The Most Curious Year Yet

Beth woke up from yet another nightmare, Voldemort had killed the Lupins and she had been sent back to the Dursleys again.

It was only two o’clock in the morning, but she knew that Remus and Lyall would be downstairs.

She pulled on her dressing gown and creeped downstairs, Lyall was asleep and there was a wolf curled up in front of the fire staring into the flames.

“Uncle Remus!” whispered Beth trying not to wake up Lyall.

The wolf looked up at her curiously and nodded at her.

“You’re not dead,” she whispered tears running down her face.

The wolf nuzzled up to her as she sat next to him by the fire.

“I love you Uncle Remus,” she said drowsily as she buried her face in his fur and fell back to sleep.

Remus stretched slightly as he transformed the next morning, it was already eight o’clock in the morning.

He noticed that Beth was curled up next to him fast asleep on the rug.

“Beth,” he said gently, “you need to wake up little one.”

Beth groaned slightly in her sleep.

“Come on Beth,” he chuckled, “you need to wake up.”

“Why?” she grumbled.

“Because it’s the first of September.”

Beth opened her eyes excitably and rushed upstairs to go and pack.

Remus shook his head slightly as he went upstairs to go and get dressed himself.

Beth ran about the house in her pyjamas and dressing gown as she tracked down her things, she had to pack all her books, art supplies and school things. She also managed to fit her record player and some of her favourite records into her trunk.

“Remus!” she called over the stairs, “have you seen my potions scales?”

“They’re in your cauldron Cariad,” sighed Lyall shaking his head, “along with your telescope and other potions equipment.”

“Thanks Grandpa.”

She got dressed as quickly as she could in her school uniform and robes.

By the time that Remus and Beth were both packed it was nearly ten o’clock. Usually they would drive up to London but as Remus had had his transformation the night before they were going to be apparating.

There was a large stack of luggage by the fireplace in the kitchen. Two trunks, Remus’ suitcases, and Guinevere’s basket.

“Dobby has made sandwiches,” beamed Dobby bringing over several huge packets of sandwiches.

“Thanks Dobby,” beamed Beth, “I’ll see you next Summer ok?”

Dobby nodded enthusiastically as they hugged each other.

Beth picked up Guinevere’s basket and put her satchel over her shoulder.

Lyall helped her with the trunk and also grabbed one of Remus’ suitcases.

They walked out to the apparition boundary together both carrying the trunk.

“Hold on tight Cariad,” said Lyall.

Beth held onto the trunk as firmly as she could as they apparated away from the cottage.

They arrived at platform nine and three quarters which was mostly still empty, as it was only just ten o’clock.

“Let’s go find a compartment Beth,” said Remus as they headed towards the train.

They found an empty compartment and loaded all their luggage in.

“I’ll see you both in June ok?” said Lyall giving them both a hug.

“Look after yourselves ok?” said Lyall with tears in his eyes.

Beth nodded as Lyall got off the train.

“I’m exhausted,” sighed Remus flopping down into a seat.

Usually he’d go to sleep straight after his transformation, but he’d been a bit busy finishing the packing.

“Get some sleep,” said Beth giggling slightly.

Remus smiled tiredly as he snuggled back further into his seat and pulled his cloak on tighter as he closed his eyes.

Beth smiled serenely as she settled into the seat next to Remus and got out her copy of Numerology and Grammatica.

She hadn’t done maths properly since primary school, but she had always enjoyed maths at school.

There was a light knock on the door and Ginny poked her head around.

“Hey Beth!” beamed Ginny, “can we come in?”

“Sure,” chuckled Beth.

“Are you sure we won’t wake him?” asked Ginny.

“No,” shrugged Beth, “Remus sleeps like the dead the day after a full moon.”

“Fair enough,” giggled Ginny as she dragged her trunk in.

She was followed by Ron, Luna and Zia Patel, a second year Ravenclaw.

“Do oyu mind putting that thing back in its basket?” asked Ron glaring at Guinevere.

“Scabbers hasn’t been feeling well recently.”

Beth shrugged and lifted the cat into basket and did up the clasp.

Guinevere still continued to glare at Scabbers from within her basket.

“Why is there a strange man sleeping in our compartment?” asked Luna looking at Remus slightly suspiciously.

“That’s Professor Lupin,” said Ginny, “he’s the new Defence teacher, he’s also Beth’s uncle.”

“But why is he asleep?” asked Zia, “it’s eleven o’clock in the morning.”

“He’s had a long night,” Beth explained.

Zia and Luna seemed to think that was a good enough answer for them. Zia pulled out a copy of Great Expectations and Luna started to flick through a copy of The Quibbler which she seemed to be reading upside down.

“You excited for your new electives?” asked Ginny noticing Beth’s already open copy of Numerology and Grammatica.

“Oh yes,” nodded Beth, “I always loved numbers in school, and I’m fascinated to find out what their magical significance is.”

“What other subjects are you taking?”

“Care of Magical Creatures,” said Beth.

“Oh have you got one of those biting books?” groaned Ron.

“Try stroking it Ron,” said Beth, “we figured that out at my birthday.”

“Thanks,” he muttered.

“What are you taking Ron?”

“Divination and Care of Magical Creatures,” he nodded.

“You’re never going to believe Hermione,” he groaned, “she’s signed up for every single subject.”

“Even Muggle Studies?” asked Beth confused.

“Yes,” he said, “she wants to ‘learn about the muggle world from the magical perspective.’”

He put quotation marks in the air using his fingers and rose his eyebrows.

“What I’m confused about,” said Luna not looking away from her magazine “is why, your friend Hermione is taking both Divination and Arithmancy.”

“That’s your question?” asked Ginny, “she’s taking five electives, most people only take two or three.”

“No that’s not why I’m confused,” said Luna putting away her magazine, “why I’m confused is why she’s taking both of those subjects, they’re polar opposites.”

Ron and Ginny still looked confused and Zia sighed and put his book away.

He had become used to explaining Luna’s odd statements, he was one of the only people who understood her.

“Divination and Arithmancy are both ways of trying to predict the future, Arithmancy is actually a very specific branch of Divination,” he started.

“Divination is about chance and fate, trying to read meaning into tea leaves or smoke fumes or interpret dreams. Whereas Arithmancy is more of a science and a much more specific branch of magic. It uses numbers to try and find the deeper meaning behind things.”

“The reason that Luna here is confused as to why your friend Hermione is taking both subjects is that people who are talented at Divination and those who are talented at Arithmancy are very different kinds of people, the two branches are literally the difference between chance and fate, and science and fact.”

Beth and Ron looked at Zia slightly confused, he hardly ever talked, he was usually far too busy trying to read a book, but Beth was sure she had just heard him say more words now than she ever had done.

“Do you know if the Muggle Studies course includes literature?” asked Zia.

“No, I don’t think so,” said Beth, “it’s mostly trying to explain things like muggle technology such as light bulbs and electricity.”

“Pity,” muttered Zia picking his book back up, “it would be nice if there was a literary option when it came to electives.”

Beth shook her head and went back to her textbook and returned to reading.

Ginny and Ron played a game of chess, Luna watched fascinatedly as Ginny got more frustrated as Ron kept on taking out Ginny’s pieces.

“Are you alright Ginny?” asked Luna concernedly, “your mind seems to be infested with wrackspurts.”

“What’s a wrackspurt?” asked Ron.

“Don’t even ask,” muttered Ginny as Ron finished the game.

“Wrackspurts are what Luna refers to as any strong feelings,” explained Zia, “whenever anyone is upset or feeling particularly emotional, happy or sad Luna refers to the wrackspurts.”

“So wrackspurts are feelings?” asked Beth.

“No,” said Luna shaking her head, “wrackspurts are wrackspurts, Daddy taught me about them, they are parasites that infect the mind and make your brain go fuzzy.”

“Also known as extreme amounts of elation, or rage,” muttered Zia which Luna ignored.

“So, Zia,” asked Ron, “how does it feel to be our resident Lovegood interpreter?”

Zia looked at him slightly confused again and went back to his book.

By the time that Beth had finished reading her textbook they had nearly arrived at school and it was starting to get dark.

Remus was beginning to wake up slowly and was half listening to the bickering between Ron and Ginny as they played another game of chess. Beth was curled up on the seat next to him as she flicked through some of her old drawings.

Suddenly a chill filled the compartment as the train came to a jarring halt.

“What’s going on?” asked Ron looking out the window, “we’re not at school yet.”

Beth dropped her book as a black hooded creature came gliding into the compartment.

She felt like she would never be happy again, and then a loud screaming filled her head, then everything went dark.

“Beth!” Remus called gently kneeling down next to her, “Beth.”

“Hmmm?” she muttered coming to.

She had somehow fainted on the floor of the compartment.

Remus smiled slightly as she opened her eyes.

“What happened?” she murmured, “where was the screaming?”

“Nobody was screaming sweetheart,” sighed Remus picking up and lying her back down on the seat next to Ginny.

“What was that thing?” said Ron.

“That was a dementor,” explained Remus, “they guard Azkaban, I believe the ministry may have sent some to the guard the school from Sirius Black this year.”

“They make you relive you worst memories,” he said pulling out a large bar of chocolate and handing it around.

They all looked at the chocolate slightly confused.

“Eat,” he chuckled, “you’ll feel better.”

“Are you going to be ok little one?” asked Remus, “I need to go talk to the driver.”

“Hmmm,” muttered Beth as she took a slight nibble from the piece of chocolate, he had handed her.

“That’s my girl,” he beamed kissing her on the forehead before going out of the compartment.

“You ok?” asked Ron.

“Nobody else heard the screaming?”

“No,” Ginny stammered, “but I heard Tom.”

“Worst memories,” said Luna dreamily, “that must mean that the dementors must be worse for people who have had difficult lives, that seems slightly harsh.”

“Agreed,” nodded Zia.

Ginny was shaking slightly as she nibbled at her chocolate, the others ate their chocolate and seemed to have been unaffected by the dementors.

Beth however was traumatized, there had been a loud screaming in her head, and she didn’t know why, but it was more than that, she was the only person in the compartment that had fainted, did that mean that she was weak?

“The driver says we’re nearly there,” said Remus coming back into the compartment, “we’ll be there in about ten minutes.”

Remus sat back down, and Beth leaned into him still slightly confused as to why she had reacted so badly.

“Eat the chocolate little one,” he chuckled, “I’m not making it up, you’ll feel better.”

Beth looked at the chocolate in her hand and took a small bite from her chocolate and did feel slightly better. She ate the rest of the chocolate and warm glow started to fill her body.

“Thanks,” she muttered smiling slightly.

“That’s ok,” he chuckled giving her a hug.

Soon after that the train pulled in at the station.

They all got off the train and headed on the horseless carriages back to the school.

When they got to the school Professor Sprout was waiting in the Entrance Hall for them.

“Miss Potter,” said Professor Sprout, “may I have a word with you?”

Beth looked nervously from Remus to Ginny.

“You’re not in trouble dear,” she said gently.

“It’s ok Beth,” said Remus giving her a small nudge, “you’ll be alright.”

Beth nodded slightly and followed Professor Sprout down to her office.

Beth sat down on the opposite side of the desk from Professor Sprout and stared down at her shoes.

“The reason I need to talk to you is because Professor Lupin sent an owl and said you had had a severe reaction to the dementors on the train,” she explained.

“We wanted to check that you were alright.”

“I’m fine,” muttered Beth pulling at a lock of her hair.

“Madam Pomfrey still wants to give you a quick check over if that’s alright though dear.”

Beth nodded slightly; she was still feeling a bit shaken up even after the chocolate Remus had given her.

Madam Pomfrey came bustling into the room, she had clearly been waiting outside the whole time.

“Hmm,” muttered Madam Pomfrey checking Beth’s forehead, “slightly clammy and bit weak, but that could be from the fainting.”

“Perhaps some chocolate?” asked Sprout.

“My thoughts exactly,” said Pomfrey.

“Uncle Remus already gave me some on the train,” said Beth looking up at them.

“At least we’ve finally got a Defence teacher who knows his antidotes,” sighed Pomfrey.

“Could I just go to the feast please?” said Beth in barley above a whisper.

“Of course dear,” said Sprout.

“Just come to see me afterwards alright?” asked Pomfrey.

Beth nodded as she left the room and headed up to the Great Hall where they had just finished the sorting.

Ginny had clearly been explaining all about what had happened with the dementors and the train and why Beth wasn’t there, as all the third year Hufflepuff’s looked at her nervously as she walked over to the table.

There was a space next to Susan and Cedric who had been talking to Artie.

“Beth!” screamed Susan as Beth came over to the table.

Susan leaped up from the table and gave Beth the biggest hug she had ever seen.

“I was so worried,” sobbed Susan, “Ginny told us that you fainted, I should have been there for you, I’m so sorry.”

“Susie,” said Ernie shaking his head, “she’s fine, let the girl breath.”

“I’m sorry Beth,” sobbed Susan still clinging onto her as they sat down.

“I’m fine,” sighed Beth who hated having all the attention on her.

Ernie nodded in understanding as the food arrived on the plates.

“I suggest we all raise our glasses!” called Ernie.

“To our newest prefect!” he said beaming and raising his glass in the air.

“Oh God,” muttered Cedric hiding his head in his hands.

“Well done Ced,” said Artie laughing as she raised her glass.

“Thank you guys,” he chuckled, “but please don’t make fun of me for it, Fred and George haven’t let off for one minute for the last month, they’re telling me I’m going to turn into Percy.”

“Firstly,” interjected Beth, “Percy’s gotten better, and secondly, you’re the house Quidditch star, nobody would ever make fun of you for long.”

“Thanks Beth,” laughed Cedric.

Beth didn’t really eat very much dinner; she was still feeling weird from the dementor attack. She mostly just listened into the other’s conversations.

“At least have some ice cream,” coaxed Susan.

Beth shrugged and a scoop of chocolate ice cream which did make her feel slightly better. She was starting to worry that perhaps she was weak which was why she had fainted earlier.

At the end of dinner, everyone started to head back to the Common Rooms, Remus was standing at the exit to the great hall and stopped Beth on the way out of the hall.

“You ok Beth?” asked Remus.

“I’m fine,” she muttered, trying to push his way past him, she had promised Pomfrey she would visit after dinner.

“No you’re not,” he said gently putting his hands on her shoulders, “you hardly touched your dinner, do you want to talk?”

Beth bit her lip slightly and glared at Susan who had gone to go talk to Remus towards the end of dinner and had clearly told on her.

“I’m going to go back to the dorm,” stammered Susan running off to the Common Room to avoid Beth’s glare.

“Come on,” he said leading her to his rooms, “you’ll feel better if we talk.”

He had a small sitting room which had a bedroom and a bathroom attached.

“Ok,” sighed Remus as he sat down on the sofa next to her, “what’s troubling you?”

Beth bit her lip.

“Is this about the dementors?”

Beth nodded slightly.

“Uncle Remus,” she whispered, “do you think I’m weak?”

“What?” he asked slightly shocked at the question.

“Do you think I’m weak,” she repeated slightly louder.

“Elizabeth Lily Potter,” he said firmly putting his arm around her, “you are one of the strongest bravest young girls I have ever met.”

She looked at him uncertainly.

“I’m sorry but what other thirteen-year-old girls do you know who can face and defeat Voldemort one time let alone three?”

“I mean last year you killed a Basilisk for Merlin’s sake,” he said shaking his head, “you are not weak!”

“Then why did I faint on the train!” she stammered before bursting into tears.

“It’s ok sweetheart,” he said softly stroking her hair, “Dementors make people remember their worst memories, they affect some people worse than others.”

“Nobody else fainted,” she sobbed.

“Nobody else in that compartment has been through the same things as you. You watched your parents die, and that’s before you move on to what your Aunt and Uncle put you through.”

Beth nodded slightly still crying.

“There was a woman screaming, I thought I was hearing voices, like last year.”

“You weren’t hearing voices little one,” he sighed, “that was just the memory in your head.”

Remus fished in his robe pocket and pulled out a bar of Honeydukes chocolate.

“I don’t know why,” he said, “but chocolate has some kind of magical power.”

“It’s your favourite flavour,” he pointed out.

“Popping candy?”

“You bet,” he beamed as he broke her off a large piece of chocolate.

She took the piece of chocolate and bit into it. The candy popped on her tongue as the chocolate slowly melted in her mouth.

Strangely she did feel much better.

“Better?” asked Remus.

Beth nodded smiling at him.

“There are two ways to feel better when you’re feeling upset,” chuckled Remus, “one way is to have a good cry, the other way is to eat chocolate, I usually go for a combination of the two.”

“Now get along with you,” he said beaming, “if I keep you here any longer Pomfrey will think I’ve kidnapped you.”

“Ok,” she sighed giving him a hug as she got up to leave.

She headed down to the Hospital Wing where Madam Pomfrey was waiting for her.

“I was wondering where you’d got to,” she said shaking her head.

Beth took a seat on one of the beds and Pomfrey brushed the fringe off of Beth’s forehead.

“Hmm,” she muttered checking the forehead, “you’re not clammy anymore and you certainly look better.”

“Uncle Remus talked to me after dinner and we talked about it and he gave me some chocolate. He said that nothing makes you feel better than a good cry and some chocolate.”

“Well he’s right,” said Pomfrey shaking her head, “you seem to be fine, you’re free to go.”

“Thank you,” said Beth hopping down from the bed and headed back to the Common Room. She went up to her dorm where there was five beds this year rather than four.

“Hey Beth!” called Hannah as she unpacked.

“Hi guys,” said Beth kneeling down by her trunk to start unpacking.

Ginny was unpacking her trunk between Beth and Hannah’s beds. Professor Sprout had thought that since Ginny spent so much time in the older girls dorm, and there were no other Hufflepuff girls in Ginny’s year, then Ginny should move into the third years room.

“You ok now Beth?” asked Susan coming to help Beth unpack.

“Yeah I’m fine, I talked to Remus.”

“Oh!” exclaimed Susan as they took out the record player, “can we play some records!”

“Maybe another time Sus,” sighed Beth as she finished unpacking, “I’m a bit tired.”

Beth went to go and get into her pyjamas, as it had been such a long day and they all had class tomorrow the other four girls headed to bed before long.

Beth settled back into her pillows as Guinevere paced back and forth by the entrance to the dorm.

She drifted off into an uneasy sleep that was full of screaming and a flashing green light.

She woke up dripping sweat like she did from most nightmares, but what made it even more scary was that she didn’t even know what it had been about.

She hopped out of bed and crept over to Susan’s bed.

“Sus,” she whispered hopping onto Susan’s bed, “you awake?”

“Hmm?” muttered Susan drowsily.

“Can I sleep here tonight?”

“Nightmare?” asked Susan rolling over to face her.

“Hmmm,” muttered Beth.

Susan pulled her in close under the covers and Beth fell back to sleep almost instantly.