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"Finally, a useful proposition from you, Renshaw," the pureblood girl said. "I accept."
"Shut up, Greengrass. I'm the only one that's useful around here anyway."
"Anyway, when do you need us?"
"Now, preferably."
"Uncouth and ungraceful as always," she sighed, upturning her nose. "Very well."
"Don't you need to go get ready for the feast first though?" Blake asked.
"Why? Do I not look good enough already?" she smirked. The boy's mouth suddenly went dry.
"Uh - I'm-" Greengrass laughed, and Blake's ears reddened even more than they already had. Kill me now.
"Zabini!" he called suddenly, changing the subject. "Lupin called me and Greengrass to his office - we'll meet you and the girls at the Feast, alright?"
The boy poked his head out of their dorm room suspiciously.
"Are you sure you're not-"
"Don't make me hex you."
Zabini snorted.
"Shut up, Renshaw."
/
"I see," Lupin said, staring apprehensively at Greengrass. "So Ms Greengrass was your failsafe?"
"Actually, Professor, I already knew," Greengrass said, smiling slightly. "My father had heard about it before, and warned me."
"Oh?" Lupin said.
"But it was just precautionary," the girl said smoothly. "If they'd any real concern…"
"I wouldn't be teaching here," Lupin finished with a weak smile. "I see."
"Kipler!"
The house elf reappeared.
"You know what to do."
/
"That was easy," Blake muttered on their way to the feast.
"Apparently so," Greengrass said. "But it's a shame that you refuse to tell me what it is you're looking for in the Black's home. It might be in my family's resources too, y'know."
"It wouldn't be," Blake said. "I am 100% sure it wouldn't be."
"Blake!" a new voice shouted from afar as nearby people turned to look at them. Blake groaned mentally. Always have to be loud, don't you, Connor?
"What's up?" the now second-year grinned. "It's been ages since we've talked! Hi, Daphne!"
There's no way my little brother is on a first name basis with-
"Hello, Connor," Greengrass responded kindly - and smiling too! What the hell? She doesn't smile like that at me when she says hello!
"We spoke 2 days ago, Connor," Blake said, rolling his eyes. "Anyway, not much. You've been staying indoors, right?"
It was Connor's turn to roll his eyes as he turned to Greengrass.
"Every single time we talk, it's: 'Stay inside, Connor', 'there's Dementors, Connor', 'have you been practicing the spell, Connor?'! Like, seriously, it wouldn't kill to say 'How was your day, Connor?'!"
"Right?" Greengrass nodded in agreement. "It's like he thinks you're a baby!"
"Exactly!" Connor nodded enthusiastically. "Anyway, I've got to go. I'll see you guys later!"
As Connor sped off, Greengrass laughed at Blake's stunned expression.
"Since when are you and my brother friends?"
"Secrets, Renshaw," Greengrass smirked, putting a finger to his lips. "Secrets."
"Yuck!" Tracey said loudly, distracting Greengrass from the blush on Blake's face. Is she flirting with me?
"Shut up, Tracey."
"Get a room, you disgusting-"
"Zabini, I don't want to hear it from-"
"Food's here!" Charlotte interrupted loudly, and the distraction was successful in shutting them all up.
The Halloween Feast itself was always one of the highlights of the year, but Blake had learnt to be alert on those nights. First year, Quirrell let a troll into Hogwarts. Second year, the Chamber of Secrets was opened. The way it's going, this year, Sirius Black's going to enter the castle!
Surprisingly though, nothing happened, and although Blake was constantly on edge throughout the feast and even after, it was the most enjoyable one so far. Everyone was in good spirits - even Harry, who was so morose just hours ago, was enjoying himself. Connor was loudly living it up on the Gryffindor table too, and when Blake went to talk to them, he crossed paths with a familiar face.
"Nice to see you again, Blake," Cedric Diggory grinned.
"You too, Cedric," Blake smiled. "I never got to thank you for last year-"
"Don't even mention it," Cedric waved him off, "The Heir was found out very soon after you asked to look out for them, Blake," the older Hufflepuff grinned. "I don't suppose you know anything about that?"
The younger Slytherin held a goblet up to his face to hide his grin.
"Not got a clue what you're on about, mate."
Maybe Halloween isn't a cursed day, Blake thought as he cleaned up his room before going to bed.
"Out, all of you!" Snape's voice suddenly shouted from the hallway. "To the Great Hall now!"
What? Blake thought, confused, as he and Zabini walked.
As he made his way into the Great Hall, he saw the entire student population in, or coming into, the room.
Tracey, Greengrass and Charlotte somehow made their way next to them.
"What's going on?" Zabini asked Tracey.
"You haven't heard?" Tracey said grimly, casting a look towards Gryffindor. Blake's heart sank as he confirmed what he'd been suspecting since Snape called them into the Great Hall.
"The entrance to Gryffindor was attacked - by Sirius Black."
Blake couldn't help but sigh.
I spoke too soon.
As the group gossiped and argued on theories how Black got in, Blake was plotting silently.
Harry's going to definitely go after him now, isn't he? Blake sighed. Well, I suppose Dumbledore will watch him anyway.
"Lupin, Black and James Potter were all in the same friend group, y'know," Greengrass whispered to Blake suddenly.
"What?"
"My parents told me. They were in a group - called themselves the Marauders, if I remember correctly. They were at Hogwarts at the same time. Y'know the wizard that Black killed?"
"Peter Pettigrew, right?" Blake remembered from his reading of the war.
"Yeah - he was in it too. It was those four. Apparently, Potter and Black were like the Weasley twins."
"Damn," Blake said quietly. "That kind of betrayal…"
"Lupin's most certainly here to protect Potter, and to bring Black to justice - or at least, that's what my parents think."
"What?" Blake asked. "People suspect him too?"
"I wouldn't say people," Greengrass said thoughtfully. "Everyone that knows that Lupin's a werewolf, and that he was in their friend group - it's a fifty-fifty split, probably. Dumbledore clearly trusts Lupin-"
"Or he doesn't," Blake said harshly, "and he's trying to use Lupin to flush out Black, like Quirrell and Voldemort."
"Either way, it doesn't matter," Greengrass whispered as Percy Weasley bellowed at them to be quiet and sleep.
"Sirius Black's made his way into the castle. If we're going to do this, we need to do it soon."
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