Chapter Six
When Halloween came, the mood among Holly and her friends was somber. Holly had quietly informed them of her intention to stay in the dorms for dinner, and they all understood. Lupus had gently held her hand throughout the day, offering silent support. All except Hermione were feeling the weight of the day.
Halloween had left scars on each of them; Holly's parents had died to save her on this night, Lupus's father had been incarcerated the next morning, and a day later, Neville's parents had lost their sanity. The day held too many painful memories.
After Charms ended, Ron hurled some particularly hurtful comments at Hermione. He was frustrated with his own struggles in class and took it out on her for trying to help. Hermione, always sensitive about having friends and being called a know-it-all, ran away crying. Holly and Neville tried their best to comfort her and coax her out of the bathroom, but Hermione was too distraught to listen.
Surprisingly, or perhaps unsurprisingly, it was Lupus who finally managed to reach her. He knocked softly on the bathroom door and spoke to Hermione in his calm, steady manner.
"Hermione, we're all here for you. Please come out. We're your friends, and we need you just as much as you need us.”
After a few moments of silence, the door slowly creaked open, and Hermione stepped out, tears still streaming down her face. Lupus gave her a reassuring smile and a gentle hug, and they all walked back to the Gryffindor common room together.
Apparently the fact that it was Lupus, who spoke very little, mattered a lot.
Deciding to skip the Halloween feast, the quartet settled into their usual corner of the common room. Lupus quietly called Pip, the house-elf, and asked for a picnic basket. Within moments, Pip returned with a basket filled with an assortment of sandwiches, pastries, and pineapple juice. The familiar comfort of the house-elf's food and the warmth of the common room helped lift their spirits a little.
They spread a blanket on the floor and sat down to enjoy their makeshift picnic. Holly, Hermione, Neville, and Lupus shared stories and memories, the laughter and light-hearted moments gradually dispelling the gloom that had settled over them. Despite the sadness the day brought, being together made it bearable.
As they were finishing their meal, the common room door burst open, and a frantic Percy Weasley who was prefect led the students in. Apparently a troll was sighted in the dungeons and the Halloween feast was cancelled.
"Good thing we stayed here," Neville whispered, his eyes wide with shock.
"Yeah," Holly agreed, squeezing Lupus's hand. "We're safe here.”
They spent the rest of the evening in the common room, listening to the distant sounds of teachers and prefects dealing with the troll. It was a sobering reminder of the dangers lurking within Hogwarts.
By the time they retired to bed, the tension of the day had eased. They were exhausted but grateful for each other's company. Halloween would always be a difficult day, but maybe they had found a way to support one another and find solace in their shared bond.
Christmas arrived surprisingly quickly for the quartet, who found themselves immersed in their schoolwork to the point of losing track of time. Lupus and Holly were set to return to Black Hall for the holidays, where Aunt Cassie eagerly awaited them as she had mentioned in her letter. Neville also invited the other three for tea, so he could introduce his best friends to his grandmother.
Hermione politely declined the invitation, explaining that her parents had planned a vacation abroad, though she clearly appreciated the gesture nonetheless.
Therefore, when Professor McGonagall asked which students would be staying at Hogwarts for the holidays, Holly did not sign up. Lupus somehow arranged for Pip to collect them from the Express, a measure taken to spare Lord Black's declining health, ensuring a smooth transition from Hogwarts to Black Hall for the holiday break.
The train journey back to London was filled with lively conversation, their compartment buzzing with the excitement of upcoming Christmas plans—or Yule, as it was known in the Wizarding world. Hermione, ever the curious one, kicked off the discussion, eager to learn about the differences between magical and Muggle celebrations.
"I'm really curious about how you all celebrate Christmas...or Yule, I guess," Hermione began, her eyes bright with interest. "I've read a bit about it, but I'd love to hear more from you.”
Neville's face lit up with enthusiasm. "Well, Yule is a bit different from Muggle Christmas. It's rooted in pagan traditions and has a lot of unique customs. For instance, we usually have a Yule log, which is burned for twelve days to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits."
"That sounds fascinating," Hermione said, leaning forward. "What else do you do?"
"We also decorate with holly, ivy, and mistletoe," Neville continued. "And there's a lot of emphasis on feasting and celebrating the return of the light since Yule marks the winter solstice. It's the longest night of the year, so from then on, the days start getting longer again."
"Wow," Hermione breathed, her mind clearly turning over the information. "And do you give gifts, like in Muggle Christmas?”
"Yes, we do," Neville nodded. "There's a lot of gift-giving, but it's often more about homemade items or things with special magical significance. And we also have a lot of magical fireworks and enchanted decorations. It's a really beautiful time of year."
As Neville spoke, Lupus listened quietly, occasionally glancing up from his book written in Chinese or another unfamiliar Asian language that intrigued him. He didn't engage much in the discussion, preferring the quiet absorption of his reading, but he would interject a comment or two.
"Don't forget about the feasts," Lupus added at one point, looking up briefly. "The food is always incredible, and there's usually a lot of singing and storytelling.”
Neville and Hermione continued to discuss the finer points of Yule traditions, with Neville explaining the significance of various magical customs, like wassailing, which involved singing to the apple trees to ensure a good harvest in the coming year. Hermione's eyes widened with every new piece of information, her excitement evident.
"You'll have to come over sometime and see for yourself," Neville said warmly. "Gran always makes a big deal out of Yule. It's really special."
"I'd love that," Hermione replied, beaming.
As the train continued its journey, the friends shared more stories and plans for the holiday season. Hermione spoke about her parents' Christmas traditions, and Neville added more details about the magical celebrations. Lupus would chime in now and then with a thoughtful comment or an interesting tidbit from his book.
Holly, meanwhile, let their voices wash over her, feeling the warmth and comfort of the conversation. The rhythmic rocking of the Hogwarts Express soon lulled her into a state of relaxation. She listened to her friends' voices mingling with the sounds of the train, their laughter and chatter, a soothing background melody.
As she felt herself getting drowsy, Lupus gently tugged at her braid, a familiar and comforting gesture. She shifted closer to him, settling against his shoulder. The warmth of his side and the gentle hum of conversation around her made it easy to drift off into sleep.
Pip waited at a discreet distance, patiently anticipating the arrival of his 'Young Master Lupus' and 'Little Miss Holly'. His ears perked up at the sight of the two children weaving through the bustling crowd of King's Cross Station.
Before they could depart for Black Hall, they were introduced to Dowager Lady Augusta Longbottom and the Doctors Granger.
Neville, visibly nervous, stuttered a bit during the introductions but managed to present his friends formally. "Gran, these are my friends, Holly Potter and Lupus Black. Holly, Lupus, this is my grandmother, Dowager Lady Augusta Longbottom.”
Lady Augusta pursed her lips, her eyes narrowing as she scrutinized each child. Holly couldn't help but feel a pang of nervousness under the older witch's intense gaze, which reminded her of Aunt Cassie.
"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance," Lady Augusta finally replied, her tone stiffly polite. Her gaze lingered particularly on Holly, while Lupus seemed almost overlooked in her assessment. "We will send a more specific invitation for tea to you and your guardians in the coming days."
Holly and Lupus exchanged a quick glance, each understanding the other’s discomfort. "Thank you, Lady Augusta," Holly said, mustering her politeness.
"Yes, thank you," Lupus added, equally courteous.
That had gone about as well as expected, so the trio wished Neville and his strict grandmother a happy holiday. Neville's face relaxed as he hugged his friends goodbye. "Have a good holiday, everyone. See you soon."
"You too, Neville," Holly said warmly.
"Take care, Neville," Lupus added, clapping him on the back.
As they turned to leave, they spotted Hermione and her parents. The Doctors Granger were quite welcoming, affirming Holly's suspicions regarding Hermione's nonexistent history with friendships prior to Hogwarts.
"Hello, Hermione! You must be Mr. and Mrs. Granger," Holly greeted with a warm smile.
"Call us Jane and Dan," Mrs. Granger said, her eyes crinkling in a friendly manner. "It's lovely to meet you both. Hermione has told us so much about her wonderful friends."
Mr. Granger shook their hands firmly. "Indeed. It's good to finally put faces to the names we've heard so much about."
Holly and Lupus tentatively accepted a spontaneous invitation to visit over the next school break. "We'd love to have you over," Jane Granger said. "Hermione speaks so highly of you."
"That sounds lovely," Holly replied, genuinely touched by their warmth. "We'd be happy to come.”
"Absolutely," Lupus agreed. "Thank you for the invitation."
After a short bout of meaningless, polite small talk, the group finally managed to find Pip. The house-elf stood discreetly in the background, waiting patiently. With a nod from Lupus, Pip transported them back to Black Hall, unseen and unheard in the commotion of the platform.
As they reappeared in the familiar surroundings of Black Hall, Holly let out a small sigh of relief. "Well, that went better than expected."
Lupus chuckled. "Indeed. Though I can't say I'm looking forward to tea with Lady Augusta.”
Holly smiled. "We'll manage. We always do."
"Yes, we will," Lupus agreed, his hand tugging gently at her braid. "Together.”
Lord Black was working in his study when the children arrived while Aunt Cassie was in the library. Pip vanished with their trunks, presumably to unpack said luggage. The two First Years quickly greeted their elders as was custom, before dressing for dinner.
Lord Black almost smiled at his great-grandson and future great-granddaughter-in-law. He had been slightly disappointed that Lupus was not Sorted into Slytherin, yet understood that his Heir had chosen to be in the same House as his betrothed for better protection. Politically speaking, this decision was not necessarily the best, but, for the sake of their future bond, residing in the same dorms provided more opportunities to get to know Lupus's future wife.
A week into their stay, Lord Black asked Lupus to come to his study. The old man had begun to deepen his lessons on Family Magick, so Holly didn't think to question it overly much. She had learnt that she would have to visit her ancestral home to learn more about her own Family Magick.
Instead she used the free time to drink tea with Aunt Cassiopeia, exchanging gossip about the (grand-)children of Madam Black's acquaintances.
"So the little Malfoy Heir has forgotten his manners in his innate arrogance?" Aunt Cassie was amused when the younger witch complained about her self-proclaimed rival.
Holly sighed resignedly. She knew those words were actually an order to report concisely.
"He stormed into our compartment on the train without knocking, addressing me by my first name without permission and demanding to know who I was. He persistently attempts to undermine a long-standing ally of House Potter and frequently provokes Lupus and me by insulting our parents and heritage, publicly questioning Lupus's status as the Black Heir, and finding every conceivable way to disparage my female friend.”
Then the young heiress took a deep, calming breath. "When he loses a verbal sparring match, he usually exclaims something about how his father would hear about this or that."
Aunt Cassiopeia shook her head. "Quite sad. And you are absolutely certain Heir Malfoy is a Slytherin, Holly?"
The younger witch nodded resolutely, “He was Sorted within seconds."
"What have you planned in retaliation?"
Holly related her plan, as well as several contingencies, to the woman who was teaching her everything important to know as the Heiress of an Ancient House.
Afterward, Aunt Cassiopeia offered several suggestions in order to help her great-niece to improve her subtle revenge.
"I'm looking forward to our next tea party, Holly. Please feel free to write to me. My elf shall pop over any letters you may have for me," the older witch decided happily.
Poor Malfoy would never know what happened to him.
Lupus accompanied his betrothed to Longbottom Manor, having accepted the invitation for tea. Lord Black stayed home, but Aunt Cassiopeia joined the two children on their outing, as their official chaperone.
Augusta Longbottom, the Dowager-Lady, stood rigidly in the Floo reception parlor, right next to her anxious grandson. Everyone exchanged polite greetings, almost stiffly polite. Then, the children were seated at a small table in the observatory, a few feet away from the older ladies.
"Augusta."
"Cassiopeia."
"This is from Lord Black. He has attempted to contact you several times in the past, but, for whatever reason, his correspondence always returned unopened. Arcturus hopes you would at least crack the seal if I deliver his letter in person," Cassiopeia explained sharply, eyes boring challengingly into those of her once-friend.
Augusta refused to touch the offered parchment until Cassiopeia assured her magically that it was not cursed. Then the proud Dowager-Lady opened and read the following letter:
Dowager-Lady Augusta Longbottom,
Regent of House Longbottom,
It has come to our attention that your Lord and Lady have suffered a grievous injustice at the hands of Bellatrix Lestrange, a Daughter of House Black, and her associates. House Black wishes to extend its sincere apologies and offer compensation for your loss.
Firstly, we commit to fully funding the education of Heir Longbottom until he completes a Mastery or enters professional employment.
Secondly, all medical expenses incurred by Lord and Lady Longbottom at St. Mungo's will be covered by House Black, both retroactively and going forward.
Thirdly, Bellatrix Lestrange has been formally disowned from House Black. Her dowry has been forfeited, and her marriage contract annulled due to breach of trust. She, along with her husband and brother-in-law, are henceforth considered Oath-Breakers and are not welcome within our ranks.
Fourthly, House Black proposes a future alliance with House Longbottom, recognizing the growing bond between our Heirs.
Our Heirs have grown fond of each other, not to mention the long-standing Longbottom-Potter alliance. True friendship and loyalty are a rare commodity, too precious to be vilified or squandered. Heir Black trusts Heir Longbottom with the safety of his betrothed, so I, too, shall follow his example.
Cordially Yours,
Lord Arcturus Black
Head of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black
The Dowager-Lady folded the parchment thoughtfully. "I had no idea," she muttered softly.
Cassiopeia scoffed derisively. "Of course you didn't, Gusta. Gryffindor stubbornness blinded you to the world. From what I hear, your grandson has the potential to become quite formidable in the future, yet you smother him continuously with useless comparisons to a father he never knew. My sources even tell me that you refused to allow him a new wand, forcing the child to use his father's. It's a small wonder the boy manages to achieve the grades he has with a non-compatible wand. And dangling him out of a window? Not even Blacks do something this barbaric anymore! What has gotten into you, Augusta?"
The witch in question angrily drew herself up but then deflated in defeat. "I do not know. My grief seems to have eroded my common sense.”
"I would dare to say so! The Longbottom-Potter Alliance has stood for three hundred years, yet at the first sign of the last Potter vanishing, you let it fall apart. What would Charlus say? Or better yet, Dorea? They saved your Felix's life more than once during Grindelwald's War, not to mention how often the late Lord and Lady Potter fought alongside your son and daughter-in-law!”
“Morgana, Alice is Holly's godmother! You should have fought to have their wills read at the very least! What of the Wizengamot? You have withdrawn from the political circuit as well! Shouldn't you have secured the Potter Heiress as your alliance demanded? And if you did not manage to procure the child's custody, why have you forgotten to protect her interests? I am sure Charlus would be appalled by the decisions of her obnoxious proxy. He fought hard to loosen the laws in regards to peaceful lycanthropes! Or for the Wizarding Child Protection Act!”
Stunned, Augusta stared at her once-friend. Then she slumped her shoulders. "You are right, of course. I owe the child an apology."
Cassiopeia scoffed again, dismissing the other woman's words. "What good is an apology going to be? Get your pixies together and start to work on re-establishing the Alliance, you Gryffindor fool! If you wish to make amends, at least be useful about it!"
A startled laugh escaped the forbidding Dowager-Lady. Then she straightened her robes imperiously, and acquiesced silently. "Very well. Now, what have you taught the girl? She seems to have some acquaintance with our customs despite Albus's foolish decision to exile the last Potter."
A tiny smirk appeared on the white-haired Black's face. Then the two old witches set out to plot. They had a Wizengamot to conquer.
Holly smiled in visible relief when she saw the older witches starting to get along. "Do they seem to enjoy the tea too much, or are my eyes in need of another check-up?"
Neville cracked a relieved grin and Lupus rolled his eyes in her direction, slouching next to her, as usual. "At least they can't be discussing your future husband," the Longbottom heir teased good-naturedly.
Holly giggled in amusement. "No, but they may examine your future prospects more closely now!"
Neville's horrified face was priceless. Lupus choked on the tea in his mouth, and Holly laughed at both of them.
"Imagine if they start setting up appointments for tea just to talk about potential matches," Lupus said with a smirk, wiping his mouth with a napkin. "They'll be discussing pedigrees and dowries next."
Neville groaned. "Please, no. Gran already does that enough for both of us. The last thing I need is her getting more ideas."
Holly's eyes twinkled mischievously. "Oh, come on, Nev. Maybe she'll find you a nice, plant-loving witch."
Neville sighed, but a smile tugged at his lips. "As long as she can tell the difference between a Mandrake and a Mimbulus Mimbletonia, I suppose it wouldn't be too bad.”
“You know what Hermione would say if she were here?” Holly asked, sitting up.
“She would roll her eyes and say ‘Honestly, you three. Can't we just enjoy a peaceful afternoon without talking about arranged marriages?’” Holly continued fondly
"True," Lupus said, nodding. "And she would be right. How about we change the subject? Neville, what’s that plant you’re working on now?”
Neville brightened up immediately. "Oh, this?" He held up a small pot containing a delicate-looking plant with silver leaves. "It's Silverleaf. Very rare and sensitive to its environment. I've been trying to get it to bloom."
Holly leaned in closer, intrigued. "What's special about it?”
Neville's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. "When it blooms, the flowers are said to have healing properties. But it only blooms once every few years, and only if it's really happy. So, it's a bit of a challenge."
"That sounds interesting," Lupus said, genuinely impressed. "I had no idea there were plants like that."
Neville nodded eagerly. "There are so many fascinating plants out there. I could show you the greenhouses sometime if you'd like."
"I'd love that," Lupus replied, smiling warmly.
As Holly looked at her two friends conversing about the Silverleaf, she settled comfortably into her armchair, thinking about how content she was. The laughter and the camaraderie made her feel at home in a way she hadn't experienced before. This was her family now, and she wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.
The bustling crowd swirled around them as Holly, Lupus and Neville made their way to each other. Holly's eyes scanned the platform, finally catching sight of Hermione, who was waving enthusiastically.
"Hermione!" Holly called, waving back with equal enthusiasm. Hermione gave her a hug, her hands full of books.
“Oh Holly, you wouldn't believe how magical France was and their magical district was so big and it-”
“Breathe, ‘Mione,” Lupus interrupted with a small chuckle and the nickname seemed to startle Hermione off her thoughts.
“Yes, of course. Come on, I arrived early and saved us a compartment.”
As Hermione led them to the compartment she had saved, she thanked them for the useful gifts each had chosen for her and the other three thanked Hermione in return for the books she had given them. Holly had received a tome on advanced charms, Lupus an intricate study on magical creatures, and Neville a comprehensive guide to potion ingredients.
They settled into their compartment, the familiar hum of the train and the rhythmic clatter of the tracks a comforting background to their chatter.
"So, how was everyone's Christmas?" Hermione asked, setting her books aside and leaning forward eagerly.
"It was great," Holly began. "We visited Longbottom Manor. Lupus came with me and Aunt Cassie. Our aunts, well, they started off a bit rocky, but they ended up getting along surprisingly well. Right, Neville?”
Neville nodded, a smile playing on his lips. "Yeah, it was tense at first, but by the end, they were chatting like old friends."
Holly's eyes twinkled with mischief. "And Neville's face when Aunt Cassie mentioned future prospects was priceless!"
Neville blushed, making the others laugh. Lupus, meanwhile, had his nose buried in a new book, its strange symbols and artwork hinting at a foreign origin.
"What are you reading now, Lupus?" Hermione asked, craning her neck to see the pages.
Lupus looked up briefly, a smirk on his face. "Just a comic book I found over the holidays. It's in Japanese.”
Hermione's eyes widened in curiosity. "You can read Japanese?"
"Among other languages," Lupus replied nonchalantly, returning to his book.
Holly chuckled, watching her best friend with a mixture of amusement and admiration. "He's always been a bit of a genius with languages."
The gentle rocking of the train, combined with the soothing sound of her friends' laughter, soon lulled Holly into a peaceful sleep. She leaned against Lupus's shoulder, feeling safe and content. As the train carried them back to Hogwarts, the four friends' bond felt stronger than ever, ready to face whatever challenges the new term would bring.