Chapter 54: Snape and Lupin (1/2)
One evening, as Chris watched the raindrops hitting the window glass in common room while wondering about Sirius Black, Ginny and Colin stopped talking beside her. Ginny suddenly shook Chris hard.
”Wh—what?” Chris said looking at them.
”Tell me what're we talking about?” Ginny said crossing her arms.
”Umm — about our last Defence Against the Dark Arts class ?” Chris guessed.
”No, Chris,” Colin sighed.
”Sorry I didn't hear.”
”You're doing this for last few days now, Chris. You are always distracted. What's going on in that brain of yours?” Ginny asked getting impatient. ”Mind telling us?”
”Yeah. Ginny is right. Nowadays your eyes looked more dreamy than Luna's,” Colin said.
”It's just —” Chris tried to lie.
”The truth Chris!” Ginny said over her.
”Fine. I'm trying to solve this mystery about Sirius Black.” Chris sighed. ”And I'm going nowhere. How he fooled the Dementors? How he entered the castle? Why does he want to get into our common room? What's his connection with Harry and why Professor Snape thinks that Professor Lupin helped Sirius Black? — So many questions but I don't have any answers.”
”Nobody does Chris. Everyone is thinking the same thing,” Colin said putting a hand on Chris's shoulder.
”Wait, how did you know Professor Snape thinks that Professor Lupin helped Sirius Black?” Ginny asked raising her eyebrows.
”O! That's what I think,” Chris told them about the late-night talk between Dumbledore and Snape.
”Ok. So you know more than everyone else here.” Colin said looking impressed.
”No. I'm sure, Harry, Ron and Hermione know much more than this. But what?” Chris mumbled.
”Chris, I want to help,” Ginny said seriously. ”Are you sure? I mean we're dealing with a murderer here, the Dementors are also involved. It can be dangerous, Ginny,” Chris said uncertainly.
”I know. And that's why you can't do this alone.” Ginny said confidently. ”Last year, you did everything alone Chris. Let me help at this time.”
”Yes. I don't know how much I can help but I'll try my best.” Colin said looking serious as well.
”Ok.” Chris thought for a moment. ”Ginny, I saw Percy is keeping an eye on Harry always, so if you can get information from him about Harry; then that'll be a great help. Just make sure he doesn't understand why are you asking.” Ginny nodded and Chris turned towards Colin. ”Listen, Colin, if you found anything unusual in the castle.. anything that you never saw before in Hogwarts, you're going to tell me immediately. Am I clear?”
Colin nodded.
”I can take pictures as well,” he said.
”No don't. If anyone heard the clicking noises, you will be in danger. So just use your eyes. Ok?” Chris asked.
”Ok” Colin said.
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The weather worsened steadily as the first Quidditch match drew nearer. Undaunted, the Gryffindor team were training harder than ever under the eye of Madam Hooch.
”It's because of Harry. They're trying to keep an extra eye on him, always.” George told Chris when she asked about Madam Hooch's presence.
At their final training session before Saturday's match, Oliver Wood gave his team some unwelcome news.
”We're not playing Slytherin!” he told them, looking very angry. ”Flint's just been to see me. We're playing Hufflepuff instead.”
”Why?” chorused the rest of the team.
”Flint's excuse is that their Keeper is injured, he fell from the stairs,” said Wood, grinding his teeth furiously. ”But it's obvious why they're doing it. Don't want to play in this weather. Think it'll damage their chances.”
There had been strong winds and heavy rain all day, and as Wood spoke, they heard a distant rumble of thunder.
”There's nothing wrong with him, we saw him falling!” said George furiously. ”He's faking it!”
”I know that, but we can't prove it,” said Wood bitterly. ”And we've been practising all those moves assuming we're playing Slytherin, and instead it's Hufflepuff, and their style's quite different. They've got a new captain and Seeker, Cedric Diggory —”