Noticing a shadow hanging over her workspace that had broken her concentration from the important assignment she was working on, she looked up from her half completed essay, ready to quickly send away whichever individual had broken her concentration.
However, her annoyance faded slightly at the sight of Harry waiting to speak with her. "Can I have a moment of your time Penny?" he enquired, as he looked over her half-written essay with a hint of genuine interest.
Her response was automatic, her tongue speaking for her despite her mind still thinking over how to answer the question. "Of course."
"Thank you. If I may ask, what are you working on?" Harry politely asked, as he took a free seat next to her.
"Charms essay on the bubble-head charm," she offered out of reflex considering how long she had mentored Harry, whilst placing her quill into the ink pot for safe keeping, rather than risking ink laden quill tainting her work.
"What does it do?" Harry asked, as he tilted his head down, so that he could try to read her work.
Her inner teacher suddenly kicked in, "The spell creates a mostly transparent, flexible bubble around your head, trapping air in and separating out breathable air from water or purifying air as it passes through the bubble. It is mainly used for diving, when combating fires to avoid smoke inhalation, or when encountering poisonous clouds of air," she explained quickly, feeling slightly better with herself than she had for a while now.
"That's a rather useful spell," Harry stated, clearly noting down the spell in his mental notes for his own study and research at a later date.
"So what is it you want Harry?" she asked, wanting to get back to her work before she completely lost focus on what she was writing as she felt the words slipping from her mind.
His features suddenly turned serious, before offering a simple "One moment please," his wand suddenly jumping into his open hand, before he quickly erected a privacy spell around them. For an instant a dome of clear silver energy appeared over them, before it faded from sight.
"I have a small favour to ask," he said, before he carefully put his wand away.
"What type of favour? And why should I help you?" she asked sceptically, her mind, for once in this conversation, thankfully beating her mouth to an instant agreement. She wondered what Harry was up to and if this was some type of new scheme he had cooked up. She quickly corrected herself mentally, of course it was a scheme. Harry always had plans in motion of some type, usually with carefully hidden agendas.
"Can you keep an eye on Luna for me?" he asked. This unexpected request threw her completely off balance. "And why? First, I'd owe you one and you know that I always pay my debts. Second, you're not the type of person to allow someone to be bullied if you can stop it and Luna is often picked on."
She considered the request, but decided to ask for more information, rather than risk being artfully manipulated again by Harry. "Why do you need me to look out for her?"
"Simply put, I won't be in Hogwarts for the next couple of days, possibly longer," Harry offered in explanation, as well as creating more questions for her to ask.
Naturally, her curiosity kicked in, "Where are you going?"
Harry's serious features shifted, as he clearly weighed up his own response to her question, before providing her with a surprising answer. "Into hiding." She raised a questioning eyebrow, "There is going to be an attempt on my life tomorrow." She shifted uneasily in her seat, concern flooding her for Harry's safety as Harry added.
"It has been decided that I should go into hiding until such time that Peter is finally dealt with, hence my death is going to be faked tomorrow with the assistance of the Aurors," he explained easily, without a hint of concern, just raw confidence.
"This means that I could be out of school for a couple of days, or a couple of months, hence why I want to ensure that Luna is looked after in my absence. I also trust that you will keep this information between the two of us, otherwise these plans could be undermined."
She already knew her answer, "Yes, I'll keep an eye on Luna for you," she agreed, as she gave him a worried look. "Are you going to tell Tonks about this?"
Giving her a fond smile at her obvious worry, he replied, "Yeah, I'll tell Tonks this afternoon. How have you been by the way?"
"A bit under the weather Harry," she replied, her mouth betraying her once again.
"Oh? Nothing too serious, I hope?" he probed, showing signs of genuine concern.
"Nothing to be worried about," she offered back, feeling slightly better with herself.
"That's good. Has Percy or Reese asked you out yet for Valentine's Day?" he asked, as he eyed her books again with interest.
She smiled as she answered, "Percy did, but I declined. Reese hasn't asked me yet."
"His loss," Harry replied, causing her to send him an amused look.
"How would you know that Harry?" she asked, not knowing how the words got into her mouth, yet again.
A sad smile appeared on his features, "Because I lost you," Harry replied regretfully, his words pulling strongly on her heartstrings, before he left her alone to continue her work. Unfortunately for her, she was no longer in the mood for it.
...
( Longbottom Manor – Mid-Day )
Longbottom Manor was exactly the same as he remembered it; the halls were still sterile and lifeless, like a grand, but empty museum, with family portraits hanging from the highly decorative stone walls. He took them in as a house elf quickly lead him to his mistress. Entering the conservatory, the sunlight was flooding into the glass room.
He fondly remembered Frank and Alice's wedding day, how the three of them had shared a toast together in this very room as the garden party unfolded outside. It was then that he noticed Lady Longbottom sitting silently in her Victorian style armchair reading the morning paper, before taking a careful sip of her tea, prior to finally registering his presence in the room.
He instinctively knew that it would be best for him to stay overly formal with the old bird that reminded him so much of Professor McGonagall and follow, to the letter, the age old traditions that had been ruthlessly drilled into him as a child by his mother. "Thank you for seeing me so soon, Lady Longbottom," he addressed formally, giving a slight bow as tradition demanded, his hand neatly folded behind his back.
"What can I and the Great House of Longbottom do for you today, Lord Black?" she enquired formally, with a hint of smugness in her aging voice, but each word carrying a hint of underlying bitterness. She then gestured to one of the free armchairs as she folded the paper in half, thus granting him permission to sit down in the free seat across from her.
"I request your assistance, Lady Longbottom, with a matter of great importance," Sirius asked formally, noticing Lady Longbottom shifting in her chair in interest.
"It depends on the matter at hand and ultimately whether it's in my family's best interests to help you," she stated clearly, as she flattened her traditional gown.
"Naturally," he replied, realistically expecting no less from her.
"So what is it that you are asking for?" she asked, getting straight down to business as her aging eyes met his own, seemingly to better read him and his intentions.
Choosing his words carefully, he made his pitch, "I'm sure that you are aware that there have been a number of attempts on my heir's life this past year," he offered, as she tilted her head in acknowledgement. "I received word from Madam Bones. She believes that Peter Pettigrew, the confirmed attempted assassin, is working for Lord Malfoy and at his behest; I would like to request your assistance in ensuring that both are suitably punished when the pair of them of them are brought to trial in the near future."
Several minutes passed as Lady Longbottom digested the news, before giving her answer, "I believe that I can be of assistance in this matter. Lord Malfoy is no friend of mine. Madam Bones also believes that Lord Malfoy is the one behind the attempts on my own grandson's life, as well as the one trying to besmirch my family's name with scandalous articles."
He smiled internally at the news, "So our interests are well aligned in this goal," he asked, wanting to confirm, without any doubt, that he had her assistance.
A sly smile appeared on her weathered lips, "For the moment our goals are the same, or at least until Lord Malfoy is properly dealt with," Lady Longbottom confirmed. "However, I expect a favour in return."
He knew how this game was played. "What do you require, my Lady?" he asked carefully, wanting to get a feel for what Lady Longbottom wanted in return.
"My grandson has expressed an interest in becoming an animagus, and I can see the benefits of having such a rare ability. I hope you would be agreeable to teaching him the skill," Lady Longbottom voiced, her eyes watching him.
...
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