Three Old Ladies Knit the Socks of Death
Dumbledore was conflicted. If you were to ask him, he still wanted to believe that what that strange woman said was foolishness. Seriously? Greek gods still existing? It was ridiculous. Throughout all the research he and Grindelwald did there was no indication of such a thing but as he reflected on what was read, he was beginning to see that may actually not be the case. If those so-called gods are still around then what about…
With a startling realisation, Dumbledore got a hunch on the type of beings the goddess was sending to help. He shook his head in disbelief. If they were around all this time then why did they let the wizarding world get to this point? Why allow Tom to cheat death and rise to power?
I was used to the occasional weird experience… had been our maths teacher since Christmas.
“The poor child,” Molly remarked. “He’s going to think he’s gone crazy at that rate. The least they could’ve done was performed the memory wipe on him if they refused to tell him anything.”
Every so often I would spring a Mrs. Dodds reference on somebody… Almost.
“10 galleons it’s Grover.”
“That’s a losers bet Freddie, no one with a brain would take you up on that,” chuckled Charlie. Thankfully he was distracted enough to not see the blush spreading on Ron’s face as he was about to take on the bet.
But Grover couldn’t fool me… Something had happened at the museum.
“Told you!”
“No one was doubting you boys, now please focus,” Molly admonished.
I didn’t have much time to think about it during the days… unusual number of small planes that had gone down in sudden squalls in the Atlantic that year.
“Weird weather and unexplained accidents. This is reminding me of the first war.” Moody frowned at the book in consideration. The signs were pointing to magic but he something in him was telling him this had nothing to do with wizards.
I started feeling cranky and irritable most of the time… I wasn’t even sure what it meant, but it sounded good.
This caused a good majority of the room to dissolve into laughter. Mrs. Weasley and Professor McGonagall in particular seemed to not be amused.
“A young boy at his age should not be using such language.” Mrs. Weasley said in disapproval. “Who is teaching him those words!”
“Mum, he’s an impressionable 12-year-old stuck in a Boarding school with different age groups. I wouldn’t be surprised if he picked up something. In fact, I…” Bill trailed off at the look he was receiving from his mother. He glanced around the room and made eye contact with Charlie, who shook his head and mouthed that he was on his own.
“What was that dear? In fact, you…?”
“Nothing Mum, nothing.” Molly stared at her oldest child as if she was going to say something, but after a moment she relented.
The headmaster sent my mom a letter the following week… I was homesick.
This caused everyone who’s ever been to Hogwarts, outside of Harry, to smile. They could relate to the feeling of missing home after being away for so long.
I wanted to be with my mom in our little apartment on the Upper East Side… obnoxious stepfather and his stupid poker parties.
The adults’ faces darkened, they didn’t like what that sentence was implying.
And yet… there were things I’d miss at Yancy… I worried how he’d survive next year without me.
“He’s a good friend, even when he knows that Grover is lying to him, he’s still looking out for his friend.” Tonks said with pride in her voice.
Sirius flinched at her words. Blind loyalty to friends is something he will never do again. Blind loyalty allowed for his brother in all but blood to die.
I’d miss Latin class, too – Mr. Brunner’s crazy tournament days and his faith that I could do well… I wasn’t sure why, but I’d started to believe him.
“At least he’s trying,” McGonagall said encouragingly. She looked at her Gryffindors before she continued. “Let this be a pre-warning before you all commence your OWL year and you Messrs. Weasleys, your NEWT year. Do not give up, even if it feels challenging, and try your best to keep studying.”
The evening before my final, I got so frustrated… And conjugating those Latin verbs? Forget it.
“Chiron is the original centaur in the myths, known as a good healer and trainer of heroes, Charon is the ferryman that rows spirits across the river Styx so they can face their judgment. I’m not quite sure about the other one but I’d love to research more.” Harry chuckled at his friend’s musings. Leave it to Hermione to start thinking of researching.
I paced the room, feeling like ants were crawling around inside my shirt… I didn’t want to leave Yancy Academy with him thinking I hadn’t tried.
“That’s right students, never be afraid or ashamed to come to a teacher for help,” Flitwick stated. “We only want the best for you and your education.”
I walked downstairs to the faculty offices…worried about Percy, sir.’
“Gossiping with the teacher Grover,” George said in disapproval. “Such a shame, and we wanted to like you.”
“That’s right George, he’s practically fraternising with the enemy.” Fred lowered his head in disappointment.
I froze… best friend talking about you to an adult.
“He has a point,” said Harry. “If I was passing and heard Ron or Hermione talking to a professor and bringing up my name I’d stop to find out. It’s suspicious.”
I inched closer… We need the boy to mature more.’
“Exactly, mature more. Whatever is happening shouldn’t be including children. Allow them to grow up first!” exclaimed Mrs. Weasley. Harry and Sirius inhaled deeply but refused to say anything.
But he may not have time. The summer solstice deadline –’
“See Molly, whatever is happening, it doesn’t look like the boy can avoid it. It’s better to clue him in so he knows what’s happening. If you keep him ignorant, you’re leaving him defenseless to die.” Sirius said.
Molly opened her mouth to retort, but the thought of the children dying gave her a pause. She wasn’t an idiot. She knew Sirius was alluding to Harry and by extension her children. All she wants to do is keep them safe. She never wanted to possibly handicap them in any way where they could die.
‘Will have to be resolved without him, Grover… ‘You know what that would mean.’
Kingsley raised his eyebrows. The Grover child spoke about duties, it seems whatever ploy is happening Grover is way more involved than what they had given him credit for.
‘You haven’t failed, Grover,’ Mr. Brunner said kindly… Percy alive until next autumn –’
Molly whimpered but otherwise stayed silent. It was clear her worrying would not affect anything.
The mythology book dropped out of my hand and hit the floor with a thud… My heart hammering, I picked up the book and backed down the hall.
“At least he was smart enough to leave no evidence.” George muttered.
A shadow slid across the lighted glass of Brunner’s office door… I opened the nearest door and slipped inside.
“An archer’s bow?” questioned McGonagall. First the pen-sword and now a bow. This teacher had a suspicious number of weapons on hand.
A few seconds later I heard a slow clop-clop-clop… My nerves haven’t been right since the winter solstice.
Harry released a breath he didn’t realise he was holding, glad that Percy escaped.
‘Mine neither,’ Grover said. ‘But I could have sworn…Finally, I slipped out into the hallway and made my way back up to the dorm.
“Thank goodness he’s okay,” said Hermione. She blushed under the raised eyebrows she was getting but she didn’t say anything else.
“Hermione, you’re devolving to the dark side, huh, rooting for a young troublemaker escaping from authority. We’re so proud of you!”
“Leave her alone Fred!” Ginny defended her friend.
“Just saying Ginny dear, no harm no foul.”
Grover was lying on his bed, studying his Latin exam notes like he’d been there all night.
“So now he knows how to lie.” Ron said rolling his eyes in annoyance.
‘Hey,’ he said, bleary-eyed. ‘You going to be ready for this test?’... They thought I was in some kind of danger.
Sirius grumbled and leaned into Remus. Grover and this Brunner guy know the boy is in danger but refuse to inform him of anything. He didn’t put much stock in Brunner, he reminded him too much of Dumbledore. No matter how much he respected the headmaster, he has voiced his disagreements with the man’s love for secrets. So, Brunner aside, he wished Grover at least told him something, anything to reassure his friend that he wasn’t going crazy.
He felt a squeeze and looked at his shoulder to see Remus’s hand. He stifled his mind although his body relaxed further in comfort. At least he had Remus as company and could depend on him to not lie.
The next afternoon, as I was leaving… The next afternoon, as I was leaving.
“Do you think he got caught after all?” Fred questioned.
“I don’t think so,” Charlie responded.
For a moment, I was worried he’d found out… it’s for the best.
Harry grimaced. “Low blow.”
McGonagall was resisting the urge to face-palm. ‘He’s almost as bad as Severus when talking to students.’
His tone was kind, but the words still embarrassed me… sarcastic little kissing motions with her lips.
“Did he have to do it in front of everyone.” glowered Ginny.
Harry sighed, “Unfortunately some teachers,” he glanced at Snape, “have no tact and like to embarrass students in front of others. He frowned as he finished speaking. He never pegged Mr. Brunner as a teacher like that but maybe he was wrong. The book said his tone was kind so he probably just lacked tact.
I mumbled, ‘Okay, sir.’... My eyes stung.
Molly was furious, “what a horrid thing for a teacher to say to a student!”
Here was my favourite teacher, in front of the class, telling me I couldn’t handle it… But I was already gone.
“Okay, the man simply lacks a tactful bone in his body,” commented Sprout, “He was telling him he’s not normal, probably trying to inform him of his wizard status.”
“They should have sent someone else if that’s the case,” McGonagall grumbled.
On the last day of the term, I shoved my clothes into my suitcase… I was a nobody, from a family of nobodies.
Ron exhaled. He could relate to that feeling. It was hard being in Hogwarts when it was publicly well-known that your family was perpetually poor. He grimaced as he remembered his embarrassment of last year’s Yule Ball.
They asked me what I’d be doing this summer… I’d go to school in the autumn.
“Why would someone his age be working?”, Molly wondered. “He should be spending all his focus on his schooling.
Oh,’ one of the guys said. ‘That’s cool.’ … so, there we were, together again, heading into the city.
“It’s nice that they’re still together. Grover cares for Percy, despite the secrets.” Tonks said.
During the whole bus ride, Grover kept glancing nervously down the aisle, watching the other passengers… But there was nobody to tease him on the Greyhound.
“He’s not making it easy on himself at all.” chuckled Fred. this kid really doesn’t know how to lie to save his life.
Finally, I couldn’t stand it anymore. I said, ‘Looking for Kindly Ones?’
“Way to give a bloke a heart attack,” laughed George, “he just sprung it on the guy like that.”
“That’s a good interrogation technique, Mr. Weasley,” interrupted Moody, “especially when dealing with the bottom feeders. Let them know you already know so they might as well just spill.”
Grover nearly jumped out of his seat. ‘Wha – what do you mean?’... I mean,
hallucinating about demon math teachers…
“But this Grover is holding out well with his lie, even though it is an awful obvious lie.”
“They shouldn’t let him believe he’s going crazy,” Sirius stated. “They might just gaslight him into actually being crazy.”
‘Grover –’ … His ears turned pink.
“And he has such an obvious tell too,” the twins said.
From his shirt pocket, he fished out a grubby business card… Long Island, New York (800)009-0009.
“What’s a Keeper and what’s Half-Blood Hill?” there was a brief moment of silence before Hermione realised the question was aimed at her. She gathered herself and responded.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know any muggle profession by that name and I have never heard of a Half-Blood hill in America before. None of my friends in Long Island have ever mentioned such a place.”
‘What’s Half –’... ‘Why would I need you?’
“I understand he’s a bit upset right now but that’s no way to talk to your friend,” Bill frowned. Ron winced and hid his grimace. What would his brother think if he found out he practically abandoned his best friend for the first half of last year? That frown would surely be directed at him instead.
It came out harsher than I meant it too… And here he was acting like he was the one who defended me.
“When he puts it that way, Grover protecting him does sound ridiculous.” Ginny reasoned.
‘Grover,’ I said, ‘what exactly are you protecting me from?’
“That’s the thousand galleon question,” grumbled Moody.
There was a huge grinding noise under our feet…, just three old ladies sitting in rocking chairs in the shade of a maple tree, knitting the biggest pair of socks I’d ever seen.
Hermione furrowed her brows at that detail. She knew of a tale of three women in Greek mythology. But surely it couldn’t be? She thought back to all of the previous Greek references but shook her head perishing the thought. There was simply no way that was the case.
I mean these socks were the size of sweaters, but they were clearly socks… The weirdest thing was, they seemed to be looking right at me.
“Well, that’s not ominous at all,” Fred sarcastically commented.
I looked over at Grover to say something about this and saw that the blood had drained from his face… ‘Not funny, Percy. Not funny at all.’
That caused a lot of people to shift in concern at the unease in Grover’s voice.
The old lady in the middle took out a huge pair of scissors – gold and silver, long-bladed, like shears. I heard Grover catch his breath.
Hermione released a shaky breath and was shaking her head, as if in denial.
‘We’re getting on the bus,’ he told me. ‘Come on.’... Sasquatch or Godzilla.
The twins chuckled but it had a forced tinge to it. Even they understood the severity of the situation, even if they didn’t understand what exactly was happening.
At the rear of the bus, the driver wrenched a big chunk of smoking metal out of the engine compartment… I started feeling feverish, as if I’d caught the flu.
Hermione whimpered.
Grover didn’t look much better… ‘What are you not telling me?’
“Something we’d all like to know.”
He dabbed his forehead with his shirt sleeve… ‘The middle one took out her scissors, and she cut the yarn.’
Hermione let out a quiet squeal, looking like she was going to burst into tears at any moment.
He closed his eyes and made a gesture with his fingers… ‘Always sixth grade. They never get past sixth.’
Mrs. Weasley exclaimed in disbelief, “What does he mean by they never get past sixth grade!” sixth grade, if what she inferred was true, was Hogwarts starting age. Why were 11/12-year-olds dying?
‘Grover,’ I said, because he was really starting to scare me.
“Yeah, he’s starting to scare us too,” George muttered.
‘What are you talking about?’ … No answer.
“If he believes his friend is to die, why is he staying silent,” Sirius was glaring at the book with such intensity it was a wonder it didn’t catch fire.
‘Grover – that snipping of the yarn… like he was already picking the kind of flowers I’d like best on my coffin.
“Alright, Hermione.” Harry’s voice cut through the tense silence, “Fess up, what do you know.”
“Yeah, that’s right,” said Ron, “you damn near burst into tears when it said the yarn was cut. What’s the deal.” Ron ignored his mother’s admonishment of his language as he stared at his friend.
“Okay. The-there’s a myth about three women called the Moirai who were responsible for the fates of everyone, even the gods. There was Clotho who spun the thread of fate starting someone’s life, Lachesis who measured the thread to determine the life of the person, and finally, Atropos, wh-who was responsible for cutting the thread of fate, ending the life of the person.”
Her explanation caused many gasps to go around the room. “So, you’re saying that, Percy is going to die an early death?” Arthur questioned.
“I’m not sure. I’ve never really heard of them deliberately showing a person their life thread but. Oh, I just don’t know!” at that moment Hermione finally dissolved into tears and Ron carried her aside to calm her down. Leaving the rest with a lot to think about.