Third Year, Davey Gudgeon
Sunday April 7th 1974
The last spurt of winter and the barely noticeable start of spring had seemingly slipped though her fingers and Mary could hardly believe it was already early April. The sun was still sparse; barely introducing itself to the drizzly green hilly country surrounding the castle. The apple and cherry trees were in full bloom; the knotting meandering branches ornately and frivolously decorated with pale pink and white blossoms.
It seemed as if nature was once again filling itself out; suddenly everything appearing fuller. A green gauze as a delicate permeated lens over the word. Between the green, the small white pinpricks of the lily of the valley emerging; delicate and hidden from view.
On the rare occasions that the sun did come out, Mary took her abode outside; sitting in the meagre rays of sunshine; revelling in their momentarily warmth. The tree tops rustled in the wind, swaying wildly as the trunks kept stationary; firmly rooted. Most trees were subjected to the grills of the seasons, whereas the Whomping Willow had a mind of its own; a predator almost. Cautious and violently protecting its trunk from the students that tried to reach it with their grubby fingers.
Mary was laying on her belly in the damp grass, pouring over a copy of Witch Weekly. Avni was resting next to her on her back, arm slung over her eyes to protect them from the sun. Marlene was still at quidditch practice and Lily was probably somewhere inside studying. It was still a couple of weeks until exam season would truly start, yet the tangible buzz of stress had already set its foot over the threshold of the castle.
Since the winter holidays, Mary had been spending some more time with Avni Chaudry, a fellow third year Gryffindor. She was the same girl that had gotten a lot of attention at the beginning of the year when she`d started going out with Matthew Studt, a fourth year Ravenclaw. The two of them were still going steady. While Marlene and Lily were obviously still her best friends, they weren`t the best people to talk to when it came down to boyfriends. Hence Mary had been finding a lot of consolation in being able to talk about those matters with Avni.
Mary was missing Darren a lot these days; she practically couldn`t wait for the summer holidays to begin so she could see him again. It was a shame those were still months away. Almost a month ago now, they had been allowed to go to Hogsmeade, and she`d snuck out of the village towards the telephone box to ring him. Though the call had been short, it had been incredibly nice and grounding to hear his voice. Mary had also received some letters from Darren that had been forwarded by Lily`s parents. He was doing alright, he wrote, mostly busy with school and his parttime job at a warehouse. He missed her too, he`d written in the footnotes.
Ever since she could remember, Mary had been a rather physical person; an embrace, a kiss on the forehead, a quick squeeze, a hand on the shoulder. It made her feel more human, more like she actually inhibited a body in this world. A spare phone call and a couple of letters just weren`t cutting it for her and she had a desperate craving to be held by Darren.
She stared overtop her magazine; there were a couple of students playing a game with the Whomping Willow; taking turns to get as close to the trunk as possible, the tree flailing at them with its branches, trying to punch them.
A shadow cast over Mary and she looked to the side at a pair of muddied boots. She glanced up, squinting though her lashes to see Marlene towering over her, hair tousled by the wind.
`Alright.` Marlene grinned down, still in her quidditch kit. ``Lo Avni.`
`Hiya.`
`Ready to go inside?` Marlene asked, shielding her eyes from the sun, thumbing her bat.
`Jup.` Mary sprang up and smoothed down her skirt.
She said a quick goodbye to Avni and ran after Marlene, who was already trudging though the high grass, her pale ponytail swinging back and forth against her back.
They ambled towards the castle, bracing themselves against the wind. Just as they passed the greenhouses, they were both startled by a truly horrifying noise. There was a large thump followed by a high-pitched drawn-out haunting shriek. In shock they turned around and stared in the direction of the sound.
`What on earth was that?` Marlene said breathlessly.
Mary could feel her throat turn acid-like and she swallowed, awaiting what would unfold itself next.
A couple of small figures were now running their way, evidently on their way to the castle; a group of Hufflepuffs spurted past them, eyes wide and faces pale.
A second year Gryffindor girl, whose name Mary didn`t know, was the first to reach them, Avni was hurrying along in her wake.
`It`s Davey!` the younger girl shrieked. `We were just playing a game. And it seemed like he`d really get it this time and then… He got…he got…` the girl started to cry. `It all went so quick, and and oh the blood! So much blood. And it… And then-`
Mary put an arm around the shaking girl. `What happened?` she asked, trying to remain calm. Marlene was biting her nails, leaning on her bat. Avni not looking any less horrified than the second year girl.
`The tree…it got him.` Avni said softly.
`His face it`s…oooh!` the girl howled.
There was now a flurry of students hurrying past them, Madam Pomfrey up front, levitating a stretcher.
Mary felt her stomach churn and an the awful sickening taste of bile rise in her throat. `Come on, let`s get you inside.` she whispered as she ushered the girl towards the castle, followed suit by Avni and Marlene.
After she`d delivered the girl to her friends in the dining hall, Mary, Avni and Marlene went up to the Gryffindor common room. Marlene looked extremely put out. Although Mary did feel truly bad about the situation, she wasn`t all that surprised. It had been bound to happen. That tree was extremely dangerous, everybody knew it. And it was really reckless to play games like that.
`Do you think he`ll be alight?` Marlene asked nervously as they hurried along the corridor.
`I think so.` Mary mulled. `I mean, surely Madam Pomfrey should know how to help him.`
`I`m sure she`s seen worse.` Avni added, biting her bottom lip as she adjusted her headscarf.
They climbed up the final staircase and chanted the password; eager to get into the common room.
`Alright lads,` Mary said as they clambered through the portrait hole and spotted the boys sitting in a couple of armchairs. `Hear what happened to that Gudgeon kid?`
`No,` Sirius replied, turning to look at her. `What?`
`Whacked in the face by that mental tree.` Mary replied as she shrugged off her cloak. `They were trying to touch the trunk.`
`Yeah,` Marlene added indignantly, still looking pale. `It shouldn`t be allowed! It`s so dangerous!`
`Did you see it happen?!` Remus asked, his eyes wide, fidgeting with the fraying cuffs of his jumper. He looked a bit gaunt and pale, as if he had been ill again.
`Nope,` Mary shook her head, trying to remain casual. `Heard it from one of the second year girls.` She was not going to tell them about that horrifying sound that was now forever edged into her brain. It was truly the most revolting thing she`d ever heard.
`They`ll have to get rid of it!` Marlene said, stridently; surprising Mary. `Dumbledore can`t leave it there now. Someone could be killed.` She started biting her nails again.
`He should have stayed away from it.` Sirius replied, a frown on his forehead. `It`s a stupid game. Everyone knows what that tree`s like.`
Mary`s eyebrows shot up, once again surprised. `Have I gone mad.` she chided laughing. `Sirius Black the voice of reason?!`
`Piss off, Macdonald.` Sirius spat at her.
Mary raised her eyebrows, not amused with the tone he was exhibiting towards her.
They left the boys in the common room and Mary pulled the still slightly panicked Marlene along with her towards their dorm. Of all the things that sunny day had to offer, she`d never expected it to take such a grim turn.
***
`Could you pass me my other quill, Sev?` Lily asked, reaching across the desk, hair almost getting into her inkwell.
Unspeaking, Severus handed her the quill and went back to reading his text, eyes speedily darting back and forth. He was still a little bit cold towards her after the April Fools incident. It seemed like he was not going the let it go that Lily wouldn`t let him in on it. However, instead of saying so directly, he just sulked and guilted Lily into spending her free Sunday with him in the library.
It was a bit cruel to give him all the blame for the fact that she was now spending this lovely spring day indoors instead of out in the sun, seeing as she`d been planning on studying either way. But if Severus was going to be petty, she could be so too.
`Do you want me to check your Arithmancy calculations, Lily?` Severus asked, wiping a strand of hair from his eyes.
`Oh, erm,` Lily faltered, turning red. `No, that`s all right.`
`It`s no trouble, Lily.`
`No really, I already had someone check it.` Lily replied quickly, staring at her hands as she hastily shuffled around with her stack of parchment.
`But McKinnon and Macdonald don`t take Arithmancy.` Severus replied stonily. It was eerily creepy the way he absolutely seemed to despise her friends, yet still knew so much about them.
`Hm-hm.` Lily nodded, lips pressed together.
`Who checked your work then?` Severus insisted, evidently not willing to let the matter go.
`Erm,` Lily swallowed. `Remus.`
`Lupin?` Severus face contorted into a wry grimace. `I thought I told you to watch out for him, Lily.`
Lily tried her best not to explode at this remark; Severus wasn`t her keeper. `We study together sometimes. What`s the big deal?`
`That boy is trouble, Lily.` Severus snipped. `I know sorts like him. It is better not to associate with-.`
`Sorts like him?` Lily bit back, interrupting him.
She was tired of having the same conversations over and over again. It was extremely strenuous how Severus held a grudge for everything and everyone who`d ever done him wrong in some way or other.
It looked like Severus was ready to open his mouth again to either defend himself, or dig an ever deeper hole, but just as that moment two figures came prancing into the library and Lily felt relieved at the sight of Mary and Marlene hurrying in.
Severus face turned even more sour and he bent deeply over his work, hair falling over his face, only his nose pocking through.
`Hi.` Lily breathed relieved as Mary and Marlene came to a halt in front of her.
Marlene looked extremely pale and was trembling a bit, Mary looked uncharacteristically worried.
`What going on?` Lily asked suspiciously. It wasn`t usual for the two of them to seek her out when they knew she was with Severus. When he was near they avoided her like the plague.
`Didn`t you hear?` Mary asked cocking her head, wide-eyed, looking genuinely surprised.
`Hear what?` Lily frowned at Mary, she`d been in the library all day, and though news travelled fast at Hogwarts, the library was still the quietest and most secluded spot of the castle.
`Kid got attacked by that giant tree.` Mary said, lowering her voice. `Davey Gudgeon, Hufflepuff I think.`
`Gosh.` Lily`s stomach flipped. `Is it bad?`
Mary plonked herself down on a chair. Marlene kept dawdling close, eyeing Severus wearily, the latter was still ignoring them, though Lily could tell he was listening.
`Don`t know.` she shrugged. `There are multiple stories going around; some say he lost both his eyes, others say it cracked his entire skull in two. There was a lot of blood anyway, it seems like it got him good.` Mary scrunched up her nose in disgust.
Lily swallowed, she didn`t know how Mary got this information - her sources could be a bit dubious at times; either way it didn`t sound pleasant.
`It`s horrible.` Marlene croaked. `We need to do something. Take action. That tree shouldn`t be here.`
Lily looked at her in surprise, it wasn`t usual for Marlene to get so involved in something she was barely a part of. It had probably to do with her own problems at home; Lily thought.
`You could make a petition?` Lily opted.
`Would that work?`
`You could try.`
`Will you help me?` Marlene asked.
Lily nodded, `Yes, of course I just need-` she glanced at Severus, whose face had a stony expression etched onto it. `You two go.` Lily pressed. `I`ll just be a minute.`
`Alright.` Mary sprang up and took Marlene by her arm to lead her out of the library.
Lily started to gather her books, screwing the lid on her inkwell and carefully putting her quills away. Gnawing on the insides of her cheeks she wondered how all the commotion could have slipped her attention. They were sitting close to a window, she could have easily looked outside and seen it all happen. She was sad to say she wasn`t surprised that someone had fallen victim to that terrifying tree. It must have been awful to witness, she shuddered at the thought of it. Slowly a mental image of a bleeding boy laying down next to the Whomping Willow started to form on the inside of her eyelids and she blinked ferociously to get rid of it.
Severus still hadn`t said a single thing and Lily decided to break the silence; she couldn`t just leave him without uttering a word.
`Horrid isn`t it, Sev?` she asked testily.
`Hmm.` Severus huffed. `I`m just surprised it didn`t get Potter or Black.`
`I`m sorry?` Lily blinked as if slapped, unsure if she`d heard him correctly.
`All I`m saying is that I`m surprised those two stayed clear of that tree, Lily.` Severus drawled. `They certainly seem to adore to participate in reckless endeavours. Yet, they don`t seem to come near that tree.`
`You seem awfully aware of what they do and don`t do.` Lily frowned.
`It`s hard not to, seeing the way they strut around the place.` Severus replied bored.
Lily was starting to feel slightly nauseous by how incredibly casually Severus was talking about this horrible incident. Not only did he dismiss the initial victim, but practically suggested that the tree should have taken someone else out instead.
Blinking furiously, Lily stared at her friend.
`Oh, come on, Lily.` Severus let out an chilly laugh. `You don`t like them either. It wouldn`t hurt for you to laugh.`
`Well, I don`t think it`s all that funny, Severus.` Lily pressed her lips tightly together.
Severus face fell and he turned red, but didn`t retort or offer any sort of apology.
`I`m going to help Marlene with the petition.` Lily said turning her back on Severus, wanting to get away from him. She`d talk to him after he`d gained some sense again.
The whole castle was in an absolute frenzy. The Hufflepuffs were huddled together in small groups in the hallways, whispering gravely among eachother. Lily now understood why Mary had been so surprised that Lily hadn`t known about the incident, seeing as she was pulled in by at least three students on her way to the Gryffindor common room to get told the same tale.
Lily had to pry herself loose from the hands of a friend of Davey`s, for she could feel herself get lightheaded at the thought of having to hear another account of how the tree had whacked that poor boy in the face.
***
Saturday April 13th 1974
Gently Marlene knocked on the door, shifting back and forth on the balls of her feet, the piece of parchment and quill clutched tightly against her chest. The hospital wing was quiet, only one of the hospital beds was occupied, at the end of the ward, the curtains drawn shut and a soft murmur of voices rising up from behind it. Furthermore, there was nobody laying in the neatly made beds. A house elf was busy cleaning up the side tables; feet scurrying on the tiles. Marlene quite liked the hospital wing, despite its clinical atmosphere and that it was usually associated with illness and despair. It was calm and clean; always smelling like flesh linens and heady herbs. The aquatic sunlight pooled in through the windows, dappling on the stone slabs. A robin bumped against a windowpane and flew away again, dizzily fluttering its tiny wings.
`Come in.` a gentle yet steady voice sounded on the other side of the door.
Slowly Marlene opened the door to the little room adjoining the main space of the ward. Madam Pomfrey was sitting behind her desk, a couple of empty vials in front of her as she flicked her wand at a caldron in a corner.
`Miss McKinnon,` the medi-witch smiled, a lose greying curl falling free from her nursing cap. `The usual?`
`Erm, no.` Marlene stammered, normally when she came to Madam Pomfrey it was for a pain draught for her migraines. This time she didn`t have one. `I`m here for something else.`
`Alright.` Madam Pomfrey`s brow furrowed slightly. `What can I do for you?` she folded her hands overtop eachother, stopping her work.
Still shifting back and forth on her feet, Marlene nervously thumbed the parchment she was holding, the coarse grain gritting underneath her bitten-down nails. .
`Yes?` Madam Pompfrey asked patiently, though pressing her to go on. She probably had better things to attend to; Marlene thought.
`Erm, would you sign our petition, Madam?` Marlene held the form out in front of her, together with the quill, her fingers trembling slightly.
The medi-witch gently took the parchment from Marlene`s hands and let her eyes glided over it, scanning the signatures Marlene had already collected. It seemed like she was actually taking the time to read it, unlike most people. Lily and Mary had helped Marlene to draw up a petition to take the Whomping Willow off the Hogwarts premises. It was the least she could do after Davey Gudgeon had fallen victim to it.
`Oh,` Madam Pomfrey said softly, her forehead creasing. `I`m terribly sorry to disappoint you Miss McKinnon. But I`m afraid that as a member of staff, I`m not permitted to sign any petition that concerns school matters.`
`Right.` Marlene frowned, feeling her spirits sink in disappointment. It had been worth the try. Now she at least knew that she didn`t have to bother asking the other Professors.
`I do think that you are doing a really good thing here.` she smiled at Marlene, the wrinkles beside her eyes pronouncing. `I think Davey would be very grateful.`
Marlene shrugged, feeling her face get hot. `How…erm,` she stammered. `How is he doing? Davey, I mean.`
`He`ll be alright.` Madam Pomfey replied. `He did loose both his eyes, sadly. But his parent are taking him to America; there are wonderful improvements being made in ocular potions.`
`Och aye,` Marlene nodded. `I read about that actually. The, erm…potions part.` She liked to read the science section in the Daily Prophet.
`You take an interest in healing?` Madam Pomfrey inquired.
Marlene shrugged, fidgeting with the quill, the bristles tickling the delicate skin between her fingers.
`It`s a wonderful occupation.` the medi-witch smiled. `A very rewarding one at that.`
`Aye.` Marlene nodded, curling and uncurling her toes inside her shoes, feeling a bit embarrassed.
`But well, you`re still too young to be thinking about job prospects.`
`Right.` Marlene nodded. Luckily she still had a really long time until she needed to worry about matters of the sort.
Returning to the common room she did feel ever so slightly crest fallen. It felt anything but pleasant that she was only able to do so much for Davey. It made her feel powerless in a sense.
It was good however to have a project on her hands she could give her all to, something that could take her mind of things. She did feel slightly guilty for having to put on this mask of presumed altruism basically for her own good; it made her feel like a fraud. With the nearing exams, and the summer holidays following those, it felt like her mind was brimming over with worries. It was almost pleasant to have a source of stress she could exercise control over.
If the pressure to get good grades wasn`t tense enough on its own, there was the added anxiety of her problems at home. Last week, just before the incident with the Whomping Willow, her mother had sent her a letter, writing that they`d started looking for a new place to live. There was no use anymore trying to put off the move, especially since Marlene and her brother knew about it too now. Her stepdad, who worked at the ministry, had some intel that there truly was a rise in dark magic, even inside the ministry itself. The war that had started to take a hold of the magical community since 1970 seemed to have gotten a new gush of wind.
It wouldn`t surprise Marlene that they`d leave their home before the year was over. Once her mother got her mind set on something, she would not let go until it was done.
Marlene tried to stow away all the feelings that this grave announcement brought with it, she could not deal with those now. It was all too much, she needed some stability. Hence the petition.
Back in the common room, she went around again, trying to scrounge up a couple more signatures before she would present it.
`Come on, sign it!` she demanded, chasing Sirius around the common room, almost bumping into a couch.
`That tree has just as much right here as anybody.` Sirius replied, holding ground. Marlene pushed the quill into his face, pressing him.
`But Sirius,` she begged. `It`s dangerous.`
`So are bludgers!` he retorted, jumping out of her way as she started to stalk after him again. `You`re going to leave the quidditch team?`
`It`s hardly the same thing!` Marlene replied angrily. Of course he would bring quidditch into this; still bitter that she`d beaten him.
`Ugh, just sign it, Black.` Lily signed annoyed, looking up from her Runes homework. `What is it to you?`
`It`s the principle.` Sirius folded his arms crossly in front of his chest.
Lily rolled her eyes at him and bent over her work again, her lips moving as she muttered something to Remus.
Marlene glared at Sirius, but decided not to press the matter any further. It was no use wasting her time on that boy. She didn`t understand why he had to be such a nuisance about it.
At dinner, Marlene was able to round up a couple of students, including Mary, Lily and Remus, to go up to the staff table and present the petition to Professor Sprout, the head of Hufflepuff house. She felt incredibly satisfied with the over four hundred signatures she had been able to gather.
Professor Sprout accepted the piece of parchment with a sad smile, her eyes drooping, and she promised that she would discuss the matter with Professor Dumbledore. However as she promised this, her face remained uncertain, almost pitying. Marlene could already feel her spirits sink; it wouldn`t matter how much signatures there were on that piece of paper, the tree was to stay. Dumbledore held an odd notion of safety. However, the Herbology Professor did award Marlene with some house points for her efforts and goodwill. Marlene thought this was a bit redundant, she had just been doing what should have been done in the first place.
In the end, the Whomping Willow wasn`t removed from the premises and kept swaying dangerously at the edge of the Hogwarts Ground, flailing its fist-like arms menacing, threatening that it wouldn`t hesitate to repeat what it had done. Dumbledore gave a speech at dinner a couple of days later, announcing this news. From then on it was absolutely prohibited to play any more games with the tree; every student who even came near it would be subtracted house points and put in detention. This was a bit of a weak precaution in Marlene`s opinion, students would keep breaking the rules until they`d drop dead. A couple more threats wouldn`t change anything about that given.
///