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Anaticula Pt 17

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The dim Hospital Wing sat on the other side of your enchanted doorway that you passed into giving the Professors a weak grin in their relieved exhales seeing you safely back again under their watch. Wetting your lips you paused peering up at Albus drawing your hand from your jean pocket to pass him the ruby awkwardly cut stone, “I, um, this was in my pocket, when I woke up.”

Albus grinned accepting the stone, “Thank you. Nicholas will be grateful it was not stolen.”

You nodded, taking a faltering step before saying, “Hagrid didn’t mean for anyone to get past Fluffy.”

Albus’ brows rose then he nodded, “Of course not. I would never imagine blaming Hagrid for Fluffy being bested.” You nodded again and he continued seeing the doubt in your eyes, “Riddle managed to gain knowledge on a great deal of our defenses this year. I will see to it Hagrid is free of any blame. There will be no scapegoats for this attack.”

Steadily after your turn you made your way to your empty bed where Sirius laid out holding you tightly after you had taken the Dreamless Sleep Draught making you melt across his chest and side in a deep sleep. In your heavy drop into sleep Quirrell’s body was moved in an enchanted casket for transport to secure the curse with his body steadily turning to ash inside.

“What happened down in the dungeons between you and Professor Quirrell is a complete secret, so, naturally, the whole school knows.” Albus quipped out stirring you to roll onto your back to find Severus blowing onto a steaming bowl of soup he was stirring for you.

Inching up he gave you a soft grin, “Sirius and Regulus are off in Hogsmeade gathering more treats for you all. Plus, new shipment of socks last week,”

“Ooh.” He chuckled as you sat up against your pillows accepting the bowl from him after brushing your black curls from your face, “Any news on detention for me yet?”

Snape chuckled shaking his head, “No. In fact you were awarded 150 points collectively from the Professors with fifty each for the twins and Cedric. Ronald received 50, Hermione as well with 60 for Neville for trying to attack Quirrell and ten for Harry.” Your brow inched up as he added, “For being kidnapped, I suppose.”

Giggling softly you asked, “Why those challenges?”

Snape grinned, “When we heard from you who was in the castle we had to grant you a personalized path to the mirror. Flitwick, I believe, took the most liberty.”

“Oh yes, waltzing and singing no doubt it would have been funnier to have Riddle take that path and give me the chess match.”

Making him chuckle again, “True.”

Not a few moments later Neville woke and moved to your bed to sit by you, accepting your hug and peck on the forehead as he delved into his night as Hermione finished her own bowl of soup across from you chatting with the twins and Percy through Cedric’s being roped into another chess battle with Ron on your right.

The start of dinner found you freed into the gossiping populous again for the brief eulogy for Quirrell, after which Dumbledore declared the quarter mark exams canceled earning groans from a select few in the hall including you, the twins, Hermione and Percy while the others cheered. The unexpected death freed up one thing however, in the Hospital Wing you had sent word to the Unicorn herd through Idris, who gladly led them back into the forest calming them that the threat was gone.

Thankfully you had the weekend to recover, with Hagrid especially inviting you all to tea in his hut to thank you for your words to Albus; Snape and Barty as well in an approved dinner at the Hog’s Head in Hogsmeade with pre baked desserts for you as they listened to your worries and understandable bad dreams.

But in the end of the two days you all were heading back into the courses again with Dumbledore heading your double DA courses he once again assigned to each of you like the year before.

Wednesday rolled around and marked Halloween, meaning the halls were filled with glowing pumpkins and the usual decorations. Though at the reminder of the loss of your family on top of Quirrell you weren’t able to force out a usual festive tinge to your hair without a hair dying potion shifting your hair to a pale peach. Candy and treats filled your evening easing your crash for a nap before your Astronomy class.

News of what had happened rippled through the Wizarding world, all mainly argued by Fudge who still held to the notion that Riddle was dead. Though through it all you were calmed mainly at the fact that Opal and Norberta were getting along swimmingly with the latter having grown several pounds and nearly a foot already in length and height. That with an added bonus that Tulip was free to wander the grounds once again after she had shed her last skin completely finally greatly easing her mood.

Down in the Chamber you carefully eyed the skin Tulip agreed for you to take out so she wouldn’t have to shred it herself. Shrinking it down you eased it inside a charmed glass jar. Once you had checked on the potions brewing in your office you collected your latest batch for your wolfsbane customers then went upstairs to send the vial and a copy of Cedric’s story about your time with the Chimera off to Newt after reading his latest letter to you checking to see if you were ok.

Another trip to Hogsmeade came at the end of November just a week ahead of your first Quidditch match, which along with your tutoring lessons with the first years had certainly helped to bring you back to yourself at the extra practices you were able to sneak in with late practices at your pitch at home. A single awkward gust of wind slamming Cedric into Cho’s lap after his having caught the snitch granted him the ego boost to flounder his way into asking her out to the Hogsmeade trip coming up the next week.

Five full days of awkward blushing grins and not so subtle stares at you each time you came to join them with the twins finally snapped the sweet Ravenclaw’s nerve. All in your latest trip up to the Ravenclaw dorm to help Draco with his latest assignment for extra credit in History of Magic after having gotten a lower score than he wanted in the latest exam. Coincidentally your cousin shared the dorm with Cho and a couple seventh years, the third of which had taken up the Head girl dorm for extra privacy.

Pausing in the doorway in her class break Cho wet her lips spotting you at Draco’s desk built into the wall by his bed in a setup similar to yours. Straight to her desk she moved to set her bag down then awkwardly inched closer to your side until you tilted your head back flashing her a grin. “Hi Cho. Oh, Cedric was wondering if I could subtly learn from Draco what color scarf you were going to wear for Hogsmeade.”

“Oh, um. I suppose my house scarf.”

You nodded with a chuckle, “Then he will choose his accordingly.” On a stool she drew over she gained another grin from you saying, “Did you have a color choice in mind for him?”

Draco beside you brought out another book to add a quote from it saying, “She thinks you like Cedric.” Your brows inched up as her mouth dropped open looking at Draco, “But she didn’t know how to ask.”

An awkward giggle left you and you caught her eye as she blushed closing her mouth to hear you say, “Um, I mean, he’s not, bad looking. More like my brother though, we share a dorm, and he’s crazy about you, so if that’s all you’re worried about please don’t be. He’s one of my first best friends outside our jumbled family, so ya, I’ve got a soft spot for him but nothing to worry you about. All family, besides, we haven’t fully examined my family tree, we might be related.”

Her grin eased out and she nodded eyeing the books asking Draco, “Project for Binns?”

Draco nodded, “I’m trying to get the dimensions for the Whispstick Colony for a model. I heard he enjoys a good model to add to his collection. Sometimes even more than essays.”

Cho drew in a breath, “You know, there’s an old bound set of blueprints that might include that in the library.” At that you all stood and made your way down to the library. There Draco was thrilled to find just what he needed so he could race back up to his dorm for a pop up work station Regulus had sent him inside a suitcase he had found and gifted to Draco in one of the rooms of your house stocked with all the supplies he needed for his model crafting hobby he had gotten into over the summer with Neville.

Adorably enough in your Hogsmeade trip with the twins and Professors you kept sneaking glances at the new lovebirds eventually as you had bet money on made their way into the pink painted tea house full of couples soon joined by the timid pair enjoying their first date, soon edging their way to a first kiss. Lunch after at the castle had Cedric over at her table with Draco claiming the bare spot between you showing you the progress picture of his project so far after having taken a picture of the couple for his house paper’s gossip column he was helping to fuel for extra credit points.

The project once completed just in time for the last week of classes secured him a solid O for the semester matching his straight O’s for the rest of his classes while you managed your minefield of an exam schedule for each of your teachers to test your abilities. None of whom were stunned to find you and the twins keeping up your solid O average while Percy took his trio of E’s on his practice OWLS filling up the final week right up until the day before you rode home.

Eagerly Draco packed and waited, soon to be joined by Hermione and your cousins and Ron you all led out to the front hall to make the walk to the Thestral drawn carriages heading out to Hogsmeade station. Drowsily you laid out across the booths with the twins as Cedric and Cho shared the car with her friends behind you chatting away letting you sleep off your late night with Hagrid consoling him when Filch had informed Dumbledore of his secret pet.

A late night sneak mission from two of Charlie’s two best dragon ground buddies came out to fetch Norberta through the enchanted doorway to silence any worries about her being taken by the Ministry. The effect of the separation of Hagrid and Opal from their little friend eased only by the fact they were both spending the holidays with you and the Weasley brood, minus Molly and Arthur who had gone to spend Christmas with at his first year away.

Fully charged with Ginny’s care, who was elated to be with you all again and to hear what you all had faced this semester. The station however brought an unexpected surprise, a house elf with a quirky smile stood at Regulus’ side drawing his gaze to him until you showed up and he let out an eager squeak. Inching closer to Draco you watched your cousin look to the Elf moving to claim his trunk, “Allow me Master Draco. Mistress Malfoy transferred me to your possession.”

Those words froze the teen along with Hermione who looked at him asking, “Possession?”

Gently George nudged her forward mumbling, “Ixnay on the ossessionpay in the station.”

Your arm circled Draco’s shoulders as he whispered to you, “Why would Mom send me Dobby?”

“Um, maybe extra protection.”

Draco peered up at you, “Any extra suits? I don’t want him to think I’ll treat him how Dad does.”

Leaning in to kiss the top of his head you replied, “We’ll see what we have at home.”

His arm eased around your middle for the walk through the King’s Cross station beside Regulus. Your trunks added to an enchanted bag on his hip easing your stroll out through the streets to an empty alleyway where you eyed the Knight bus driving up after Regulus raised his wand into the air. Your entire group filled the lower floors free selection of armchairs that skidded and slid around the floor until you came to a stop a few blocks away from the Grimmauld Place entrance.

Fully decked out with the holiday décor you eyed K in his usual greeting for you only to look down at Dobby in his anxious path inside after Draco. A grin eased onto your face saying to K, “Draco’s parents sent Dobby to help take care of him for some reason.”

K nodded eyeing Dobby’s pillow case with a disapproving scowl before saying to him, “I will show you Master Draco’s bedroom.”

Dobby trotted after K and you glanced at the twins in front of Barty who tagged along as you said, “We should probably find Dobby some clothes before K throws a fit.”

Barty chuckled as George stated, “He does have standards from you.” You giggled guiding them up to the attic, where Barty’s lips parted eyeing the seemingly endless supply of clothes rack you had organized years ago.

“Okay, Malfoy crest or Black crest?”

Draco, “I think Black crest would be best. So dad can’t claim him later.”

You nodded, “Good choice.” Nipping at your lip you moved to the childrens racks where you found a vest and short set in a similar cut but different color to K’s with a short sleeve shirt underneath in festive silver and blue with snowflakes stitched across the vest. Shrinking it just a tad you passed it over to Draco, who hurried downstairs to go and find his new house elf.

In his room he located the pair of elves who eyed the boy, K, who grinned seeing what he was holding upholding the new tradition for the Black family. Nearing Draco Dobby asked, “Does Master Draco wish for Dobby to wash this suit for him?”

Draco shook his head, “No. It is yours.” Dobby’s mouth fell open, “If you would still like to look after me I wouldn’t want you wearing a pillowcase. You wouldn’t be a servant anymore, just like K. You are free to go if you wish, but if you stay these are for you.”

Dobby cradled the clothes and teary eyed started bouncing up and down elatedly cheering, “Dobby is free! Dobby is free!” When he calmed a few moments later he neared Draco again, “Thank you! Master has given Dobby a fine suit to wear. Dobby will wear it proudly and serve Master well.”

Draco nodded then looked to K, “You do get a salary, correct?”

K nodded, “Yes, Mistress Jaqi has rewarded Kreacher finely for decades of service to the Black Family.”

Draco looked to Dobby, “How much would you like to be paid?”

Dobby, “Pa-, Paid?!” his eyes lowered and in a pivot of his head and twitching ears through his mind racing he found an amount answering in a tilt of his head, “Dobby would like a galleon and a day off each month, if agreeable to you, Master Draco.”

Draco nodded extending his hand that Dobby eyed curiously, “You have a deal.” A grin split awkwardly onto the elf’s face and he clasped the boy’s hand for an over eager shake before turning to K asking for help in putting his clothes on as Draco excused himself to help you inspect your snake room for any needed repairs and some overdue measurements.

Barty, joining you again peered between you asking, “Was your elf always wearing a suit?”

You shook your head saying, “No, I gave it to him when I was little. He has done a lot to keep me safe after Mum died. Why?”

Barty, “My family elf got freed when I ran away. Of course I called out to her right after I had heard. She has always been kind to me even under my father’s orders to keep me locked away. I might borrow your idea.”

You grinned, “Up to you. Certainly won’t be upset for starting a trend like this.” Making him chuckle and turn to eye your snakes and then Opal in her blind path straight for you to climb up to your shoulders with a sigh in missing Norberta.

…

All the way through New Years you enjoyed your break off of school along with the dental appointment, of which Barty was puzzled you all so freely volunteered to go until he tagged along seeing it was Hermione’s parents that worked there. A sudden trip away while the boys snuck off, to once again inspect the cloak Harry had found in his room from a secret gift giver, took you on New Years morning secured you another rare snake breed on a tip from a dingy breeder close to selling it to some clueless muggle. A find easing a great deal of favors you had to pull each time you needed more of this style of venom for a few potions you were tweaking before offering up for sale in your small supply of products.

The full break you wondered what to write to your aunt Petunia between visits from Neville’s parents and baby sister now up and waddling around after her older brother when together. The simple holiday card sat painfully in yours and Petunia’s mind compared to how lengthy your previous letters had been the year prior. But one week to go you finally caved in and shared with her how heavily your losses had been weighing on you as well as a continued hope that how your first meeting could be looked past for some sort of time together or form of communication at least to mend the gap between you.

In school again right away on top of your lessons with the first years you had Percy joining in as well using your prior tutoring tips for his benefit to help him try for the full 12 OWLS offered. Hogsmeade trip would arrive once again in a couple weeks and in a request Fred had agreed to take Angelina Johnson from Gryffindor up on her request to spend the day with her on a fake date to keep a seventh year from pestering her on her trying to focus on school.

A request that came on the first day back again that Fred leapt on the chance to focus entirely on the farce to play it up on the seventh year who was baffled at the seemingly love struck Weasley always somehow around to thwart his plans. By the second week Angelina was floored seeing just how fun the dubbed Weasley Triplets were against Alicia’s one sided feud, a grin always on her face each chance she got to spend with you all. The act itself calming any worries you would have a problem with how welcoming you were to the new addition to your group, and contently she settled that even though they were only fake dating she had some unquestionably loyal friends.

The third Quidditch match was next, and in support of Cho you all joined Cedric in rooting her on against Slytherin. Support she clearly needed in the snow storm growing by the hour until the final snitch was caught by Terrence but far too early with their lag behind in points still securing Slytherin’s loss.

Alone with Fred you shopped trying to give George some space while inspecting what was new until you had to duck at the awkward swoop of your owl arriving with a letter you accepted in its second swoop to land on your raised arm.

George couldn’t help but laugh reading the letter with you about Norberta being dubbed too unruly and refusing to accept the Dragon herd’s laws as her own leaving one solution, he had ‘faked her death’ and snuck her to your home through the doorway with the help of the dragons. Who all agreed she was welcome to visit again when it came time to breed along with Opal, of whom she refused to keep from bringing up as well as the life she had been forced into before you had freed her.

Cackling for a few moments you turned eyeing the Inn. There Hagrid had mournfully joined you for a cup of tea, a mood that would be shattered when you passed him the letter widening his grin. He passed the letter back with a request to set up some visitations so he could check in on his girl to hear all about her time away.

…

Valentines day split up the week leaving for an awkward fumbling of flowers and candies between the clear prank gifts you had offered on anonymous cards left in each homeroom. Glitter bombs and swarms of paper birds that would keep flying around the heads of those opening the fake gift boxes with an added bonus of your new pixie petals, fake flower pins given to students who then smell flowers nonstop with hourly petal flurries and puffs of pollen while their hair and eyes turn bright pink remaining so even after removing the pins. The pranks were easily traced back to you and even at his public telling off of you three Flitwick after your next Choir practice informed you he was giving you 20 points each for the masterful charms.

The next week brought with it the Gryffindor vs Hufflepuff for a clear win in your favor at Cedric’s stealing the snitch right out from under Harry’s nose in the pouring rain. A few weeks again brought on another trip to Hogsmeade, this one with you all in large groups enjoying the signs of early spring that would no doubt be gone by lunch just a few days before Easter break.

Where Christmas had time for your father and uncle to get off along with Remus in altering days Easter had them in full swing at a parade of enchanted cars were being led back to their manufacturers for a companywide glitch in their invisibility cloaking device they drew the short straw on overseeing alongside Arthur.

A short week was the break you used to your advantage to explore and focus on your store room and new products down in the Chamber. In the empty halls Percy used the space to his advantage to practice charms and spells against you all in turns grateful for the extra practice while Hagrid used the empty grounds and break for Filch to have Norberta back in his hut again wearing an enchanted harness to help her control her size she loved as it aided in her sneaking around.

March ended and as always, at least for those who were aware your shared birthday on April first was coming up and in true Weasley fashion something extraordinary was expected to happen. The Professors however advised otherwise, like they always did and at a last minute change due to expected weather forecast classes after lunch were canceled to allow an early playing of the Puffs against Slytherin. The green and silver did all they could to best your team as always yet once again they failed miserably and using the game as cover a party was now allowed and not so subtly a large supply of cupcakes were sent to your dorm along with a smaller cake for the three of you coated in thirteen candles you blew out.

Hogsmeade came again, this time in may as tensions grew among the fifth years and even in your spotty quidditch rivalry Oliver Wood joined in on your study sessions in hopes of getting great grades. Even just as third years you felt the pressure yourself eyeing the set final exam schedules aiding those with time turners to take theirs hours later over the weekends once the OWL exams were through for the day. 12 exams played out and each of the fifth years in the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw teams were relieved to blow off some steam in the final match of the year while the rest of you took the chance to let out your agitation built up in shouts for the teams of your choice.

A final dinner was set out before you in the Puff banner filled hall at your winning the House cup with Slytherin a few points below yours while Ravenclaw cheered at having bested you by cumulative points collected weighed against penalties giving them the Quidditch cup. Each of your Professors wished you the best and hoped you would take their summer suggested studying books and packets they had set up for those willing students up for the challenge.

Pt 18

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