Mildew Floweret

THE DAILY PROPHET

Sirius Black, possibly the most infamous prisoner ever to be held in Azkaban fortress, is still at large, the Minister of Magic confirmed today.

Although his several unsuccessful tries of reaching his Godson, Harry Potter, as well known as The Boy Who Lived, Black attepmted last night once again to beak-in Hogwarts. Severus Snape, authorized teacher from the Wizarding school assumes Black's old friend, Remus Lupin assisted the prisoner's escapement [ . . . ] An outrageous shock flies between the angry parents, wrathful by the way of the Headmaster's ignorrance, who employed a Werewolf. . .

* * *

Hello, Lucille

'Spose you have already read the Daily Prophet news. My father and I consider it's terrible the way they described such a lovely teacher as Professor Lupin. Dad said he's doing everything he can to amend a proper paragraph about him in the Quibbler. Remember what I've told you about Rowena's crown? It took a while, but dad finally finished to stick the last stone. Quite a mess it was, but worth it in the end. Any plans for the Summer? Quite boring, isn't it? Visit us if you'd like to, the address is enclosed below.

Lots of hugs,

Luna Lovegood X

* * *

Greetings, Lucy

Don’t know if you heard, but there’s a Quidditch World Championship taking place in England. Dad’s provided extra tickets from work (he works at the Ministry, you know) and we have an extra one. Lee said he’s bought a ticket himself, so if you’re interested in joining us, it’ll be a grand pleasure. Tell your dad to bring you a day before at the Burrow. We want to show you some new jellys we invented, they make your hair explode in colours.

Best wishes and don’t forget your toothpaste,

Fred and George Weasley

* * *

During the summer, Lucille found herself often alone, as Remus was rarely home. She suspected Dumbledore had given him some important task. One hot afternoon, a letter arrived from the Weasley twins, inviting her to join them for the Quidditch World Cup. They had an extra ticket and were eager for her to come along. Excited, Lucille immediately sought out Remus to ask for permission.

“Dad, the Weasley twins have invited me to the Quidditch World Cup,” she said, holding out the letter. “They have an extra ticket, and I really want to go. Please?”

Remus glanced up from his book, his expression immediately clouding with concern. “No, Lucille. You’re only fifteen. It’s too dangerous.”

“The Weasleys are good people,” she argued. “Arthur will be there with us. Why can’t you trust me? I promise I’ll behave myself.”

Remus sighed deeply, setting his book aside. “It’s not that I don’t trust you, Lucille. It’s that wizards from all over the world will gather there. It’s a massive event, and anything could happen. It’s too risky.”

Lucille’s face fell, her disappointment palpable. “So, you don’t trust me to take care of myself?”

“Of course I trust you,” Remus said gently. “But as your father, I have to think about your safety first.”

Lucille’s frustration bubbled over. “I bet Harry Potter is going. You always liked him so much. Why is it different for him?”

Remus’s eyes softened with understanding, but he remained firm. “Lucille, this isn’t about Harry. My decision stands. It’s too dangerous.”

Tears of frustration stung Lucille’s eyes as she stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her. She felt trapped and misunderstood, longing for the freedom and adventure that seemed just out of reach. The thought of missing out on the Quidditch World Cup, especially knowing that Harry might be there, only deepened her sense of isolation.

Remus, however, did let Lucille spend a weekend at the Burrow.

The atmosphere had shifted, arriving  as the warm rays hit in on firm land on an August evening, a funny-shaped house overlooking, meanwhile a ginger cat was trying unsuccessfully to catch gnomes which were hopping and jumping cheerfully through the garden.

Remus adjusted his coat as they were about to knock at the door of the Burrow whilst Lucille was biting her lip, stopping him with a question,"So what did Dumbledore say in that mission you were off to? You have been awfully quiet ever since... eh, you know.”

He did not look her in the eyes, saying firmly, ”Nothing that concerns you, it is about my new job. And please address to him as Professor Dumbledore, as you are not the same age as him,” he knocked then three times.

”Doubt I’ll ever be,” she muttered, ”Any news of Siri—erm—Padfoot?”

Lucille was being awfully ignored, him trying to knock again but Mr Weasley opened the door. He was narrow and tall—Percy undoubtedly inherited it—wearing glasses and balding, welcoming with a warm ”Good evening! You must be Professor Lupin!” and shaking his hand, followed by Mrs Weasley, with her nicely rounded face and wearing a flowered apron, ”Welcome, welcome! We are dining on the terrace, feel free to join us!”

”No, thank you, I have an important meeting to attend at dawn,” Remus kindly refused, ”I have come to drop Lucille off.” He turned then to his daughter, ”Behave yourself and stay out of trouble, and don’t spend all your galleons at once.”

”She has a nose for trouble, doesn’t she? We have two with the same habit,” winked Mr Weasley.

”Ah, let me help you with your luggage,” offered Mrs Weasley, leading her inside the warm living room, adorned with cherished cushions, all over the armchairs, and numerous plumped furniture covered the walls. This was the most agglomerated, yet homily place she has ever stepped into. ”Wash your hands before eating, dear.”

Lucille smiled quite embarassed while washing her hands in the kitchen, then cheers and screams were heard from outside. ”Ron has also invited his friends,” Molly Weasley explined, while from the window the shapes of three children playing quidditch on broomsticks were visible.

”Brilliant,” Lucille looked away in dissappointment, ”I suppose they’re—er—coming to the game as well? George and Fred never mentined in the letter...”

Molly Weasley was smiling quite proud, ”Ah, exciting, isn’t it? I don’t know where our Ron has managed to find such fine mates. Dear Harry is such a kind sweetheart, and talented, I daresay he’s part of the family. And Hermione, such a witty girl! She and Ginny were so handy and did most of the work in the kitchen.”

´Is it too late to leave?’ Seeing the woman talk this way, Lucille was reconsidering her choiches and tried to remember the reason she had decided to come there.  ”Heh. Sweet.”

”Oh, do come this way. You go ahead, I’m going to fetch another plate, the terrace is just through there.”

Mr Arthur and the twins were fortunately still sitting at the scrubbled wooden table, along with other three older Weasley brothers, Percy Bill and Charlie, who were still eating.

The two identical boys eyed her excitedly, ”There she is!” Fred moved aside to free a seat between him and George. ”We thought you got lost on the way.”

”Lupin is not to be underestimated,” Arthur appreciated, ”He knows his way around.”

”Professor Lupin was here?” an unexpectedly deeper voice said. Harry Potter was approaching from their little Quidditch match with the quaffle under an arm, his other one carrying the last model and super expensive broomstick, showing off,  in Lucille’s opinion.

”He just left,” Lucille said indifferently, ”He’s busy, you see?”

”Ah, she’s there too,” Potter rolled his eyes and turned back to his game.

”Potter?”

”What?” he turned only his head around.

She had noticed his black hair was longer and more ruffled, wet and sweaty, ”Have you got into a fight with your barber?”

He was amusingly insulted, ”I can see yours is longly pissed off by you. Trying to exceed Rapunzel?” Lucille gasped.

”Who is this Rapunzel?” George asked her quietly after Potter left.

”A girl with abnormally long hair,” Lucille said mockingly, ”I’m a girl with long hair, but I’m a girl. What’s his excuse?”

”I have to admit,” Fred was half trying to hide his laughter, ”That was a good one. Potter is quite funny, you should hear him fighting with Malfoy.”

Lucille narrowed her eyes, threateningly, and them both became serious and silent. The evening was spent in delightfullness and she was however pleased to find out the lovely and busy harmony of a numerous family, something she hadn’t experenced before. Subsequently  they filled their stomach, Fred and George disclosed her their room; small, but filled with cheerfulness, hidden in two boxes below a bunk bed an explosion of candies, sweets and bonbons.

George locked teh door and then lowered his voice, ”So, did you bring it?”

”Damn right I did!” Lucille revealed from her pockets a wooden box that looked rather old and dull. ”Ta-daah!”

Fred and George glared at eachother in confusion. ”Wow, that is—”

”—Something—that’s erm—it looks definitely--”

”That’s the thing you were talking about?”

”Yes,” Lucille answered proudly, ”My greatest invention so far. It took a great deal of work since we’re not allowed to do magic outside school, but I promise it is quite magical.” As she opened it, they saw nothing inside.

”Isn’t it...brilliant... a box!” George tried to seem impressed but was failing miserably.

”An empty one,” Fred offered the same unexcitement.

”What a keen observation! Well, it’s not just an empty box, you haven’t seen exactly what it does! Fetch me a bonbon.”

”What exactly does it do?”

”Just wait and see!” Lucille pu the bonbon inside, closed it and as it was opened again, the bonbon had vanished away. ”See?”

”You have created a box that makes things dissappear.” they still weren’t that impressed.

”No, you don’t understand. This box is the perfect hideout for stuff, for instance you can sneak in food during classes, then a teacher comes and makes and observation, and you ask, ´what food´?  They will probably search through your things, perhaps open the small box in which even a person could be fitted in and see nothing inside! This is just one way to use it, imagine all the things we can hide and get away with!”

”Well, how awesome is that?” She was finally impressing them.

”This is absolutely brilliant! Because we are facing an issue with Mum and our bonbons.”

”We have told you about our bussiness with candies, Weasley Wheezes, well Mum is not a fan.”

”She has thrown all our candy away—that’s what she believes—and is nowhere near to play ball with this.”

”But now, it seems like we have a new place to hide them,” Fred revealed the hidden boxes with various candies and George helped him pour all of them inside the little one. ”Mum will never find out,” said George with a wide, evil smile.

”I’m happy it helps,” said Lucille, ”It’s not like I had anything else to do, something fun, I mean. Summers are boring.”

”That’s such a Ravenclaw thing to say,” Fred said, ”It’s a shame you didn’t arrive earlier. You missed a great show when we terrorized Dudley.”

”Harry’s muggle cousin, who is an insufferable brat,” explained George.

”Mmm-hmm, who doesn’t know it. S’not like the whole school talks about him. Harry bloody Potter, our famous little hero,” Lucille made a disgusted face.

”C’mon Lucy, don’t be so judgy. He’s not like you think he is.”

”Yeah,” she laughed, ”Mr ´Look at me, everyone! I’m rich and perfect.’ Don’t be silly, my own father is a fan.”

”Wait ´till you get to know him. He may seem a little posh from the outside, but he really is humble and friendly,” George claimed.

”Whatever makes you feel happy. I, however, know him as it is and am not keen being around arrogant boys.”

”Lucy? How are we going to get our bonbons back?” Fred was shaking the box intensely.

”That’s the thing. You don’t. They are as good as lost.”

Fred and George gasped indignantly.

Lucille started laughing, ”Only joking, calm down. You just have to put your hand inside and grab them. The things aren’t truly lost, it’s just an illusion that blocks the Accio charm at the same time. You should’ve seen your faces,” she wiped out a tear.

Molly Weasley bursted inside, ”Well, your bed is all set in Ginny’s room, dear. Say your goodnights, you are to wake up early!”

”Didn’t know you had a curfew,” Lucille said mockingly.

”But Muuuum, she’s only just got here!” said George.

”I don’t want to hear it! There’s plenty of time tomorrow to do whatever you please. Now, Lucille...” she made a let’s-leave gesture.

As autumn arrived, an owl delivered a bundle of hand-me-down school supplies to Lucille. The items were worn and mismatched, a stark reminder of their financial struggles that prevented them from affording new supplies from Diagon Alley. Sighing, she rifled through the package, her fingers lingering over the frayed edges of a used textbook.

Later, she stumbled upon a copy of the Daily Prophet that Remus had tried to hide from her. It contained a scathing interview with Severus Snape, where he revealed Remus's condition as a werewolf and warned about the "dangerous" Sirius Black who had escaped from Azkaban. Lucille's heart sank as she read Snape’s malicious words, anxiety gnawing at her. She wondered how her peers would treat her now that Remus’s secret was out.

On the platform at King’s Cross Station, Lucille spotted the Weasley twins and hurried over to them. “So sorry I couldn’t make it to the Quidditch World Cup,” she said, her voice tinged with regret.

Fred and George barely glanced at her, their excitement still buzzing from the match. “No worries,” George said dismissively. “Lee Jordan filled the spot. It was brilliant.”

Feeling a pang of exclusion, Lucille forced a smile and asked, “May I join you in the compartment?”

Angelina, standing nearby, gave her an apologetic look. “Sorry, Lucille, but it’s quite full.”

Biting her lip to hide her disappointment, Lucille scanned the crowd for Padma or Michael Corner but couldn’t spot them. Feeling adrift, she continued down the train until she found Luna Lovegood alone in a compartment, reading a magazine upside down.

“Mind if I join you?” Lucille asked.

Luna looked up, her wide eyes sparkling with an odd sort of wisdom. “Not at all,” she replied serenely. “I could use the company.”