You’re sticking up for Ronnie?” she asked.

“I’m not sure calling someone naïve counts as sticking up for someone,” Luna said, examining a butterfly that had settled on her knee.

“Look, that’s not important right now,” Dora said. “The fact is, we need to do something bold to get the flag. Even if she got caught, Hermione’s our fastest runner and our best planner. But I have a plan of my own. I’m really sure that the flag is hidden at the far end of the paddock. Two of us are going to need to go after Hermione, and two of us are going to need to go after the flag.”

“Why not all of us go after the flag though?” Ginny asked.

“Well, we will, but I’m trying to think like Ronnie playing Wizard Chess,” Dora said. “Remember Harriet, when we were going through the trials under the school? Ronnie sacrificed herself on the chess board.”

“I’m not sure I’m following,” Harriet said.

“Well, one of us is going to need to sacrifice herself,” Dora said. “So, I’m going to sacrifice myself.”

“What?” Ginny asked.

“You’re going to let them catch you while Harriet frees Hermione and keeps the boys distracted while Ginny and I, as the smallest and quietest, make a move on the flag. After they get back to our side, Harriet and Hermione can make their own move on the flag if Ginny and I didn’t get it back,” Luna said, having coaxed the butterfly onto her forehead.

“Uh, yes,” Dora said, blinking.

Harriet processed this. Dora was taller and a faster runner than Harriet was, and a better planner. Harriet wasn’t sure that Dora for Hermione was the best trade. There was something else she thought she could use to their advantage.

“Well, how about this… what if… okay you know what? I need to be the bait.”

“What?” Ginny asked.

“The trade. Dora, you spring Hermione, and I’ll let myself get caught.”

“Why you?” Dora asked now.

“Well, I’m—well—me,” Harriet said. “Plus you’re faster than me, Dora.”

“Hmmm… well… that’s true…” Dora contemplated.

“We don’t have time to keep thinking about this,” Ginny said. “If we don’t make our move soon, the boys will instead. And this will leave our flag completely undefended until one of you gets back with Hermione.”

“Good point, okay Harriet. You get caught and I’ll spring Hermione,” Dora agreed.

Harriet grinned. They got up and snuck to the border of the boys’ territory. As they moved closer, Harriet’s mind and imagination began to whirl as it often did. Who would catch her? Would it be Fred? She remembered the summer before last, the way he’d scooped her up so easily over his shoulder. Or maybe Kieran, who despite his leg was getting quite strong in the arms. She had a fleeting vision of Fred as a swashbuckling pirate spiriting her away. Then another of herself as a cunning thief who’d been foiled by the equally cunning detective Kieran. Finally, another mini-fantasy came to her out of the blue, a figure dark and mysterious, hooded and shadowy, grabbing her and stealing her away on unknown adventures.

Harriet shook her head. Where were those coming from? So rapidly and all so vivid to her. She could practically feel the strong hands on her arms. And she shouldn’t be thinking about Kieran like that anyway, should she? He was her friend, wasn’t he?

“Okay,” Dora said as they reached the border. “On your marks…”

“Get set,” Harriet chimed in, coming back to herself.

Ginny grinned. “Go!”

* * * *

By the following Friday, Harriet was having a hard time keeping any focus. She tried joining in games, but her enthusiasm was dwindling, even though the girls managed to win the first Capture the Flag game. Unfortunately, from Harriet’s point of view, she’d been caught by Scott instead.

Outside of games, all she could think about since Skeeter’s article came out was Sirius’ trial. Even though Remus had assured her later that things were looking up, Harriet felt so helpless and out of the loop that it was difficult to really believe any good news.

One thing that did cheer her up was when the owl post arrived that Friday with some exciting prizes for Marcus, and exciting news for the rest of them.

“I… I don’t believe it…” Marcus said as he read his letters. “I just don’t believe it!”

“Wha’s’at?” Ronnie asked through a mouthful of eggs.

“I-it’s…” Marcus held up two shiny tickets, one from each letter.

“Whoa,” Dora said leaning forward and reading them. “Australia versus Portugal and Netherlands versus Germany. Primo seats too. What are they for?”

“Because of Lockhart,” Marcus said, still staring at the letters. “For exposing the Wagga Wagga werewolf and that Dutch explorer who actually spent a year with Yetis.”

“Good on you, mate,” Kieran said smiling.

“But…” Marcus said running a hand through his hair. “It’s just a ticket for me…”

“Don’t be absurd, Marcus,” Hermione said. “You have to accept. They don’t just give those tickets out to anyone; and if anyone has something to be proud of it’s you for bringing that charlatan to justice. Besides, we’ll all be going to the final together.”

Harriet and Ronnie exchanged an ever-suffering look. Ever since the truth came out about Lockhart, Hermione had been working extra hard to cover up the fact she’d been blind to most of his failings because of his good looks.

“Congratulations, dear,” Mrs Weasley said serving Marcus another helping of eggs and bacon.

Marcus blushed but finally allowed himself a small smile.

“Well,” Mrs Weasley said, setting down the large frying pan, “Arthur and I have some other good news for you all, too.”

Mr Weasley set down his Daily Prophet and grinned. “Yes, indeed.”

“What’s that?” Ronnie asked.

“Well, all of us parents have been having a bit of a chin-wag and decided that you all should go on a bit of an adventure until the final in a couple weeks,” Mr Weasley said.

“Really?” Dora asked, interested.

“Yes, dear,” Mrs Weasley said. “So starting tomorrow, Hermione, your parents have invited you all to stay for a week.”

Hermione’s eyes went wide and excitement spread across her face. “Really? Oh goodness! I have so much to show you all! Where I grew up, where I played as a child!”

“You played?” Ronnie asked, sceptically.

Hermione glowered.

“And your mother says that she’s invited your cousin, Camille, to spend the week there as well.”

Hermione’s scowl vanished at once. “Ohmigosh, oh this is so wonderful! Oh you’ll all love Camille!”

“She’s the lacrosse player, right?” Harriet asked, giving Hermione a nudge with her foot under the table. She’d been on Hermione to finally come clean to Ronnie about her own interest in the sport since the Capture the Flag game.

“Y-yes,” Hermione said evasively, nudging Harriet back irritably.

“And after that, you’ll be going to Scott’s for the following week,” Mr Weasley said.

Scott didn’t say anything. They all turned to look at him and saw him deeply engrossed in a letter.

“Scott?” Ginny asked.

“Hm?” he asked looking up.

“How’s Atsuko?” Dora asked in a singsong.

“Oh, uh yeah,” he muttered, going bright red. “She’s fine. Wondering how the trial’s going.”

Harriet smiled a little. As with George and Erica now, and Percy and Penelope two summers ago, hardly a day had gone by this summer without Scott either receiving or sending a letter to Atsuko. Harriet had always thought there was something between Scott and Hermione. However, that changed a bit after Harriet had asked Kieran about it in private shortly after arriving at the Burrow. Kieran reminded Harriet that while Scott was fully engrossed in crazy ideas (at the time) about Sirius’ innocence, it had been Atsuko who stuck by Scott the whole time, believed him when she had no real reason to, and helped him with his own mini-investigation when no one else would.

“Well dear,” Mrs Weasley said. “After this coming week at Hermione’s home, the week after you’ll all be going back to your home.”

“Oh great,” Scott said, smiling broadly now. “Only Harriet’s gotten to see it besides Kieran!”

Mr Weasley chuckled. “And apparently you will be having several other ‘guests’ as well,” he said.

“I’m sorry?” Scott asked, curiously.

“Well, apparently now that Sirius is no longer a threat, the Ministry has returned its focus to Kinney, and decided that it’s no longer safe for the American students he was after to all be concentrated in one place, even if that one place is Hogwarts. So they’ve spread them out around the country for safety during the summer holidays,” Mr Weasley explained.

“Your parents agreed to take on ten, given the size of your home,” Mrs Weasley said. “Maybe some of them are your friends?”

Mrs Weasley picked up another letter and read. “Alee Jameson.”

Everyone stared.

“Alee Jameson, who’s that?” Dora asked.

“No idea,” Kieran said.

“Wasn’t there a Nate Jameson? In Hufflepuff?” Hermione asked.

“Oh yeah,” Scott said. “Wonder if he has a little sister.”

Mrs Weasley continued. “Rachel Kane.”

“Omigosh, Rachel!” Hermione squealed in delight.

“Jackson Lee.”

“Jackson!” Kieran and Marcus said, exchanging a high-five.

“Sisters it seems, Taylor and Toni Middleton.”

“Oh yeah, Toni’s in my house, a year behind us,” Scott said. “Her sister’s in Hufflepuff a year ahead of us.”

“Isn’t Toni the one that boy Hyland, who works with Daniel, fancies?” Hermione asked.

“Yeah, that’s her,” Scott said.

“Ari Miller.”

“She’s another Hufflepuff,” Kieran said.

“Erica Quoy,” Mrs Weasley said giving George a knowing smile.

“Erica!” Harriet said excitedly.

There was a spluttering as George choked on a piece of bacon. Fred slapped him hard on the back.

“Yes, and the McIntyres say you’re invited for a day to take Erica into the village for a date,” Mrs Weasley said before her eyebrows furrowed. “But only for the day, George.”

“Yeah, yeah,” George muttered, ignoring his mother’s stern look.

“Now, Molly,” Mr Weasley said.

Mrs Weasley returned her attention to the letter, ignoring Mr Weasley in turn.  “Peyton Shane.”

“That’ll be interesting,” Marcus said.

“She was the one who made us “honorary refugees,” right?” Dora asked.

“Yeah, that’s her,” Kieran confirmed. “She always seemed a bit—”

“Prickly,” Dora said.

“Honorary refugees?” Ginny asked.

Harriet shifted uncomfortably. The topic of Ginny’s first year at Hogwarts was never a comfortable one.

“Yeah, for um… stopping Riddle and the Basilisk and clearing their names…” Harriet said awkwardly.

“Oh…” Ginny said, poking at her eggs distractedly.

“Danielle Waterman.”

The group all gave each other very uncomfortable looks at this as another awkward memory of their second year came back. Danielle had been one of the Slytherin girls they had attempted to impersonate to interrogate Draco Malfoy using Polyjuice Potion. By an unfortunate circumstance, their inside person, Kenley Tyler, had accidentally taken a hair from Danielle’s cat, not Danielle herself, as a result Hermione had spent several weeks in the hospital wing having been turned into half a cat. She’d blamed Kenley for the incident for weeks until Kenley, and eventually Hermione herself, were petrified.

“Kelly Werner.”

Ronnie groaned at this name.

“Oh hush, you love playing Wizard Chess with her,” Hermione chastened, but smiled.

“Yeah…” Ronnie mumbled but smiled.

“Well still, that’ll be lots of fun, too,” Hermione said cheerfully.

“Yeah…” Ginny muttered.

“Oh yes, Ginny dear,” Mrs Weasley said smiling. “I should also mention that Mr Lovegood generously offered for you to go spend next week at his home with Luna, and then the following week Luna will be coming to stay with us.” Ginny beamed instantly.

* * * *

They were half-way into their first day at Hermione’s. Harriet quite liked Hermione’s house, despite how similar it looked to the Dursley’s. Harriet also found she was growing fond of Mr and Mrs Granger. Harriet had to remind herself, that aside from looks it was the feel of a home that was most important, and this certainly didn’t feel like the Dursley’s at all.

 This was mostly because everyone smiled all the time. It was also a bit of an adventure, as Mrs Weasley had said, because instead of sleeping indoors, everyone was camped out in two muggle tents in the back garden. They spent the first night sitting around a torch telling scary stories.

Hermione’s bedroom was not what Harriet had expected from what she knew of Hermione at Hogwarts. She had somehow expected Hermione’s room to be spotless and organized. The main colour scheme was light blue walls with purple décor. She had several paintings of flowers and a single-bed with light-blue bedspread. She had a desk right under the window and several bookshelves full of both muggle and magical books.

What caught Harriet’s attention most was the poster board of photographs. Some were magical, moving pictures of all of them at Hogwarts. But others were stationary, muggle pictures of Hermione before Hogwarts. Almost all of these featured Hermione and a girl Harriet had never seen before. The girl was very pretty for the ages the two were in the photographs, and somehow even in the pictures of her with missing baby teeth, the other girl’s smiles seemed warm and radiant. Harriet puzzled as she noted that the pictures had years on them, and there were no pictures of Hermione and the other girl more recent than nineteen eighty-nine, two years before they had started at Hogwarts.

“Who’s this?” Harriet asked.

“Oh,” Hermione said. “That’s my old friend, Fern.”

Hermione crossed over from where she’d been showing Scott something to look at the board with Harriet. “She was my best friend until we were nine, and then she moved away to Paris with her mum.”

Harriet nodded. Something about the pained look on Hermione’s face told her that it probably wasn’t a good idea to push the subject further.

“Everyone ready?” Mr Granger called from down the stairs. “Camille’s flight’s due in an hour.”

They headed down and piled into the van Mr Granger had rented for the week. Hermione seemed as though she could barely contain her excitement the whole way. Now as they waited outside the terminal, Hermione was pacing back and forth, flustered. Camille’s flight was due to arrive any minute. Security was everywhere. According to Mr Granger, only last March, several bombs had gone off on one of the airport’s runways, but no one had been hurt.

“It’s going to be fine,” Dora said.

“I know but…” Hermione paced more. She froze looking around as the large group of passengers came walking towards them and gasped. “She’s here!”

Everyone looked around and Hermione hurried off excitedly into the group. She emerged a moment later, beaming and laughing, walking arm in arm with another girl.

Harriet blinked twice. If she didn’t know better, there were two Hermione’s walking towards them. One with bushy hair, prominent front teeth, and dressed casually in a black shirt and jeans. The second had her hair done in a short pixie cut, and was wearing a comfortable looking short-sleeved eyelet top and lavender jeans. By the looks on everyone’s faces, Harriet wasn’t the only one who was stunned at the resemblance.

“Bonjour!” Camille said cheerfully as she and Hermione reached the group.

“H-Hi,” Marcus said, still a bit transfixed. Kieran elbowed him.

Mr and Mrs Granger hugged Camille before making introductions. Harriet was slowly grounded by the realization that however much Camille looked like Hermione, she certainly did not act like her. She was much more outgoing, and Harriet flushed, when in greeting Camille leaned in and touched a cheek to each of Harriet’s and gave the air a little kiss with each touch. Harriet noted that her accent was not as thick as Mr Flamel’s.

“So, you all go to Hogwarts?” she asked, smiling as they moved to the cars.

“Oui,” Dora replied. “Nous sommes en quatrième année.”

Camille looked very excited. “Tu parles français?”

“Uh, what?” Ronnie asked.

Dora rolled her eyes. “I said we’re in our fourth year.”

“Oh,” Ronnie muttered, then tilted her head. “Wait, when did you learn French?”

Dora gave Ronnie an exasperated look. “My dad is French!”

“Oh yeah,” Ronnie said looking very embarrassed now.

“You are Ronnie, non?” Camille asked. “You are the one who enjoys football? Hermione writes about you all the time.”

“Oh, y-yeah,” Ronnie replied. “This is my third year since I started.”

“It is a wonderful sport. Too bad the magical world is not more open to Muggle sport.”

“Do you play?” Marcus asked, interested.

“Non. Well, as a little girl I did play, but now in the summers I play lacrosse. You?”

“Oh yeah,” he said smiling. “In fact, I’m leading a sort of initiative at our school to get Muggle sports like football and lacrosse into Hogwarts. Just Quidditch is a bit boring isn’t it?”

“Hey!” Harriet and Dora spat.

Marcus rolled his eyes. “I like Quidditch, I just like playing other sports more.”

Ronnie paused and looked at Hermione. “Weren’t you saying something about lacrosse last year?”

“Oh, y-yeah,” Hermione said, awkwardly.

“Hmmm, imagine that,” Camille said, giving Hermione a knowing glance.

* * * *

“So, this is lacrosse?” Ronnie asked as they sat in the small metal bleachers next to the pitch.

It was halfway through their week at Hermione’s. Camille had seen an advertisement for a local lacrosse meet-up and fun match at a nearby park and asked if they would like to go and see what the sport was all about. Everyone agreed, with the exception of Marcus, who had gone with his dad to see the first of the two matches he’d been invited to.

“Why did no one tell me about this sport before?” Dora asked as the girls stretched and practiced getting ready for the match to commence.

Kieran chuckled and bumped Dora’s shoulder. Dora rolled her eyes and bumped his back.

“Where’s Hermione?” Ronnie asked.

“Uh, said she had to help Camille change,” Scott said, evasively.

Ronnie raised an eyebrow. “What’s so involved about those kits you need help getting into them?”

Dora gave Harriet a little look. She tossed her shoulder length hair and gave Harriet a little smile as she leaned back on the bench behind them and stretched out her legs on the bench in front of them.

“Whatcha think? Could I pull off one of those kits?” Dora asked Harriet, nodding to the girls on the pitch.

As it was an informal match, there was no real uniformity to the kits. The general theme was sleeveless tops, athletic skorts of varying styles and colours, athletic socks, and trainers.

Harriet looked Dora up and down and tried to imagine her in such an outfit. However, the way Dora was reclining, her legs stretched out straight in front of her and held together and her arms behind her back, put Harriet in mind of something else. Unbidden, she imagined ropes around Dora’s hands, ankles, and knees, and a tight band of cloth over her mouth. Harriet blinked and felt herself blush furiously in spite of her best efforts. She suddenly felt, for want of a better word, very odd all over.

“Y-yeah, I think so,” Harriet said.

Dora’s grin widened and she turned her attention back to the pitch. Ronnie, meanwhile, was looking at the pitch with mounting dislike.

“Hmph, you playing a sport like that? Sure your daddy would let you play rough and tumble muggle sports? Might put a hair out of place,” she said, with more than a hint of bitterness in her tone.

Dora turned and looked at Ronnie. For the first time ever that Harriet could remember, Dora looked genuinely speechless.

Dora opened her mouth to retort, but didn’t get a chance.  Kieran pointed and distracted everyone. “Here comes Camille, and Hermione.”

Everyone looked. Camille and Hermione were walking out onto the pitch, both wearing matching lacrosse kits and carrying sticks. Harriet stole a glance at Ronnie. Ronnie looked as though someone had punched her.

“Hermione’s… playing?” she asked.

“Well yeah,” Dora snapped, bitterly. “Last one crosses the finish line there.”

Ronnie winced and looked uncharacteristically ashamed of herself. Kieran and Harriet both scowled at Dora.

“Dora!” Harriet snapped and gave Dora’s shoulder a little backhand.

Dora finally looked a little apologetic and grimaced.

“Sorry, Ronnie,” she said.

Ronnie looked as though she was going to say something but instead sighed and returned her attention to the pitch, watching Camille and Hermione begin to practice.

“She’s good…” Ronnie said quietly as the two practiced.

“Yeah, she is,” Scott said, giving Ronnie a sympathetic look.

Harriet didn’t say anything. The thoughts that had gone through her mind after Dora had asked her how she’d look in a lacrosse kit were still there, and she was trying desperately to push them out. If for nothing else than to make the odd sensation that seemed to flow from her middle to her knees and back go away.

“How come she never told me?” Ronnie asked. She looked around the group. “She clearly told all of you.”

Harriet sighed and finally spoke up. “She didn’t want you to know because she thought you’d make fun of her.”

“Oh…” Ronnie said.

Harriet grimaced, feeling even worse now for making Ronnie feel worse.

“I think they’re about to start,” Kieran said.

The girls were all heading over to the referees who were handing out coloured mesh tops. Hermione and Camille both came away with red tops, the other team in yellow.

“Hah, Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff,” Scott pointed out.

Harriet and Kieran laughed. Even Dora and Ronnie broke little smiles. They settled in to watch as the referee finally blew the whistle.

* * * *

Thursday and Friday were quite pleasant, except for Dora and Ronnie who were still acting very cool towards each other. Hermione didn’t seem to notice. Ronnie had been quite complimentary to her on her talents at lacrosse and of lacrosse in general, which put Hermione in a very good mood.

Marcus returned late Thursday night. Now it was Friday afternoon and they were lounging in the back garden, watching clouds pass over head while Marcus filled them in. It made Harriet even more excited than she already was for the final match on the twenty-second.

“Yeah, Australia still lost, but I’m more excited for the Netherlands match next week,” he said smiling.

“Family heritage thing?” Dora asked.

“Only a little,” Marcus chuckled.

“Mmmmm we should get our swimsuits out,” Dora said as a warm ray of sunshine fell over them.

“Ohhhh d’accord,” Camille said.

“Ugh, I’d burn in an instant,” Ronnie said. “I’m probably sunburned already…”

“Well, some of us didn’t have swimsuits to pack,” Harriet admitted awkwardly.

“I have a couple you could borrow,” Hermione said.

“A couple?” Ronnie laughed.

Hermione rolled her eyes. Just then, there was a soft chiming noise.

“I think that was your doorbell,” Scott said, propping himself up on his elbows.

“Strange…” Hermione said, nervously. They were home alone at the moment, Mr and Mrs Granger were at work.

There was another soft chime, and then another.

“Maybe it’s a package…?” Kieran asked.

They slowly got up. The bell rang a fourth time. “Someone’s kinda insistent,” Kieran said.

“Well, let’s all go as a group,” Dora said. “And we all have our wands. If it’s a burglar or something there are provisions in the restrictions on underage magic or whatever for using magic if we’re in danger.”

“Good point,” Marcus said.

They all drew their wands and headed into the house. The doorbell rang again as Marcus moved into the sitting room and peeked out the window which afforded a clear view of the front door.

“It’s a girl… looks our age…” he trailed off. “Wow…”

“What?” Hermione asked.

Hermione stepped up behind Marcus and peeked out too. She gasped and actually dropped her wand before she spun and ran to the front door. She fumbled with the locks in her haste and flung the door open.

“Fern?!” Harriet heard Hermione ask from the doorway.

“H-hi,” Harriet heard the new-comer reply.

Harriet stepped back into the entry way. She saw at once why Marcus had said “wow.” The girl was very pretty, despite seeming a bit dishevelled. Her hair was dark brown, very straight, cut in a short bob with a thick row of fringe that came down to her eyebrows. Her eyes were blue, she had a very straight, button nose, and her lips seemed naturally disposed to smile.

The rest of the girl was very thin, and she was dressed in a silky white blouse, black flared skirt that looked to be leather and silver high heeled sandals. Harriet blinked. She didn’t know much, but that certainly didn’t seem an outfit a girl their age just walked around in. Harriet glanced at the rest. Everyone else looked just as dumbfounded as Harriet felt, with the exception of Kieran. While everyone else was taking in the girl’s clothes and figure, Kieran was looking her right in the eyes as though she was a ghost.

“Fern…” Hermione said. “What… what are you doing here…? Why are you…?”

It clicked to Harriet now. This must be Fern, Hermione’s long lost best friend.

Fern smiled. “Well, I was back in town visiting dad and decided to see if you still lived here.”

“Dressed like that?” Ronnie asked.

Fern looked down at herself. “Oh yeah, I just got in from the plane and dropped my stuff off at the house and hurried over.”

Fern looked around the street and smiled. “Has it only been five years…?”

Scott, Marcus, Harriet, and Dora all exchanged a look. There was clearly something fishy about Fern’s story, but Harriet couldn’t put her finger on it. Hermione however didn’t seem to notice. Instead, she rushed forward and hugged Fern as tightly as she could.

“I… I thought I’d never see you again,” Hermione said softly, still sounding shocked.

“Me… me either…” Fern said and finally hugged Hermione back. Fern’s composure broke a little and she hugged Hermione tighter.

“Maybe… maybe we should give you two a moment?” Dora suggested.

“Uh, good idea,” Marcus said.

The rest of the group all turned to make their way back out into the garden, except Kieran. He was still looking at Fern as though he’d been turned to stone.

Scott grabbed Kieran’s arm and began pulling him away. Kieran came to his senses and suddenly looked quite embarrassed as he followed the rest.

“Are you alright, mate?” Marcus asked Kieran, studying him closely.

“I’ve seen her before… I know it… but I can’t think of where!” Kieran said. Harriet was now reminded of Scott’s manic moments while trying to figure out the truth behind Sirius’ actions the previous year.

“Who the hell is she?” Dora asked, looking sceptical. “Just shows up out of the blue with that story?”

“Well,” Harriet said, remembering. “Hermione said earlier this week that she and Fern were friends until they were nine, and then Fern moved away to Paris with her mum.”

“Only her mum?” Marcus asked.

“I think so.”

“But, she’s here, visiting her dad?” Marcus was looking back at the house, concerned.

“What is it?” Harriet asked.

“Guys, I don’t think she’s visiting her dad,” Marcus said shrewdly. “I think she ran away…”

“From Paris?” Dora asked, sceptically.

“She is old enough to fly on her own,” Camille chimed in. “I did.”

Camille hugged her chest, rubbing her upper arms. “Hermione used to write about Fern all the time when we were little and we would send each other letters. They were inseparable. It tore Hermione up inside when Fern had to leave. None of her letters were the same again until…” Camille trailed off, giving them all a little smile. “Until she met you.”

They sat on the big blanket. It was then that Scott paused and lifted up his wand.

“Harriet?”

“Yeah?”

“How old was Fern when she moved away, did Hermione say?”

“Um… nine I think?”

Scott didn’t answer right away.

“Why?” Dora asked.

“Did Hermione ever say anything about Fern being—you know—magical?”

“I don’t think so…” Harriet said. “She’s never really mentioned her at all until now.”

“No… that’s weird…” Ronnie said.

“Non, she never said anything to me about it,” Camille said.

Scott contemplated more. “I… I think Fern’s a witch.”

“What makes you think that?” Kieran asked.

“Who else would see a bunch of people meeting her at the door all holding strange looking wooden sticks and not question it at all?”

“Well… I do not know about that. But maybe we should probably put them all away just in case?” Camille said cautiously.

There was general murmurs of assent and everyone stuck their wands back in their pockets. Harriet was suddenly feeling worried. If Fern was a muggle, and she discovered their wands, that would be a breach of the Statute of Secrecy. That would mean the Ministry would turn up. And if the Ministry turned up, they would probably turn Fern over.

The door to the house finally opened and Hermione and Fern came out. Harriet noted that Fern was now wearing one of Hermione’s t-shirts and a pair of sweatpants. She had also washed off a great deal of make-up and eye-liner, and now looked much more like a normal, teenage girl. In fact she seemed much more at ease dressed like this than before.

“Sorry for barging in on everyone like that,” Fern said.

“It’s okay,” Marcus said.

“So, Fern, these are my friends from school, who’re visiting for the summer, plus my cousin Camille,” Hermione said smiling.

Fern smiled more as she looked at Camille.

“Nice to meet you finally,” Fern said.

“You as well,” Camille replied cheerfully.

“Hermione used to talk about you all the time, how jealous she was that you were living in France.”

Camille laughed. “Oh, did she?” she asked giving Hermione another sly look.

Hermione blushed and stuck out her tongue at Camille.

“Well, you were the one who I always got to hear about in every letter,” Camille said. “So there is that.”

“And this is Kieran O’Brien, Scott McIntyre, Marcus Van Der Lakk, Dora Flamel, Ronnie Weasley, and Harriet Potter.”

It happened in an instant. Harriet, who was used to this, spotted it at once. For the briefest of moments, Fern’s eyes widened at the sound of Harriet’s name. The clear sign of recognition. The little look that everyone in the magical world got when they heard Harriet’s name. So it seemed Scott was on to something. No Muggle who Harriet had ever met had that same look.

“Nice to meet you all,” Fern said. She now sounded totally casual. “I’m Fern, Fern Mantovani.”

“Nice to meet you too, Fern,” Ronnie said.

“Just wait till Mum and Dad get home,” Hermione said, beaming.

“Oh, how soon will they be home?” Fern asked.

“Oh another hour or so,” Hermione said.

“Ah, okay,” Fern said. “I mean I don’t want to impose.”

“Oh nonsense,” Hermione said. “They’ll love to see you again!”

“Well, I did miss them a lot too,” Fern said brushing back some of her hair.

“So how come you moved to Paris?” Ronnie asked.

“Mum’s work,” Fern said quickly. “She’s a fashion consultant.”

“Fashion consultant?” Ronnie asked.

“Yeah, she goes along to photo-shoots, makes sure the photographers and such are doing their job, makes sure the costuming is correct, stuff like that.”

“That sounds more like an agent,” Dora said, her eyebrows raised.

“Oh, yeah, well they’re not totally dissimilar,” Fern said quickly.

“So where do you go to school?” Marcus asked.

“Oh, just a little arts school,” Fern said. She started to explain more when there was the sound of someone calling Hermione’s name.

“Oh, sounds like Mum’s home early!” Hermione said.

She got up eagerly and was heading up towards the house when Hermione’s mother appeared in the doorway. She had a very grim expression on her face.

“Mum?” Hermione asked. “Something wrong?”

Mrs Granger sighed. “Oh Hermione dear, it’s about your old friend, Fern.”

“What?” Hermione asked.

Harriet and the rest turned and looked at Fern, who had a look of horror on her face.

“We just had a call from her mother. Apparently Fern has gone missing,” Mrs Granger said. “Her mother says that Fern was supposed to be in London for a photo-shoot this weekend but apparently Fern stole the tickets and her mother’s credit card and ran away to the airport. They don’t know if her father’s involved yet but the police have been to his house and said there was no sign of her being there.”

“…Missing…” Hermione said.

Everyone was continuing to stare at Fern. Fern’s face was frozen, but her whole body was trembling. “Yes, so her mother called us just in case…”

Mrs Granger trailed off as she finally saw Fern in their midst.

“Fern!” Mrs Granger exclaimed hurrying over. “What on earth are you doing here?! Do you have any idea how worried your mother is?”

Fern didn’t respond. She was trembling head to toe now, hugging her legs tight to her chest.

“…Fern…?” Mrs Granger asked, her expression was softening rapidly. “Fern, sweetie, what’s wrong?”

“Can’t go back,” Fern said shaking her head. “Can’t… not going…”

“But, Fern dear, it’s your mother…”

“Don’t care. Not going,” Fern said, shaking her head more. She was starting to rock.

Mrs Granger knelt and took Fern’s hands. “Come on, love. Let’s… let’s get you inside and get you some tea, okay?”

“Can’t take it anymore,” Fern said. She choked back a sob.

Mrs Granger pulled Fern up to her feet. Fern didn’t resist, but she didn’t seem like she was just going along with it either.

“I’m not her stupid doll,” Fern said as Mrs Granger guided Fern towards the house.

She didn’t seem to be speaking to anyone in particular, it was as though all the thoughts in her head were tumbling out of her mouth at once. Her voice had regressed too by the sound of it. Her voice had become higher pitched and nasally. If Harriet hadn’t seen Fern speaking, she would have sworn it was an eight or nine year old girl speaking instead.

“Keep your stupid poise… your stupid make-up and your stupid stories about your stupid missed stupid oppor-stupid-tunities…”

“It’s okay dear,” Mrs Granger kept saying, holding Fern tight to her side.

Hermione meanwhile, stood frozen in place as she watched her mother guide her childhood best friend up the stairs and back into the house.

“Hermione…?” Marcus asked.

Hermione didn’t move.

“Hermione…?” Ronnie asked now.

Harriet got up and moved towards her friend. Hermione didn’t turn, even when Harriet put a hand on her shoulder. Harriet stepped in front of Hermione and was shocked at what she saw. Hermione’s face wasn’t shocked, or sad, as Harriet expected. Instead, her face was full of an anger that Harriet had never seen before.

“Hermione?” Harriet asked.

Hermione didn’t look at her but her hands clenched into fists. “I’ll get her for this… I’ll get her…”

“Get who?” Dora asked.

Hermione snorted with anger. “Her. She took Fern away. I’ll get her mother for this… if it’s the last thing I do… She’ll pay for what she’s done to my friend…”