A Wonder

She was dropping the last ingredient into the vial very carefully when someone shouted and ran past the room at full speed. She jerked at the sound and dropped to many droplets in. The potion fizzled out immediately becoming a thick black paste. 

She groaned loudly and grabbed the vial, throwing it down onto the ground and watching it shatter. 

Snape raised a calm eyebrow at the fit.

“Sorry” she mumbled and began cleaning it up. 

He flicked his wand and the mess disappeared. 

“I think that’s enough for today.” 

“But I—“ she started but loud clamoring and shouted from the halls overtook her voice and they both looked toward it. McGonagall walked into the room and motioned for Snape to come closer, speaking to him quietly. 

“—lack in the castle.” 

Ryleighs eyes widened at the end of the statement. Sirius Black.

Then McGonagall turned to her, “all students are to report to the great hall.” And she left. 

Snape looked back at her. 

“You heard her.” He said and she nodded, gathering her things she followed after him out into the hall. 

When they met with another group of students he gestured for her to join them and then he went in a separate direction. 

She searched the crowd for her friends. Finding Ginny with Ron Harry and Hermione she looked to them confused. 

“What’s going on?” She asked.

“Sirius Black tried to get into Gryffindor tower.” Ron explained.

“He’s in the castle.” Hermione said with a grimace looking to Harry. 

“He’s looking for me…” Harry explained.

She opened her mouth to offer something but came up short. 

“I’m sure the teachers will find him Harry.” Ginny said. 

“Come on, they want us in the great hall.” Said Hermione and ushered them forward. 

Xx

Ryleigh had found a spot on the ground next to her two friends. It was late and most everyone was asleep, aside from the fact that she could tell Harry was also wide awake. She could hear the professors talking as they moved along the room.

“I’ve searched the astronomy tower and the Owlrey sir but there’s nothing there.” Filch said probably too loudly for a room full of sleeping children. Then she heard Professor Flitwick say, “the third floor is clear too sir.”

And Dumbledore thanked them both.

“I’ve done the dungeons headmaster, no sign of black. Nor anywhere else in the castle.” Was Snapes tell tale voice. 

“I didn’t really expect him to linger.” Dumbledore responded.

She could hear two sets of footsteps receding from the great hall and the other two venturing further along the sleeping children. 

She squeezed her eyes shut as they got closer. 

“Remarkable feat, don’t you think? To enter Hogwarts castle on one’s own, completely undetected.” Snape asked.

“Quite remarkable yes.” Dumbledore said back.

“Any theories on how he might have managed it?” 

“Many, each as unlikely as the next.”

“You may recall, prior to the start of term I did express concerns about your appointment of Professor—“

“Not a single Professor at this school would have helped Sirius Black to enter it. No, I’m quite convinced the castle is safe. And I’m more than willing to send the students back to their houses.”

“What about Potter? Should he be warned?” Snape asked and Ryleigh thought about this Harry already knew whatever it was they thought they’d warn him about. 

“Perhaps. But for now, let him sleep.”

Xx

The next day they let them return to the house dorms but the student body was walking on egg shells everywhere they went. 

Ryleigh, Ginny and Luna had decided that they would go wherever they needed together rather than wondering alone and Ryleigh was glad about it. Something about waking alone to the dungeons for her potions workshop didn’t sit right with her. 

A few days later they walked her down for her workshop with Snape, after they dropped her  the girls left together and Ryleigh sighed. Snape wasn’t here yet which meant that she couldn’t start brewing. Instead she got all the ingredients together and ready and waited. 

She waited, and waited, checking the clock, reading through her own instructions over and over. 

He didn’t come. 

Ryleigh couldn’t tell if she was angry or upset that he’d never come. Either way two hours later she gathered her things and stormed out of the workshop down the hall alone. 

She found herself alone in an empty classroom all the sudden when she heard a door slam behind her, she spun and looked into the eyes of someone she’d never met. He had a green and black tie so he was a Slytherin with dark hair and eyes and light skin.

“What’re you doing wondering around alone Walsh?” He asked. He looked older than her, probably he was a fourth year and he was moving closer. She backed away from him nervously. 

“I… none of your business.” She said and swallowed hard. 

“Shouldn’t be alone though, who knows, maybe Black is in this room right now… hiding in the shadows, ready to POUNCE” he shouted the last word and kept toward her, knocking her backward into a desk, she slid over the top of it and back onto the ground, the wind knocked out of her lungs. The boy moved closer to her laughing, he leaned down into her personal space.

Then something growled from behind her and she shut her eyes tightly. The boy backed away from her slowly and panicked breath caught hold of him as a large black dog came crawling out the shadows. 

The dog continued growling and snapping its teeth at the boy who stumbled and scurried away. 

Ryleigh did the same but in the opposite direction, pressing herself up against the wall. The dog turned around and made calm eye contact with her. She stared at it, terrified but familiar. Then it ran out and she was left alone and confused, her head bleeding where she’d hit it on the floor. 

A moment later McGonagall and Snape ran into the room followed by the boy that had almost attacked her. She looked up at them and they met her gaze with concern. 

“Ms. Walsh are you alright?” McGonagall asked making her way to Ryleighs side. 

“I…” 

“Where’s it gone!?” The boy shouted. 

“What?” She asked, genuinely confused. 

“Mr. Pucey has suggested that you attacked him with a large dog.” Snape stated and looked rather unimpressed. 

“Seeing as you’re the one on the ground with a head injury and there is no dog I think I’ll ask you again Mr. Pucey. What occurred here?”

“But there was! I— she—“ he stuttered. 

“Ms Walsh? Your recount of the events?” He asked. 

“I was.. walking and he followed me and pushed me. I fell over the desk and hit my head… that’s all…” she lied, sort of. 

Snape hummed and looked back to the boy. 

“50 points from Slytherin for attacking another student.” He said then turned to push the boy out of the room, “and two weeks of detention for attacking a second year like a coward.” He said quietly to the boy who sulked and ran off. 

McGonagall helped pull Ryleigh to standing. 

“You’re bleeding dear.” She said as she looked over Ryleighs head. 

“This is the second time we have found you on the ground with a head injury Ms Walsh, you should take better care of the brain cells you have left.” Snapes snarky comment said, and normally she would have laughed but she was upset with him and couldn’t force it.

“Severus!” McGonagall tsked. 

“I’m fine Professor.” Ryleigh said to McGonagall, “not dizzy or nauseous, I’d just like to go to my dorm.” 

McGonagall looked to Snape and then nodded. “Yes, you don’t have anymore classes today?” She asked and Ryleigh thought. 

“I have history of magic” she said and McGonagall nodded. 

“I’ll take care of it.” Snape said and then turned to leave without another word. 

Minerva looked confused at the sudden departure but made no comment.

“I’ll walk with you up to the dorms.” She said.

“You don’t need to—“ Ryleigh started but the woman gave her a stern look and Ryleigh stopped. 

Xx

The next day was quidditch and for the first time in her schooling thus far she had an acceptable excuse not to go according to Ginny. It was pouring rain and she had no idea why anyone would want to go anyway. The entire school it seemed was empty as she walked around and decided where to sit. She couldn’t stop thinking about the dog. Why had she lied about it? What was it about the dog that made her feel.. safe in its presence. Beside the obvious fact that it had protected her from Pucey she couldn’t understand.  

She settled into a corner of the empty library and opened her book, even the staff had gone out to the game. 

Suddenly the dog from yesterday appeared in the doorway and she jumped. They made eye contact, wide hazel eyes meeting black calm ones. 

“H-hi…” she said awkwardly to the dog then kicked herself for talking to a dog but continued anyway.

“thank you for saving me yesterday…” she said awkwardly again. The dog tilted its head at her, it seemed to be focusing on her face. 

“Um… what are you?” She asked and the dog whined. 

“Do you understand me?” She asked and it seemed to nod. “Okay. Are you… an animagus?” The dog nodded again. 

“Do I… know you?” Another nod.

Something made a noise from the hall drawing her attention toward the door, when she turned back the dog was gone. 

She sighed, and walked to the doorway where the noise had come from. Crowds of soaking wet people were rushing past with injured kids. One Hufflepuff boy, a Gryffindor and Harry. She watched as they ran past, Hermione and Ron close at his side, Ginny trailing behind. 

Luna emerged at the end of the crowd and stopped next to Ryleigh.

“Hi” was all she said. 

“Hi” Ryleigh said back. “Want to come sit with me?” 

Luna nodded and Ryleigh led her back into the library. 

“You soaked.” She commented and Luna nodded. 

“Accio blanket” Ryleigh said and a warm red and gold blanket flew to her hand. She wrapped it around Lunas shoulders tightly. 

“How was the game?” She asked and Luna smiled. 

“The Hufflepuff seeker got struck by lightning and Harry fell off his broom cause the dementors came after him.”

Ryleigh looked at her a little shocked, “what is their obsession with him?”

Luna shrugged. 

“Do you wanna get changed and go hang out while everyone fawns over him?” She asked the blonde who nodded. 

Luna stood first and Ryleigh followed her to Ravenclaw tower.

Xx

She skipped her next meeting with Snape out of pure resentment and he noticed when she came to regular class the next day. He spent the entire time nagging her for everything and  she thought about how immature they were both being. The difference was she was 12 and he was a grown man. When the class was dismissed and she was gathering her things Ginny was waiting for her stubbornly not leaving when Snape approached. 

“You missed our meeting yesterday.” He stated.

“I did.” She snapped back, “you missed ours on Friday.” 

He raised an eyebrow at her and she held her breath. 

“I suppose you are correct.” He said finally. “Tomorrow. On time Ms Walsh.” 

She didn’t say anything but nodded and took Ginny’s arm, walking out together. 

“You are so dead.” Ginny laughed as soon as they left the room.

“I know” Ryleigh said back. 

Xx

She decided just before Christmas break that she would tell her friends about the dog. It had come back a few more times, watching hidden from the shadows and running away when she tried to approach it. 

“Who do you think it is?” Luna asked. 

“I don’t know. I have no idea.” She said.

“Maybe it’s your dad.” Ginny said and they both looked at her confused.

“What?” Ryleigh asked.

“I mean think about it. What do you know about your dad really? He disappeared when you were a baby and your mum doesn’t like to talk about it?” Ginny said and Ryleigh nodded. 

“Okay yeah but how would that make him a dog at Hogwarts?” She asked. 

“You said the dog was an animagus.” Luna supplied. 

“Anyone could be an animagus! Why would it be my dad? He’s never even come to see me at home!” Ryleigh said and huffed. 

“I don’t know, maybe ask your mum about him while you’re home.” 

Ryleigh nodded although unconvinced.