well this is an extremely late reply. I liked both of the chapters. I love how you made the story yours! kinda
Well I loved it! Cant wait for more!
PAMS!

Yeah, I wasn;t to pleased about how much quote-age there was in that chapter... I am going to try and reduce it!!

When Secret got off the train, she was surprised to be instantly swept into a bone-crushing hug by Ashley.
‘Hey lil’ Secret!’ he said cheerfully.
‘Ashley!’ she gasped. ‘Ribs!’
‘Yes, we all have a pair.’ He said, sounding bemused.
‘Funny.’ She snorted, rolling her eyes.
He chuckled and sat her on his shoulders. Waving his wand, her stuff vanished back home and so did Zelta’s cage. The owl hooted indignantly and flew around their heads, clicking his beak.
‘Where’s Uncle?’ she asked as Ashley walked out the station.
‘Somewhere else.’ Said Ashley idly.
‘Where?’ she asked.
‘I’m not allowed to spill, Andy wants it to be a secret.’ Chuckled Ashley.
‘Meanie.’
As he pushed the door open, Ashley yelled loudly ‘HONEY I’M HOME!’
‘Jeez Ash, no need to be so loud!’ groaned Jake, clapping his hands over his ears.
‘Anyone else regained use of their eardrums?’ called Jinxx.
‘What?’ shouted CC. ‘I cant understand you. Oh, hey Secret!’
‘Secret!’ said Jake, smiling.
Jinxx looked over and nearly feel off his seat. ‘What happened to your hair?’
Secret looked confused, and then pulled a lock of hair in front of her eyes. ‘Oh! I just changed to brown.’
‘Why brown, why not black?’ Jinxx got up and pulled Secret off Ashley, walked over to the sofa and sat down, her on his lap. Pulling his wand out, he tapped her hair, and it instantly went a gorgeous, rich, jet black.
‘Put some red highlights in!’ Ashley had come over.
Chuckling Jinxx tapped her hair again and red highlights appeared in.
‘Cool!’ Jake had looked up. ‘Reckon we should cut it?’
‘Noooo!’ Jinxx hugged her tight and glared at the other guitarist. ‘I think she looks lovely with her long hair!’
‘Jinxxie….’ Secret looked up at the man with big eyes. ‘When’s Uncle gonna be back?’
‘Soon lil’ Secret.’ Jinxx soothed. ‘He’s just gone for….’
‘JINXX!’
‘Sorry! It’s the eyes!’
‘Drat.’ Cursed Secret.
Jinxx chuckled and stood up, throwing her in the air and catching her again. ‘Cheeky witch, nearly got it out of me!’
Secret giggled as he caught her, threw her on the sofa and then started to tickle her.
‘Eeeeek! Stop! Please!’ she squealed.
‘Never!’ he laughed.
‘Stop murdering my niece!’
Strong arms scooped her up and she was rescued from Jinxx’s grasp.
‘Uncle!’
Andy hugged her tightly. ‘Heya Secret! I got some news for ya! And really for the other guys as well.’
‘What! What!’ she chanted.
‘For gods sake Andy, tell her before she explodes!’ said Snape, coming in behind them.
Andy grinned and said ‘We’ve all got the job! We officially now teach Muggle Music!’
‘What! Ohmygod, really!’ Secret exclaimed.
Andy grinned and spun her round in his arms. ‘Yup Secret!’
Snape rolled his eyes, before picking up The Daily Prophet that was lying on the table, sitting on the sofa and unfolding it.
If there was any colour in his face, it drained. His eyes widened and the paper slid out his loose grasp.
‘Sev?’ Andy looked at his older brother, concerned.
Jinxx crouched down and picked the fallen paper up. He looked at the front cover, and shock became written upon his face. Jake peered over his shoulder and his jaw dropped.
‘What?” asked Secret.
‘Secret Snape, you are no longer aloud outside this house without supervision.’ Said a choked up Snape
‘Huh? Why?’ asked Secret.
Jinxx turned the page round, and Secret felt Andy’s arms tighten round her.
Staring back at them was the gaunt, hollow face of Sirius Black.
‘Escaped?’ Ashley took the paper off Jinxx. ‘How? No one has ever escaped before!’
Secret was silent. She hid her face in Andy’s chest, feeling his hand smoother her hair down.

For the next few weeks, Secret was under what appeared to be constant supervision. For a while, she didn’t mind; she was scared.
But like all 13-year-olds, she began to crave her freedom.
So she started to sneak out.
But Snape always seemed to find her. He was one step ahead of her. He would bring her home, scold her, ground her, and then she’d have to sneak out again, and the cycle continued.
One day, near the end of august, she was hiding, in a tree, watching the birds fly free above her. She was almost jealous. They didn’t have her problems, her worries. Someday, she even wished Sirius Black would find her. She’s probably have more freedom.
Hearing a twig crack below her, she sighed.
‘Three hours and twenty-five minutes. New Record.’ She murmured.
Looking down, she expected to the worried face of Snape staring back up at her, but instead, she saw shaggy black hair, and ripped robes. Her breath caught in her throat.
Sirius Black.
Okay, she now had to somehow get the heck outta here!
She gently began to shift along the branch she was sitting on. Unfortunately, she came to rest on a weak spot, and it broke under her.
She fell to the ground, and found herself, looking into the gaunt face of Sirius Black. She back away, terrified, as he walked closer to her.
‘Who are you?’ he spoke hoarsely.
‘S-S-Secret.’ She whimpered, only then noting the gash in her knee.
‘Secret? Secret Black?’ he repeated.
He then saw her earrings.
‘Secret! My little girl!’
Secret stayed frozen for a moment, before tentatively standing up, and moving forward into his open arms, allowing him to hug her. At first, she was stiff. But she soon relaxed and hid her face in the ripped fabric of her fathers’ robes.
‘Father.’ She whispered.
‘Secret… where have you been, who’s been looking after you? Please tell me you’ve been living with Remus, he was meant to be your guardian should anything happen to me and your mother…’
‘No, I’ve been living with Professor Snape…’
‘Snape?! Snivellus?! I will have to have a chat with Dumbledore about who he trusts the care of my daughter to…’
Suddenly, she felt something burn on her chest. Obviously Sirius had felt it as well, as he leapt away from her.
‘What in the name of Merlin…’ he frowned, and then suddenly darted forward.
He grasped something and Secret heard the snap of a chain link breaking. She immediately scrabbled round her neck for her locket, and found it still hanging there.
Looking up, she saw Sirius had grabbed the necklace Snape had given her for Christmas in her first year.
‘He’s been watching you?’ Sirius growled.
‘Huh?’
‘Snape has been watching you, through this.’
Secret moved forward and looked.
Suddenly, she saw Severus’s face. Giving a yell, she jumped backwards.
‘So that’s how he knew where I was…’ she whispered.
‘How long have you had this?’ Sirius asked.
‘Since-Since my first year.’ She murmured.
‘He’s been watching you since your first year?’ Sirius snarled.
Secret back away slightly, almost scared. Sirius seemed to noticed, as his face softened.
‘Sorry Secret, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you…’ He placed the necklace on a tree stump, and raised a large rock above it, before looking at Secret.
She gave a small nod, and Sirius brought the rock down for it to collide with the necklace with a heavy SMASH!
When he lifted it, glass lay in shatters, and a black smoke drifted away into the air, vanishing from their sight. Secret watched it disappear, before she felt a hand on her shoulder.
‘Secret…’ Sirius spoke softly.
Secret shook her head slightly, and turned to smile at him. ‘I’m okay Father.’
Sirius gave a smile back. ‘Do you have your wand on you?’
Secret nodded, and pulled it out her pocket. ‘Yeah, why?’
Sirius reached out and she let him gently pull it from her grasp.
‘Hold on to my arm tight.’ He murmured.
She grabbed his arm, confused slightly. Suddenly, he twisted in mid-air and she felt the familiar sensation of apparition.
They landed, and in her sights, was Diagon Alley.
‘Father, how do you suppose you’re going to get through the village… oh.’ Secret had looked down, only to see a black, shaggy dog at her side, waging his tail nineteen-to-the-dozen.
‘That’s how.’ She smiled.
Making her way through, she realised she had no money.
‘Err, Father, I have no money…’ she whispered, before realizing he was nudging something into her palm. She took it from him, and saw it was piece of paper, with the words “Vault 711”.
‘Oh, thank you.’ She whispered.
She headed off to Gringotts, and pushed the doors open. She walked down the corridor, Goblins every so often shooting looks at Sirius as he padded alongside her.
‘I would like to take some money from my vault.’ She said upon reaching the Goblin at the end.
‘Oh? And what vault, would this be?’ he asked.
‘Vault 711.’ She said.
The goblin looked up slowly, and removed his glasses, placing his long fingers together.
‘The Black, Family Vault?’ he asked.
Secret nodded.
‘May I have your full name?’
‘Secret Samantha Thomas Black.’ She said without a moment’s hesitation.
‘And, your wand?’
‘My-My wand?’ she asked, surprised.
‘Yes, for further identification.’
She placed it on his desk, where he picked it up, and sat it on a scale. The scale tipped and swung for a moment, before returning back to its original state.
‘Very well, I shall have a goblin take you down. Gornuk!’
Another goblin led them to the cart, where Secret got in, only to have to help Sirius climb in. The cart set off, with Gornuk looking disapprovingly at Sirius, who had his head hung over the side of the cart, his tongue out and was enjoying the ride a lot.
When the cart stopped, Secret was confused, as she saw no vaults. She followed the goblin though for a while, looking round, wondering how deep they were now under Diagon Alley.
‘Here.’ She was pulled from her thoughts by the goblin handing her something.
She looked to see it was almost like a bell. Taking it, she followed on until she head a great roar.
Approaching with caution, she was shocked to see a massive dragon. It was pale, and had gashes on its body, and milky white eyes. It was blind.
Suddenly the goblin began to ring the bell. At the sound, the dragon cowered away, revealing the entrance to the large vaults it guarded. Gornuk went forward to the one in the middle, and pressed his palm upon the door.
There was a dull thunk as the door opened, and it revealed the contents.
‘Oh wow.’ Secret breathed.
It was piled high with treasure, and galleons, and sickles, and knuts. There were jewels and swords and – well, Secret would have been there all day if she had bothered to discover the full extend of its contents.
Pulling a cloth bag out her pocket, she began to gather some money up, careful not to take too much. But when she tried to stand, Sirius whined, and tried to nudge some more into her bag. Secret scooped as much into the bag as Sirius wanted, before standing up and leaving the vault, cringing slightly as she heard the noise of those damned bells.
Once back outside, she looked round, clutching her bag of gold. It was a lot heavier than she had originally intended, but if she had tried to remove it before Sirius was happy, he had given a small growl and tugged it back down.
‘So, what do I need?’ she murmured. ‘A place to stay, that’s what…’
As she said those words, she moved off towards the Leaky Cauldron, going in the back way. Approaching the counter, the lady looked up.
‘Room for one dearie?’ she said.
‘Please.’ Secret replied.
‘Take Room 205 – they’ve just finished cleaning it. And, I apologise in advance if you hear small explosions coming from the room next door.’
Slightly confused, she took the key and headed up the stairs, Sirius padding along beside her.
As she neared her room, she understood what the lady had been on about – she could hear small booms and bangs coming from Room 206.
‘FRED! GEORGE! WHAT HAVE I TOLD YOU ABOUT EXPLOSIONS IN THE HOTEL?!’ A woman came out the room opposite them and banged on the door.
‘Sorry Mum.’ A red head suddenly poked out. ‘Just testing.’
‘Testing what exactly?’ asked Mrs Weasley testily.
‘You better not be putting pomegranate juice in again; we all know what happens.’ Secret cut in absentmindedly, turning the key to her room.
‘Secret!’ Before she had a chance to open her door, she was scooped into a bone-crushing hug by Fred.
‘Don’t worry, I didn’t need those ribs.’ She sighed.
‘Secret! Gerroff her Fred!’ George was at their side, attempting for a hug too. He son gave up though, and just hugged whatever he could reach.
‘Hello Dearie.’ Mrs Weasley just stood back, amused at her son’s antics with Secret.
‘Hello Mrs Weasley.’ Said Secret, waving from the tangle of bodies.
Sirius stared barking at the twins, looking bemused – if dogs could look bemused.
‘Who on earth is that?’ asked Fred.
‘That is Snuffles.’ Said Secret. ‘Now can you please let me go so I may breath again?’
‘Sorry Secret.’ She was dropped back on her feet. ‘Where’s the oversized bat?’
‘I dunno – I ran off. I was going nuts back there; couldn’t go out without someone, had to let him know when I would be back, where I was going, who with, etc etc, shoot me now!’
‘POW!’ George shot a finger at her, and Secret in turn slowly sank dramatically to floor.
‘What in the name of Merlin is happening out here?’ Another familiar face looked out the room next to the one Mrs Weasley had just come out of.
‘Oh Secret has been a very naughty girl and run off from Snape’s house.’ Said Fred in a serious tone.
‘Maybe as the new Head Boy, you should use your new found status to watch her.’ Added George, snickering.
‘What?! Run away?! Secret Snape, what on earth were you thinking of!’ Percy’s face had turned into shock and worry. ‘You know that there is a mass-murder on the loose and as his daughter; you are the number one target! For Merlin’s sake, I would of thought you would have had more sense…’ Percy went off into one of his “how-could-you-be-so-irresponsible” and “your-father-is-probably-worrying-himself-sick-about-your-whereabouts” rants before concluding that she would have to be in his sight at all times as he didn’t trust her to be alone with just the twins.
‘Alright! Alright… god, cant a girl get some freedom anywhere nowadays?’ Secret muttered.

True to his word, Percy barley let Secret escape his gaze those last few weeks, which was really annoying considering that’s what she had run away from in the first place. However, she did find it amusing as Ron flashed round the newspaper clipping of them in Egypt to practically everyone in the Leaky Cauldron.
One day found her having escaped Percy to go and do her shopping. She had recently received her letter of her books and things, and found to her disappointment, she had to get a parent or guardian to sign her form to Hogsmead. And due to the face she had run away from Snape’s house, she doubted very much he was going to do that.
‘Maybe I can get Andy to sign it…’ she murmured as she made her to Madam Malkin’s – it had taken her three years but she had finally grown out her robes.
Pushing the door open, she entered the store, looking round for the lovely lady.
‘Oh my dearie, it’s you!’ Madam Malkin looked round and smiled as she saw Secret. ‘Back for some new robes? I must say yours are some of the smallest I sell! Up on the stool then dearie.’
Secret hopped on, and stood as the lady measured her sizing. Secret was going through her list in her mind. She had gotten her books, her potions stuff, some own treats for Zelta, and now she had her robes. Last thing on her list was a musical instrument for Muggle Music. Fortunately, she knew of a store in Diagon Alley.
‘There we go dearie!’ Secret was brought back to reality as Madam Malkin patted her on the head. ‘All sorted!’
Secret hopped off the stool and paid for her robes. Walking out, she smiled as Sirius, who had come with her and was currently being petted by a little girl in a pink dress.
‘C’mon Snuffles.’ She laughed.
Sirius gave a bark, but went off in another direction. When she tried to follow, he barked at her. Secret blinked, surprised, but turned round anyway and went to the store.
Entering, she looked round in awe at all the walls and instruments. They were so beautiful.
‘Heya duddette. What you doing in here? Shouldn’t your parents be with you? With Sirius Black round, a little girl like you shouldn’t be out alone.’ The guy approached, his jet black hair in a mullet, and a lip ring adorning his lower lip.
‘I’m 13!’ Secret sighed.
‘Oh, sorry duddette. So, what we looking for?’ he smiled, clapping his hands together.
‘A guitar.’ Secret replied.
‘Ok then! Well, we go B.C. Rich Guitars, Fender, Gibson…’
‘What are those over there?’ Secret pointed to a corned.
‘Ah, those are our special signature guitars, designed by famous guitarist themselves.’ He took her over. ‘We have Slash Appetite Les Paul, B.C. Rich Jake Pitts Pro X Mockingbird, Zakk Wylde Les Paul Bullseye and The JX Signature “Ouija JX” designed by Jin-…’ The man suddenly trailed off, starting behind Secret.
‘Huh? You look like you’ve just seen Jinxx him – self!’ A pair of strong arms scooped Secret up suddenly, embracing her in a hug.
‘Maybe cause he has done.’ Jinxx smirked, before giving her a kiss on the forehead. ‘At least you’re safe now. Do you have any idea how worried we all were?’
‘Err, a vague idea? Like it matters, soon as I got here, Percy Weasley took it upon himself to become some sort of guard dog’ Secret snorted.
‘Where is he now?’ Jinxx pretended to peer out the shop, still holding Secret with one arm.
‘I managed to shake him off.’ Secret said absent-mindedly. ‘Now may you please put me down?’
Sighing, Jinxx placed her back on her feet, and looked at her.
‘You want that guitar?’
She looked back the one he was referring to. She had to admit, she loved it.
‘Please.’ She whispered.
Jinxx smiled, and nodded to the man, who took the instrument.
‘Will you be wanting a case?’
‘Yes.’ Said Jinxx before Secret could object. ‘A good one – it’s going to Hogwarts.’
The man nodded and took a case down. ‘This one?’ It was a hardback case, with a fluffy lining.
‘Perfect.’ Jinxx walked over to the counter, taking a red skull pick and also placing it on the counter, where it was swooped up and scanned.
Secret gasped at the total cost, but Jinxx handed over the correct amount of Galleon’s without a blink.
‘Thank you very much… can I have your autograph?’
Jinxx laughed. ‘Do you own a guitar?’
The man nodded and ran in the back. Seconds later he came out clutching a B.C. Mocking Bird Pro. Jinxx pulled a white Sharpie out his pocket and signed the instrument.
‘There we go.’ He smiled. ‘Have a good day.’ The store owner waved as we left.
A loud barking alerted Secret to Sirius, who was sitting outside the shop, clutching a long object wrapped in paper gently in his mouth.
‘Hey Snuffles.’ Secret went over and patted his head. ‘What you got there?’
When she attempted to remove it from him, he backed away.
‘You got somewhere to stay?’ asked Jinxx.
‘Yes, I’m at the Leaky Cauldron -…’
‘SECRET SNAPE!’
‘Oh flying saucers, that’s Percy.’
The red-haired lad came storming over to her, and took her by the shoulders.
‘There you are! Do you have any idea how much you scared us all!’ he exclaimed.
‘Hey, calm down and get your hands off her.’ Jinxx said.
Percy looked up at the man, and slowly let her go. ‘Secret who is this?’
‘This is Jinxx; he’s one of my Uncle’s.’ said Secret calmly.
‘Sorry.’ Percy mumbled.
‘Its ok.’ Jinxx sighed. ‘At least I know you’re safe.’
Percy’s ears went red at this point.
‘Right, I’ll tell Andy you’re ok. See ya later Secret.’ Jinxx gave her a hug, before vanishing with a pop!
‘I’m going back to the cauldron.’ Secret muttered.
‘Good, so were we!’ A pair of hands suddenly scooped her up and sat her on their shoulders. Fred and George waltzed off back, with Percy yelling after them about just marching off with Secret.
‘He obviously fancies the pants off you.’ Said Fred idly.
‘Shut up.’ Said Secret, going red. ‘That’s why he’s with Penelope.’
The reached the place, only to find Ron showing Harry the clipping this time.
‘Not flashing that clipping again, are you, Ron?’ asked George
‘I haven't shown anyone!’ Ron defended.
‘No, not a soul!’ said Fred.
‘Unless you count Tom.’ Secret said.
‘The day maid.’ Said George.
‘The night maid.’ Added Fred.
‘The cook.’ George began to list off on his fingers.
‘That bloke who came to fix the toilet.’ Fred said.
‘And that wizard from Belgium!’ Secret chipped in.
‘Alright.’ Ron grumbled.
Percy had caught up and snatched Secret from the twins.
‘What did I say about you two not being able to look after her alone?!’
‘Can I go to my room now?’ sighed Secret.
Percy let her go, and she followed Sirius to her room. Once inside, Sirius turned back to normal.
‘Consider it thirteen years worth of presents from me.’ He said softly.
Secret took it, and unwrapped it.
‘Oh my god…’
Lying on the bed, was a beautiful Firebolt.
‘Oh my merlin, oh thank you so much Father!’
She hugged Sirius tight.
‘You’re welcome sweetie.’ Sirius murmured as he hugged her back.


‘How are we getting to King’s Cross tomorrow Dad?’ asked Fred that evening at tea.
Secret looked up from her chocolate pudding as she sat between the twins once more.
‘The Ministry’s providing a couple of cars.’ Said Mr. Weasley.
‘Why?’ asked Percy.
‘It’s all because of your Perc.’ Said George seriously, winking at Secret.
‘They’ll have little flags on the bonnet, each one, with HB on them -’ Secret caught on.
‘- for Humungous Bighead.’ Said Fred.
Everyone except Percy and Mrs. Weasley snorted into their puddings.
‘Why are the Ministry providing cars Father?” asked Percy, ignoring Fred, George and Secret as they stuck their noses in the air in posh imitations of him and mouthed “Father!” and other posh words as Ginny, Ron and Harry collapsed in silent laughter.
‘Well, as we haven’t got one anymore, and I work there, they’re doing me a favour…’
‘Good thing too.’ Said Mrs. Weasley. ‘Do you have any idea how much luggage you have all between you? Have you all packed?’
‘Ron hasn’t, he’s dumped them all on my bed…’
‘Ron, you better go pack properly because you wont have time in the morning…’
Ron scowled at Percy.
After dinner, Fred, George and Secret sprinted up the stairs, and Fred grabbed Percy’s Head Boy badge.
Retreating to the shadows, Fred tapped the badge with his wand, so it read ‘Bighead Boy.’
‘And now we listen.’ Said George as Percy and Ron went into their room.
Suddenly, angry voices were heard, as Percy began to yell at Ron, who yelled back in defense. The troublesome trio began to laugh silently as they listened to Percy dismantling his and Ron’s room.
When Secret finally went to her room, Sirius was there, having heard the whole thing.
‘You are defiantly my daughter.’ Was all he said.

Next day, Secret awoke to the twins as usual bursting in singing the Hogwarts song loudly. Sirius, who had been curled up asleep at the end of her bed, raised his head and looked at the two with a look that quite plainly said “goddamit-don’t-disturb-my-baby!”
‘C’mon! We need to congratulate Ron!’
‘Yeah, he’s annoyed Percy again!’
‘How this time?’ yawned Secret, swinging her legs out of bed, grateful she was wearing a t-shirt and jogging bottoms.
‘He spilt tea all over Percy’s picture of Penelope…’
‘She’s hiding her face under the frame because her nose had gone blotchy.’
‘Good.’ Secret grunted, pulling a jumper on over her shirt – she would change later on the train.
They left, Sirius padding along behind, sticking their head in Harry’s room.
‘Well done Ron’ said Fred, beaming.
‘Spectacular job.’ Added George.
‘You’ve made us proud.’ Secret chipped in.
Snorting, they headed downstairs. Mrs Weasley was telling Hermione and Ginny about a love potion and Mr Weasley was reading the Daily Prophet. Sitting down, they tucked into their food as Ron and Harry entered, closely followed by Percy, who looked furious and was clutching a photo frame to him.
‘Good.’ Was all Secret thought.
After, the chaos of trunks being dragged downstairs and being piled by the door ensured, with the cages of Hedwig, Hermes and Zelta perched on top, with a wicker basket next to them, that was hissing loudly.
‘What is that?’ Secret asked the twins.
‘Hermione’s new cat, Crookshanks.’ Said Fred.
‘Seems to hold a grudge again Scabbers.’ Replied George.
‘They’re here!’ called Mr Weasley. ‘Come on!’
Secret was lead to a car, where she was sat next to Ron on one side, with Harry on Ron’s other side, and then Percy, much to Ron’s disgust and Secret’s embarrassment. The car was small, meaning they were a little cramped – ok, scratch that, rather cramped, Secret was practically sitting on Percy’s lap. Sirius, who was curled up in the foothold much to the dismay of the ministry driver, was looking amused, if dogs could.
When the car arrived at the station, she was relieved to get out and off him. Any longer and she was sure you would have been able to fry an egg on her face. Their trunks were unloaded, the ministry drivers touched their hat to Mr Weasley and got back in the car, driving away and jumping to the front of the unmoving queue of traffic.
‘On you get!’ Fred grinned, Secret’s trunk, Firebolt, Guitar and Zelta’s cage on his trolley. She shook her head and hopped on the front as he broke into his run through the wall, George about two seconds behind, followed by Percy and Ginny.
‘Ah, there’s Penelope!’ Percy said, smoothing his hair down and going pink. Secret rolled her eyes and sighed as he strode over to a girl with long curly hair, his chest puffed out so she could see the shiny Head Boy badge. Secret gave a scowl, and muttered under her breath, flicking her wrist. Suddenly, Penelope burst into laughter.
‘What did you do?’ whispered Fred.
‘Changed it again.’ Secret replied smugly.
‘To what?’ asked George.
‘Pinhead Boy.’
As if on cue, Percy looked down at his chest, and then whipped his head to glare at the trio, who all gave him a smile and a shrug as if to say ‘what ‘cha gonna do about it?’ before rushing into the train, their stuff already in their compartment.
‘That was pretty great Secret.’ Sniggered Fred.
‘Yeah, when we leave, we won't have to worry that there won't be someone to take our place.’ George chuckled.
The train chugged away through the hills, with the trio chatting about the tricks for this year, when the train suddenly ground to a halt.
‘What the heck?’ asked Secret, looking out the window.
Suddenly, it jolted, throwing the girl back in her seat.
‘What’s going on?’ asked Fred.
The light suddenly died, and they were left in the dark, and the cold.
‘Hey! Where are you guys?’
‘Over here!’
‘Dude, that was my hand you just sat on!’
‘There’s something out there!’ A new voice joined it, that she recognized as Draco.
‘Draco, I’m scared!’
‘Pansy, get off me!’
‘Merlin, if you two are going to clutch each other like lovebirds, get your own carriage!’
‘Secret!’
‘Shut it!’
‘Whoever is on my foot, can they please get off?’
‘Shh!’ Everyone suddenly went silent. A faint rattling could be heard, growing closer. As her eyes grew accustomed to the dark, what she saw made Secret want to vomit.
A pale, dead hand, that looked like it had lain in the water for centuries, was slowly opening the door. Attached, was something that had always scared Secret, chilled her to the bone.
A Dementor stood in the doorway, looking round, the warmth and happiness disappearing with what was left of her bravery. It slowly passed its gaze over each person, until it looked straight at her. Suddenly, voices came rushing through her head, familiar words and cries coming to her.
‘Samantha, take Secret and go! I’m going to be the one to find him!’
‘Sirius, no, I’m not leaving you!’
‘Samantha, please, take our baby girl home! I need to find him… PETER!’
‘Sirius!’
‘You sold them to Voldemort, didn’t you?! DIDN’T YOU!’
‘I-I-I think you are confused! It was YOU! YOU BETRAYED THEM!
‘No! PETER, DON’T YOU DARE –!’
Boom! Wailing… crying…
‘No! PETER! YOU RAT! Wait… Samantha! SAMANTHA! Oh merlin, oh lord… Secret! Shh, shh, daddy’s here… no, please, wait! Let me go! That’s my daughter! NO, NO! SECRET! SECRET!’
‘Secret! Secret!’ She was brought back as a load of cold water was splashed into her face.
‘What in the name of Merlin!’ she spluttered.
‘Sorry.’ Smiled Fred sheepishly. ‘Only way. Oh, just so you know, George has gone to get Percy.’
‘What! Oh no, oh merlin!’ Secret exclaimed.
‘Secret!’ Percy burst in and rushed to her, cupping her face, inspecting her.
‘Percy gerroff! I’m fine now!’
‘Why are you wet?’ Percy asked.
‘Someone woke me up with water.’ She replied simply.
‘Hello? Is this the carriage where I might find the elusive Secret Snape?’ They all looked up to see a man there, with patched robes and greying hair.
‘I’ve never counted myself as elusive.’ Secret stated.
The man laughed. ‘May I have a word with you?’
Fred and George immediately rose and left, winking at her. Percy, however, didn’t budge.
‘Percy, go on, go find Penelope.’ She muttered.
‘Can you at least fix my badge first? Every time I’ve tried to fix it, it changes into something else.’ Secret looked to see it now read ‘Pumpkinhead Boy’.
She gave a small chuckle and tapped it with her finger, so it read its original title. With a small nod, he left, leaving just Secret and the man.
‘So, Secret…’ the man sat. ‘I heard you had a bit of a problem with the Dementor.’
As he was speaking, he was rummaging in his pockets. Locating what he wanted, he held it out. Secret looked suspiciously at the chocolate.
‘I haven’t poisoned it y’know.’ He smiled.
She took it and had a small bite. Instantly, she felt the warmth return to her.
‘Thanks.’ she said in a quiet voice.
‘I feel if I didn’t try and help, your father would kill me in my sleep.’ Secret looked up suddenly.
‘Snape?’ she said casually, not letting on that she knew about her real parentage.
‘Snape? No, you mean, you don’t know…’
‘No, I do. I didn’t know if you did.’ She corrected him.
‘Oh well then.’ He smiled.
‘So, you know my dad?’
‘I do. I’m Remus Lupin, your -…’
‘Godfather.’ Secret finished the sentence off.
‘Yes.’ Lupin smiled warmly. ‘I knew it was you when I saw you. Your eyes are so much like your fathers. Plus, it appears you’ve inherited his talent for mischief, judging by the badge of the young man.’
Secret looked innocently at him. ‘I truly have no idea what your on about.’

‘Firs’ years this way!’ was the calling that greeted Secret as the train pulled up, the rain pouring down upon them. She gave them all a worried look as they trampled over – they were certainly a lot braver than her to risk the boats in this weather.
She followed the twins along the platform and out onto a rough mud track, where at least a hundred stagecoaches awaited the remaining students. She gave one of the Thestrals a pat on the head as she passed, before climbing in the carriage with twins and Lee Jordan.
‘Did you here? Apparently those Slytherin guys got expelled, y’know, Raven and his lot…’ began Lee as the carriage set off.
‘Why?’ asked Secret immediately.
‘Caught practicing dark magic.’ Lee replied. ‘Ministry thought that they weren’t fit to return so they got expelled.’
Secret sunk back in her seat – great, so her boyfriend and his group had been expelled. She made a mental note to send Raven a howler.
As the carriage trundled toward a pair of magnificent wrought iron gates, flanked with stone columns topped with winged boars, Secret saw two more towering, hooded Dementors, standing guard on either side. She leaned back into the lumpy seat and closed his eyes until they had passed the gates. The carriage picked up speed on the long, sloping drive up to the castle. At last, the carriage swayed to a halt, and Lee, Fred and George got out, with Secret not far behind. The four of them joined the crowd swarming up the steps, through the giant oak front doors, into the cavernous Entrance Hall, which was lit with flaming torches, and housed a magnificent marble staircase that led to the upper floors.
The door into the Great Hall stood open at the right; Secret followed the crowd toward it, but had barely glimpsed the enchanted ceiling, which was black and cloudy tonight, when a voice called, ‘Potter! Granger! Snape! I want to see you three!’
Secret turned around, surprised. Professor McGonagall was calling over the heads of the crowd. Secret fought her way over to her with a feeling of foreboding.
‘I didn’t do it, I was dead at the time.’ She said immediately as she came into distance of her head of house.
‘There’s no need to defend yourself - I just want a word in my office,’ she told them. ‘Move along there, Weasley, Jordan.’
The twins and Lee looked back as Professor McGonagall ushered Secret, Harry and Hermione away from the chattering crowd; they accompanied her across the entrance hall, up the marble staircase, and along a corridor.
Once they were in her office, a small room with a large, welcoming fire, Professor McGonagall motioned them to sit down. She settled herself behind her desk and said abruptly, ‘Professor Lupin sent an owl ahead to say that you were taken ill on the train, Potter, Snape.’
Before either of them could reply, there was a soft knock on the door and Madam Pomfrey, the nurse, came bustling in.
Secret cursed in her head. It was bad enough that she had a fit, she didn’t need the world and his hippogriff knowing about it.
‘We’re fine,’ Harry said next to her, and she nodded with him. ‘We don’t need anything -…’
‘Oh, it’s you two, is it?’ said Madam Pomfrey, ignoring this and bending down to stare closely at them. ‘I suppose you’ve both been doing something dangerous again?’
‘Accusational much.’ Secret muttered.
‘It was a Dementor, Poppy,’ said Professor McGonagall.
They exchanged a dark look, and Madam Pomfrey clucked disapprovingly.
‘Setting Dementors around a school,’ she muttered, pushing back Harry’s hair and feeling his forehead before doing the same on Secret. ‘They won’t be the last who collapses. Yes, both are all clammy. Terrible things, they are, and the effect they have on people who are already delicate -…’
‘Hey!’ Exclaimed Secret indignantly.
‘I’m not delicate!’ said Harry crossly.

‘Of course you’re not,’ said Madam Pomfrey absentmindedly, now taking his pulse before moving to check Secret’s, who swatted her away, feeling way too like when she was a little girl, and Snape was fussing too much over her slight cold.
‘What they need?’ said Professor McGonagall crisply. ‘Bed rest? Should they perhaps spend tonight in the hospital wing?’
‘For the love of merlin, no!’ Secret said.
‘I’m fine!’ said Harry, jumping up.
‘Well, they should have some chocolate, at the very least,’ said Madam Pomfrey, who was now trying to peer into Harry’s eyes, having given up trying to inspect Secret.
‘I’ve already had some,' said Harry. ‘Professor Lupin gave me some. He gave it to all of us.’
‘Did he, now?’ said Madam Pomfrey approvingly. ‘So we’ve finally got a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher who knows his remedies?’
‘Third time lucky, much?’ Secret muttered to Hermione.
‘Are you sure you feel all right, Potter, Snape?’ Professor McGonagall said sharply.
‘Yes.’ They both confirmed.
‘Very well. Kindly wait outside while I have a quick word with Miss Granger about her course schedule, then we can go down to the feast together.’
Harry and Secret went back into the corridor with Madam Pomfrey, who left for the hospital wing, muttering to herself.
‘What a palaver.’ Secret muttered, leaning against the wall.
‘Too right.’ Snorted Harry.
They had to wait only a few minutes; then Hermione emerged looking very happy about something, followed by Professor McGonagall, and the four of them made their way back down the marble staircase to the Great Hall, just in time to see Professor Flitwick carrying an ancient hat and a three-legged stool out of the hall.
‘Oh!’ said Hermione softly, ‘We’ve missed the Sorting!’

‘Bummer.’ Sighed Secret. ‘Now I’ll have to find some other way to work out wich are the first years to prank.’
‘Secret!’ Hermione exclaimed quietly.
People looked around at them as they passed along the back of the hall, and a few of them pointed at Harry, only to receive death glares from Secre, who slid into her usual seat between the twins.
‘What was all that about?’ Fred asked.
‘Tell you later.’ She muttered as Dumbledore stood up to speak.
‘Welcome!’ said Dumbledore, the candlelight shimmering on his beard. ‘Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast...’
Dumbledore cleared his throat and continued, ‘As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the Dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business.’
Here he paused, and Secret could tell he wasn’t too pleased about it.
‘They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds,” Dumbledore continued, “and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises — or even Invisibility Cloaks,’ he added blandly. Secret shot a look down to Harry and Ron.
‘It is not in the nature of a Dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs afoul of the Dementors.’ he said.
Percy, who was sitting across from Secret, puffed out his chest again and stared around impressively. Secret rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath – his badge now read “Watermeonhead Boy”.
Dumbledore paused again; he looked very seriously around the hall, and nobody moved or made a sound.
‘On a happier note,’ he continued, ‘I am pleased to welcome a few new teachers to our ranks this year.’
Secret glanced round, and to her immense delight, she saw the table had been elongated this year, to accommodate the five familiar men who sat at the end, wearing smart robes and completely devoid of any war paint. Ashley sent Secret a wink and Andy looked profoundly relieved at her unharmed appearance.
‘First, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.’
There was some scattered, rather unenthusiastic applause. Secret applauded happily though, pleased at her godfathers presence even if he looked particularly shabby next to all the other teachers in their best robes.
‘Look at Snape!’ Fred whispered in Secret’s ear.
Professor Snape was staring along the staff table at Professor Lupin. Secrte knew very well that Snape wanted the Defense Against the Dark Arts job, but even she was startled at the expression twisting his thin, sallow face. It was beyond anger: it was loathing. She recognized that expression only too well; it was the look Snape wore every time he set eyes on Harry.
‘For our second, new appointment,’ Dumbledore continued as the lukewarm applause for Professor Lupin died away. ‘Well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs.’ He paused at the small chuckle that rippled through the hall. ‘However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his gamekeeping duties.’
Secret stared down the table at the trio, stunned. Then, she joined in with the applause, which was tumultuous at the Gryffindor table in particular. Secret craned her neck to see Hagrid, who was ruby red in the face and staring down at his enormous hands, his wide grin hidden in the tangle of his black beard.
‘We should’ve known!’ Lee laughed. ‘Who else would have assigned a biting book?’
When the applause faded out, and as Professor Dumbledore started speaking again, she saw that Hagrid was wiping his eyes on the tablecloth.
‘And finally, I am sorry to say that Professor. Dinkleburg, our Muggle Music teacher, has also retired, so to spend his remaining years with his wife. But, it with great pleasure to announce that we have gained five new teachers in his place, in the form of a relatively known band. And so, with pleasure, I welcome Professor Biersack, Professor Purdy, Professor Pitts, Professor Ferguson and professor Coma. I hope you will make them very welcome.’
The hall burst into applause, with fans of the band cheering the loudest, Secret among them.
‘Well, I think that’s everything of importance,’ said Dumbledore. ‘Let the feast begin!’

haha, I get typos too!!

Loved both of the chapters, always do! Hehe Watermelon Boy!! Epic!!!

The next day, Secret was called back into McGonagall’s office.
‘Ms Snape… I’m sure you are wondering as to why I have summoned you.’ She said crisply.
‘It’s crossed my mind, yes.’ Secret replied.
‘Well, as you are aware, your father has broken out of prison. As a supporter of your brother, he will soon be searching for you, to take you. So, therefore, I am assigning someone to watch over you.’ McGonagall peered at the small girl over her glasses.
Secret was annoyed. ‘Professor, no offense meant, but I think I can take care of myself. I have done now on various occasions.’
‘And on those occasions, was a mass-murder out after you, who is also your father?’
‘Well… no, but…’
‘Then we shall end that conversation there.’ She paused, as there was a knocking on the door. ‘Enter!’
She groaned under her breath.
‘Ms Snape, please turn around.’
She turned her head, and inwardly cursed. Standing there was Percy.

‘So Secret, what is your first lesson?’ Secret glanced at her timetable, and then back at the older boy.
‘Divination.’
Percy nodded and took her up the stairs, across the corridors and towards the North Tower, before leading her up a spiral staircase.
‘Here. I shall arrive after to collect you.’ He said quietly, before taking off.
Swearing under her breath, she ascended the silvery ladder, and popped her head into the room, immediately being hit by the wave of perfume and incense that met her.
‘Welcome my child. I saw that you would return, and I was not wrong, like always.’
Secret raised her eyebrows and went to sit on an armchair, watching as the rest of the class joined them, and Ron, Hermione and Harry joined her.
‘Welcome to Divination.’ Said Professor Trelawney, as she settled herself in an armchair. ‘My name is Professor Trelawney. You may not have seen me before. I find that descending too often into the hustle and bustle of the main school clouds my Inner Eye.’
Secret merely snorted.
‘So, you have chosen to study Divination, the most difficult of all magical arts. I must warm you…’
Secret lost thread of the words as she felt herself become very sleepy, most likely due to the stupid perfume and such, only to be woken as Neville dropped a cup.
‘Oh right, tea.’ She mumbled, moving to fetch a cup.
Bringing it back, she drank the tea quickly, and switched round with Hermione.
‘Right!’ she said, opening her book. ‘Let’s see what we have…’
‘A load of soggy tea leaves.’ Secret replied sarcastically. ‘I don’t need a book to know that.’
‘Secret!’ Hermione scolded crossly. ‘Right, you have a cross, so you are going to suffer… but I also see the sun… so you’re going to be happy…’
‘I think your Inner Eye test is overdue, my dear.’ Secret responded. ‘I see a sun as well, and I see a… what the heck even is that?’
‘Let me see that, my dear.’ Both spun to see Trelawney had snatched Harry’s cup off Ron. She was rotating, a look of horror on her face.
‘The falcon...my dear, you have a deadly enemy.’
‘But everyone knows that.’ Whispered Hermione.
‘Obviously she doesn’t.’ Secret muttered.
Professor Trelawney stared at the two.
‘Well, they do.’ said Hermione. ‘Everybody knows about Harry and You-Know-Who.’
Secret was impressed. She had never seen this side of Hermione.
Professor Trelawney chose not to reply. She lowered her eyes to Harry’s cup again and continued to turn it.
‘The club...an attack. Dear, dear, this is not a happy cup...’
‘I thought that was a bowler hat,” said Ron sheepishly. Secret gave a snort of laughter.
‘The skull...danger in your path, my dear...’
 Everyone was staring at Professor Trelawney, who gave the cup a final turn, gasped, and then screamed.
There was another tinkle of breaking china; Neville had smashed his second cup. Professor Trelawney sank into a vacant armchair, her glittering hand at her heart and her eyes closed.
’My dear boy… my poor dear boy… no… it is kinder not to say… no… don’t ask me...’
‘Well now we all want to know.’ Secret replied impatiently.
‘What is it, Professor?’ said Dean Thomas.
Everyone had got to his or her feet, and slowly they crowded around Harry and Ron’s table, pressing close to Professor Trelawney’s chair to get a good look at Harry’s cup.
‘My dear,’ Professor Trelawney’s huge eyes opened dramatically, ‘you have the Grim.’
‘The what?’ said Harry.
Secret was taken aback slightly, but she wasn’t that shocked – that thing was a myth.
‘The Grim, my dear, the Grim!’ cried Professor Trelawney, who looked shocked that Harry hadn’t understood. ‘The giant, spectral dog that haunts churchyards! My dear boy, it is an omen — the worst omen — of death!’
Everyone was looking at Harry, everyone except Hermione, who had gotten up and moved around to the back of Professor Trelawney’s chair.
‘I don’t think it looks like a Grim.’ she said flatly.
Secret peered at it. ‘Looks like a hippo to me.’
Professor Trelawney surveyed Hermione with mounting dislike, ignoring Secret. ‘You’ll forgive me for saying so, my dear, but I perceive very little aura around you. Very little receptivity to the resonances of the future.’
‘Ooo, ice for that burn ‘mione?’ Secret asked.
Seamus Finnigan was tilting his head from side to side. ‘It looks like a Grim if you do this,’ he said, with his eyes almost shut, ‘but it looks more like a donkey from here.’ he said, leaning to the left.
‘When you’ve all finished deciding whether I’m going to die or not!’ said Harry impatiently.
‘I think we will leave the lesson here for today,’ said Professor Trelawney in her mistiest voice. ‘Yes...please pack away your things...’
Secret stuffed her things in her back and was one of the first to leave the classroom, snorting. Descending the ladder, she leant against the wall, waiting for Percy.
Soon, the red haired male appeared and saw her.
‘So, what next?’ he asked.
‘I got a free…’ she muttered.
‘I best take you back to the common room.’
He lead her back, and then turned, mumbling as he walked away. Secret watched as he walked off, sighing.
‘He really isn’t very discreet.’ She looked to the fat lady, who was looking very amused. ‘Its obvious he feels something for you.’
‘Indeed. I’m going for a walk. If he comes looking for me, tell him I nipped to the bathroom.’
She walked off, lost in her thoughts. Suddenly, she stopped, hearing something.
‘B-But what if Perc see’s?’
‘He won’t, he’s busy looking after Secret… oh Penelope.’
‘Oliver…’ Secret’s heart stopped. She edged cautiously towards the door, and peeked in.
To her horror, she saw Penelope and Oliver, kissing in the deserted classroom. She whipped her head back round, her heart thumping in her chest. She couldn’t fathom it… had she really just seen that?
She backed slowly away, but crashed into a suit of amour. It made a loud clanging noise and she took off, hopefully fast enough to escape before they caught sight of her.
She arrived back at the Lady, who raised an eyebrow questioningly.
‘You look to have just run a race my dear. What happened?’
‘Doesn’t matter. Just, let me, Fortuna Major.’ She muttered.
The portrait door swung open, and she clambered in, walking in and toppling into a chair.
Had she really just seen that? What was Penelope doing? Was she outta her mind?
A sudden tapping on the window retrieved her from her thoughts, and she looked to see a screech owl by the window. Secret looked round to see if anyone had recognized it as their own, before getting up and walking over. She opened the window, and it held its leg out. On it, was a letter addressed to her.
She detached it with fumbling fingers and the owl took off. She moved back to her chair, and slit the envelope open, pulling the letter out.
“Secret,
I’m sorry that I have to do this in this way, but I really cannot think of any easier way to do this. I’m sorry for the heartbreak and hurt I am about to cause you, but I feel that our relationship has fizzled out and reached an end. I struggle to see how we could make this work, with you being at Hogwarts and me out in the world looking for work, but nothing can replace the dull ache in my heart that I have come to associate with the ending of us.
I will always think of you Secret.
Raven.”
Secret just stared at the letter for a moment, as if hoping the ink would move and suddenly read, “Fooled ya!” but it didn’t seem to be.
A few tears slipped down her cheeks, but she fiercely wiped them away. She didn’t want anyone seeing,
‘Secret?’ Drat.
She looked up to see the worried face of Fred and George.
‘Secret, what’s up?’ asked Fred.
She merely handed the letter to Fred, who quickly read it, before handing it over to George.
‘Oh Secret.’ He sighed, going over and sitting next to her, wrapping both arms round her and hugging her tightly. ‘I’m sorry.’
She merely shrugged, not even noticing the tears that continued to cascade down her face.
George folded the letter up, before placing it into her bag and sitting on her other side.
‘C’mon Secret, let’s got prank Percy. That always cheers you up.’ Said Fred.
The reminded Secret of Penelope and Oliver kissing, and she shook her head quickly
‘I think I’ll pass this time.’ She sniffled.
‘Oh god, she really is upset.’ George said, feeling her forehead. ‘Do we need to take you to see Madam Pomfrey?’
Secret shook her head again.
‘Well, if it’s not Percy, lets go prank Snape!’
She dully agreed and allowed herself to be lead from the common room. They went down to the dungeons, and Fred pulled an item from his pocket.
‘Which one is that?’ Secret asked, looking at the fake wand in Fred’s hand.
‘Only turns into a rubber chicken.’ Fred replied.
‘Yeah, we’re not going to use one of the whacking ones on him.’ George added.
Secret peered in. Inside was a bunch of fourth years, and she could see Snape telling off a trio at the front, who were all foreign.
Secret focused on the wand on his desk, and made it lift off the wooden surface. The other one floated in behind Snape and they swapped places. She could see a few had noticed, and one boy gave a snort.
‘What are you laughing at Allistor?’ Snape snapped, spinning round and grabbing his wand to point it at the Scottish lad. ‘These lessons are not for you to laugh at what you find amusi- What in the name of Merlin?’
The wand had given clucked loudly and transformed into a rubber chicken in his hand. The whole class was roaring with laughter. Amongst the confusion, his own wand was quickly replaced on his desk.
‘SILENCE!’ Snape had quickly regained himself and grabbed his own wand. ‘Who did this? If no one owns up, I shall have you all in detention for a month sorting out Flobberworms!’
Secret could see all the class staring round, looking desperately for someone to own up – sorting out the rotten Flobberworms was not a nice task. Sighing, she stepped up, standing there in the doorway, arms folded.
‘Me. I had a free and needed to test something I had made.’ She stated in a tone that suggested boredom.
Snape’s fury faded as he saw Secret, and he sighed.
‘Miss Snape… I shall see you here tonight as 6:30 for detention. Is that clear?’
‘Perfectly Sir.’ She said simply.
The bell went at this point over her head and the class surged out.
‘Frau, zhat vas awesome.’ Said one of trio.
‘That was pretty epic chica.’
‘You ‘ave some guts!’
Secret nodded to the three Slytherin boys.
‘You should hang around vith us sometime!’ The German sounding one threw an arm round her shoulder, grinning at her with crimson eyes.
‘Si! For a Gryffindor, you are awesome!’ said the Spaniard.
‘Ohohon, come vith us petit fleur!’ The French one smiled, throwing his other arm round her shoulders.
‘I don't even know your names.’ Secret smiled.
‘I am zhe awesome Gilbert!’
‘My name is Antonio, chica.’
‘I am zhe beautiful Francis, mon amour.’
‘Nice to meet you. I’m…’
‘SECRET SNAPE!’
All six jumped as a very loud and angry voice came down the corridor. Percy came storming down and grabbed her arm.
‘Why are you not at the common room, safe?’ he yelled.
‘I fancied a walk.’ She said simply. ‘I was with the twins Percy.’
‘That doesn't reassure me! In fact, it makes me worry even more!’ Percy retorted.
‘Hey!’
‘We’re wounded!’
Both twins fell to the floor slowly, clutching their chests in mock imitations of being wounded. Percy shot them death glares as he pulled Secret from the arms of the two Slytherin boys and to his own side.
‘Let the awesome frau go!’
‘Si, she is coming with us!’
‘Zhe petit fleur is going to ‘ave lunch vith us!’
‘I think that is a very bad idea.’ Percy replied, narrowing his eyes. ‘After four years of knowing you three, I think she is probably in even more danger with you guys than with my brother!’
‘It is time for lunch!’
‘The chica will sit with us!’
‘Oui, lunch should be enjoyed! And zhat shall be done vith us!’
It was at this point Antonio snatched Percy’s head boy badge and threw it to Gilbert, who, when Percy rushed to him to get it back, threw it back to Antonio. In the distraction, France grabbed Secret and ran off, carrying her bridal style.
‘Keesees ~ vell done mein awesome friends!’ Gilbert and Antonio caught up, both grinning.
Secret sighed and shook her head, still being held by Francis.
Arriving in the hall, Francis sat her down on a seat, and some of the Slytherin’s gave them looks. Most ignored them however.
‘Percy is going to kill you, y’know.’ Secret chuckled.
‘Si.’
‘But ve don't really care.’
‘Ve are too awesome.’

Nice chapter!
AND WHATTTTTTTTTT?!!!!! Oliver and Penelope... Did not expect that one!!!

anyways PAMS like always cant wait for more!!

~Alyssa

Thanks!

No, no one did! Bad Penelope! Bad Oliver!

Coming right up!

After lunch, Secret made her way down to Care Of Magical Creatures, having managed to evade Percy. She was already feeling tired about the whole thing. She had hoped this year to totally avoid him and get her feelings in check, but alas, whatever God was up there decided that it just wasn't going to happen. Adjusting the trilby she had on her head - a late present from Andy - she managed to get her way, but it was only when she saw the back of Malfoy's head, did she groan - so they were having lessons with the Slytherins.
Hagrid was waiting for his class at the door of his hut. He stood in his moleskin overcoat, with Fang the boarhound at his heels, looking impatient to start.
'C'mon, now, get a move on!' he called as the class approached. 'Got a real treat for yeh today! A great lesson! Follow me!"
For one horrible moment, Secret thought that Hagrid was going to lead them into the forest; she had never been in, but hearing Ron and Harry's stories about what was in there was enough for her.
However, Hagrid strolled off around the edge of the trees, and five minutes later, they found themselves outside a kind of paddock. There was nothing in there.
'Right you lot, less chattering, form a group ever there. And open your book to page 49!' Hagrid said.
'How exactly do we do that?' Malfoy asked sarcastically.
'Just stroke the spine, of course. Goodness me.' Hagrid muttered as he walked off.
Secret pulled her book from her bag, where it had one of Ashley's thick leather belts binding it shut. Running a finger down the spine, she felt it give what could almost be classed as a content purr, and unbuckled it, allowing it to fall open docility in her hands. She gave a crooked smile, only to whip her head round as Neville's copy attempted to attack him.
'I think they're funny.' said Hermione, as Secret placed her bag, book and robe jacket down, before rolling her sleeves up - for a breezy, September afternoon, it was quite warm.
'Oh yeah, terribly funny. Really witty.'
'Oh Merlin, here we go.' she thought.
'God this place has gone to the dogs. Wait until my father hears that Dumbledore had got this oaf teaching classes.' Malfoy laughed.
'Dumstrang is that way Draco, no one is stopping you.' Secret snapped. 'Oh wait, except your mommy wanted her precious Drakkie-poo to stay close to home.'
The Gryffindor’s burst into laughter as Malfoy's pale face flamed.
'At least I have a mother still, Black.' He sneered.
Secret was taken aback as the Slytherin's jeered, but quickly regained her composition. 'I have 5 uncles. I don't need a mother to molly-coddle me. Maybe that's why I don't always go running to daddy whenever someone upsets me.'
'No, because you’re father is a murderer.'
'Shut up Malfoy.' Harry had stepped in, much to Secret's displeasure – she had been looking for a good excuse to punch the slick git, and had just found one.
Malfoy smirked, and stepped forward. He suddenly looked up, and terror crossed his face.
'Dementor! Dementor!'
The whole of Gryffindor spun to look, leaving all the Slytherin's to laugh. when the house had turned back round, Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy had put their robes over their head in cruise impressions.
'Good look for you Pansy.' Secret retorted as Hermione dragged Harry away.
'Da da da daaa!'
Secret looked, and her jaw dropped.
Walking towards them, was, quite possibly, one of the most beautiful creatures she had ever seen.
'Isn't he beautiful? Say hello, to Buckbeak!'
'Hagrid, exactly what is that?' asked Ron.
'That, Ron, is a Hippogriff! First thing you wanna know about Hippogriffs, is that they've very proud creatures. Very, easily offended. You do not want to insult a Hippogriff. It may just be the last thing you ever do. Now!' Hagrid clapped his hands together. 'Who'd like to come say hello?'
The entire class stepped back, except for Harry - Neville even ducked behind a rock.
Hagrid turned back around. 'Well done Harry, well done.'
Secret tipped her hat back as Ron pushed Harry forward slightly, wary herself.
'Now, you have to let him make the first move; it's only polite. So, step up, give him a nice bow, then you wait and see if he bows back. If he does, you can go touch him. If not... well, we'll get to that later.'
She could see how nervous he was, and bit her bottom lip. She was nervous and she was back here.
Harry walked up, and stopped.
'Righ', now, make your bow. Nice and low.'
Harry did as he was told, and then glanced up.
Buckbeak wasn't bowing. Instead, he gave a indignant cry.
'Back off Harry, back off!' Harry took several hurried steps back, before stepping loudly on a twig and breaking it.
'Keep still. Just keep still...'
It was then Secret saw Buckbeak take a step forward and sink into was unmistakably a bow. She breathed out - she didn't even realise she had been holding it in.
'Well done Harry, well done. And you, yeh big brute...' Hagrid threw a dead ferret to Buckbeak.
Harry straightened up.
'Righ', I think ya can go pat him now.' Harry shot a look at Hagrid. 'Go on, don't be shy.'
Harry took a few nervous steps, but she lost the rest of her view as Malfoy pushed past, eating an apple.
'Watch it drake-poo.' she muttered.
'Shut it Black.'
She looked between Ron and Hermione's head - a difficult feat considering both were taller than her - and saw him to be much closer.
'Nice and slow now, nice and slow... woah, not so fast Harry.'
Buckbeak had made a snap. Secret saw Hermione grasp Ron's hand, before both realised and broke off. Secret inwardly grinned.
'Slow down Harry, that’s it. Nice and slow. Now, let him come to you.'
Harry stopped, and Buckbeak took a few steps forward. He sniffed the air round Harry's hand, much like a cat, before placing his head in the boy's palm, allowing him to pet him.
'Well done! Well done Harry.' Hagrid clapped.
Secret applauded with him, relieved.
'I reckon he may let yeh ride him now.'
'What?! Hey, hey hey hey hey hey!' Harry didn't get much of a say as Hagrid picked him up and sat him on Buckbeak's back.
'Over here, just below the wing joint. Now don't pull out any of his feather, cause he wont thank yeh for that!'
Hagrid slapped the rear of the Hippogriff, who reared up, Harry clinging for dear life, before taking a run, and spreading his wings, taking off.
'Woah!' was the last thing Secret heard before he vanished.
She watched him go, and then sat on a rock, twirling her wand between her fingertips, and debating just how much trouble she would be in if she hexed Malfoy into next year.
'Secret?' she looked up to see Hermione.
'Ciao bella.' she mumbled.
'Secret, don't think too much over what Draco said. He's just a nobody.' Hermione soothed, sitting next to her. 'And the answer to what you're think is, a lot of trouble, even if Snape is your father.'
'I dunno, you reckon I could make it look like an accident?' she smiled.
'Even then.'
They were brought back by the thudding of hooves, and looked to see Harry and Buckbeak had landed.
'Well done Harry! And well done Buckbeak!' Hagrid said.
'Oh please.' Draco got up and began to push his way through.
'Yeah, you're not dangerous at all, are you?! You great ugly brute!'
'Malfoy!'
Buckbeak reared up, and Secret found herself running towards the blonde boy.
'Malfoy you idiot!' She screamed, pushing him out the way as Buckbeak brought his talons down.
She felt white-hot pain run through her arm, and she landed on the ground, clutching it to her. She could hear scream and yells, and Hagrid attempting to calm the Hippogriff.
'Secret!' Draco was by her side, tilting her face towards him.
'You. Are. An. Idiot.' she said simply.
'Yeah yeah, are you ok - ow!' He looked at her arm. She glanced down, to see blood oozing out three very deep cuts.
'Just a scratch.' she dismissed.
'Hagrid! She has to go to the hospital wing!' Hermione called.
'I'm the teacher, I'll do it!’ Hagrid’s arm’s scooped her up and she was carried from the class and up the grounds, Draco having vanished. Secret was almost worried as to what he was up to.
He arrived at the wing, and Madam Pomfrey looked up from where she was dealing with a babbling second-year, who had injured his leg and was currently chattering away, holding his camera to his chest.
‘Oh my dearie! It’s her again? What on earth have you done this time, Ms Snape?’
‘Accusational much?’ Secret joked as Hagrid sat her on the bed.
‘It were an accident…’ Hagrid started.
‘Just a scratch.’ Secret stated cheerfully.
‘These are some deep cuts Ms Snape. What was it that did this to you?’
‘Oh, nothing of any danger, really. It’s not poisoned or anything.’ She dismissed.
‘Hmm…’
Draco suddenly appeared at her side, making her jump from her skin.
‘Secret’ I’ve informed my father. He’s on his way now, and he’s furious.’ He said, thinking it would reassure her.
However, Secret was horrified. ‘Draco! There is no need to make such a fuss, it is just a few scratches, really…’
‘Where is she?! Where is my niece?!’
‘Goddammit.’ Secret muttered as Lucius came striding in.
‘Mr Malfoy, please! I am trying to attend to my patient!’ said Madam Pomfrey sternly, bringing a cloth to Secret’s arms and wiping the wounds. The solution stung and she winced, hissing softly.
‘Secret, Draco told me you were attacked by a Hippogriff. Is this true?’
‘Well, yeah, but only because…’
‘There is no need to try and defend the half-breed. He cannot hurt you.’
‘But, seriously…’
‘Secret, just relax I shall sort this out. Just get better.’ With that, he turned and walked from the Wing, presumably in the direction of Dumbledore’s office.
‘What in the name of Merlin?!’ she exclaimed. ‘Draco, did you forget to say that you were the reason?’
‘I may have omitted that…’ he mumbled.
‘YOU. FREAKING. MORON!’
‘Ms Snape! Please calm down or I shall have to call your father!’ exclaimed Madam Pomfrey, as she banaged her arm and placed it in a sling.
‘Do! I’d love a reason to have a word with him right now! He’s not on my good list either!’ Secret felt perfectly furious.
‘Well, I am right here.’ Her face drained of colour and she whipped her head to see him striding up the wing.
‘If I may have a moment with my daughter.’ He said in a low voice.
‘Professor I need to tend to her.’
‘It will be only a minute.’
Madam Pomfrey looked to be on the verge of disagreement, but she sighed. ‘Come along Mr Malfoy.’
Draco followed her out, casting a glance at her. As soon as the doors had closed, Snape had engulfed her tightly in a hug.
‘Merlin’s sake Dad!’ she exclaimed.
‘Oh word Secret, are you ok?’ he pulled back and tilted her head in his hands, checking her.
‘I’m fine! It was just a Hippogriff!’ she dismissed.
‘I meant with Sirius Black! I saw him, with you!’
‘Erm… how exactly?’ she asked sarcastically.
Snape’s face paled as he realized he head let slip.
‘I trusted you. Only to find you had been watching me.’ She spat, wrenching her face from his hands. ‘Thanks a bunch Dad.’
‘Secret… I was just worried...’ he mumbled.
‘Since when does that make it right to watch me?’ she snapped.
‘I didn’t want anything to happen to you!’
‘Dad, what could of happened to me? I was at school!
‘That’s not really been reassuring of late!’
Secret couldn’t take any more. Swinging her legs from the bed, she picked her bag up with her good arm, and slung it over the shoulder, before grabbing her guitar case and marching from the Wing.
‘Miss Snape! Where are you going?’ asked Madam Pomfrey.
‘Anywhere he’s not.’ She muttered, heading down that stairs and towards Muggle Music, tears pooling in her eyes.
Arriving, she pushed the door open, only to discover she had cut Andy off mid-stream and now had the whole class staring at her.
‘Sorry Professor. I was at the Hospital Wing.’ She mumbled.
Andy sighed, glancing at her arm worriedly and her red eyes. ‘Take a seat please Miss Snape.’
She moved to take a seat – unfortunately the only one was next to Pansy. An awards silence settled between the two girls as Andy went on - last time they were in this close proximity, Pansy had gained a red cheek and broken noise, and Secret a busted lip and black eye
‘Thank you.’ Secret’s head snapped to look at Pansy as the girl spoke.
‘For what you did for Draco. Thank you.’ She mumbled.
‘You’re… You’re welcome.’ Secret mumbled.
‘Are you ok? You look like you want to cry.’
‘Just, I had an argument with my dad.’ Secret sighed.
‘About what?’ Both girls turned to see Jinxx there, looking at her with concern written all over his face.
‘Just something Jinxxie. It don’t matter.’ Secret whispered.
‘Jinxxie?’ Pansy looked confused.
‘Well, ya see… Professor Biersack, he’s my Uncle. And the guys, they’re pretty much Uncle’s too.’ Said Secret.
Pansy nodded slowly. ‘I get it.’
‘So, what you got then Miss Parkinson?’ asked Jinxx.
Pansy pulled out a small case, which Secret hadn’t really noticed, and placed it on her lap, opening it. Secret gasped.
Inside, was a beautiful, wooden, honey coloured violin, looking to be in the most pristine condition ever – it looked like it was tenderly polished and looked after everyday.
‘The violin?’ asked Jinxx, surprised.
Pansy nodded shyly. ‘Yeah… my parent’s don’t know I play. They wouldn’t approve of me playing with Muggle things. They don’t even know I’m taking this.’
‘Let’s here.’ Said Secret, curious.
Giving a nervous cough, Pansy picked it up and rested it under her chin, placing the bow on the strings before beginning to play. Even though the classroom was full of basses, and guitars, and vocals, and the heavy, soothing rhythm of bass drums playing - even a Ukulele somewhere amongst the noise - Secret heard every single note, every whisper of the strings as they entwined in perfect harmony with the bow. It sent chills coursing through her body from the pure beauty.
As the violin slowly faded and the spell broken, Secret could only stare, open jawed at Pansy, who had an unusual red colouring spreading over her cheeks.
‘That was amazing Pansy.’ Secret whispered.
‘You-You really thought so?’ Pansy asked, surprised.
‘Yeah! That was so enchanting, like the notes were being woven into a blanket of music…’
‘Secret, have you ever considered writing something muggle’s call “Fan-fiction”?’ Pansy laughed.
Secret grinned. Maybe Pansy wasn’t so bad.
‘Secret!’ Andy had suddenly rushed over, having gained a free moment. ‘What in the name of Merlin happened?’
‘She saved Draco from getting injured.’ Pansy said suddenly. ‘And took it herself.’
‘It’s a few scratches.’ Secret mumbled.
‘Percy is going to have a fit when he sees this.’ Jinxx smirked.
‘Oh god.’ Secret groaned, face palming with her good hand.

Percy will die when he sees it.. And its killing me is he going to find out about Oliver and Penelope...Its like killing me!!!

Anyways like always loved it, cant wait to find out more about Secret..

And also bad Snape for stalking Secret!

Yesum, he will freak out. Ahh, no, not yet he won't.

Nice to know!

Yes, Bad Snape!

‘SECRET SNAPE, WHAT ON EARTH HAPPENED?!’
Just as Jinxx predicted, upon seeing Secret’s arm at dinner, Percy nearly had a seizure.
‘Merlin’s sake Percy!’ Secret winced. ‘It was just a small accident in class…’
‘Small? Small???’ Percy was swelling like a bullfrog. ‘Your arm is in a sling! How is that small?’
‘Well, it’s still attached.’ Secret grinned.
‘Secret!’
‘What, just saying!’
‘Secret!’ Two familiar voices were only just heard before she was attacked by two orange blurs.
‘Oh, hey guys!’ She said chirply.
‘What happened to your arm?’ Fred goggled.
‘Accident.’ She shrugged.
‘Only you could get into an accident so bad that you need a sling.’ George snickered.
‘Yup!’
‘I’m not finished talking with her!’
‘Who said that?’ asked Fred.
‘Dunno – I didn’t hear anything.’ Said George. ‘You’re losing your mind Fred. Inhaled too many dungbomb fumes I reckon.’
‘FRED! GEORGE!’
‘Must be right George. My fault. Come on Secret, let’s go.’ Fred idly dismissed, lifting Secret onto his shoulders. ‘We need your input on the canary creams.’
‘GET BACK HERE! I’M NOT FINISHED WITH HER!’ Percy’s voice faded as they left the hall, heading back to their disused bathroom on the seventh floor. Arriving, Fred removed her from his shoulders, and they crowded once again round their little cauldron.
‘So, how do you reckon we do this?’ asked George, as they stared at the packet of biscuits.
‘What about just hexing them?’ Secret said. ‘Y’know, using Avis?’
‘Won’t that just turn them into a bunch of birds?’ Fred mulled.
‘Dunno, let’s have a go.’
George pointed his wand at the biscuit that had fallen out, and muttered ‘Avis.’
The Custard Cream gave a little shudder, and then, with a small pop!, turned into a Canary, which hopped round, cheeping, before taking off and settling on Secret’s shoulder.
‘Ok, let’s try something else.’ Fred said, eyeing the bird apprehensively.
‘I shall call him Custard.’ Secret grinned.
‘You would.’

‘FRED AND GEORGE WEASLEY! WHAT DID YOU DO TO SECRET?!
Percy chose to stick his head in the moment Secret had taken a bite of the seventh-prototype-hexed-biscuit. With a large squawk, she turned into a large Canary - still with a sling on. Custard, who had been sitting on her head, took off and began circling her head, making noises of surprise and indignation.
‘CHANGE HER BACK!’
‘Now see Perc, there is the thing. We don’t know how to.’ Fred grinned.
‘WHAT?!’
‘She should change back within a minute or so.’ George said chirpily.
‘So help me, if she doesn’t, I will put you both in detention for so long, you’ll still be there ten years after you’ve left Hogwarts!’ Percy snapped, sitting down defiantly in a way that suggested he wasn’t moving until she was back to normal.
About a minute later, he feather moulted and she became herself with a pop!
‘Well, now we know what works!’ she said simply, clapping her hands together, before wincing slightly at the pain, ‘we jus need to work out how to do it on large amounts…’
‘Not tonight, you’re not! You are going back to common room!’ Percy had grabbed Secret’s arm and was currently pulling her from the bathroom, and down the stairs.
‘I don’t know what you’re thinking… you are a very bright girl Secret… why you would waste your intelligence on a bunch of prank is beyond me… you could work for the Ministry…’ he muttered as he yanked her along the corridor.
‘Percy, for the love of Merlin, let me go, you’re hurting!’
He immediately dropped her arm like it burned, and then turned to look at her.
‘Please, explain why you spend so much time with my brothers.’ He stated.
She blinked. ‘Well, they’re funny, they like pranking, they’re like brothers to me…’ she mulled.
‘So you don’t like them in any other way other than a brother?’
‘No.’
‘What about Lister?’
‘Come again?’
‘You really shouldn’t leave your mail lying around in the common room.’
‘I thought I had burnt it… drat. Wait, why do you want to know all this?!’
‘Because I care for your safety! I don’t want you getting hurt!’
‘More like you don’t want me to muck up your chance as Head Boy by causing chaos! You don’t give two hoots about me, you just worry about your chances of getting into the Ministry-!’
Secret was suddenly silenced as Percy suddenly grabbed her shoulders and pulled her into a kiss. She blinked, stunned, before allowing her eyes to slid shut as she grasped the front of his robes one-handed.
He eventually pulled away, his face flame red. Secret was stunned.
‘Wha-wha-…?’
‘Never say I don’t care.’ He whispered.
‘But, Percy, you, Penelope…’
‘I know, I know. But, I just couldn’t stop myself. Come on, back to the common room.’
He grasped her hand this time, and walked down the corridor, to the Fat Lady.
‘Fortuna Major.’ He said.
She nodded, swinging forward to admit them. Percy helped Secret through, before leaving her standing there, as he headed to the boys dorm.
‘Perc, wait!’
He turned, and looked at her. ‘Yes?’
‘What’s your middle name?’
Percy blinked. ‘Why, it’s Ignatius. Why?’
‘Oh, it’s just that I’ve worked out who sent me the necklace now.’ She grinned. 'Mr P.I.W'
Percy’s face flamed once again. ‘Goodnight Secret.’
With that, he was gone. Custard gave a triumphant cheep from her head.
'Oh, be quite, or I'll turn you back into a biscuit.'

A/N: ABOUT TIME YOU TWO!

Unfortunately, Lucius seemed intent of bringing "justice" to Secret, despite her protests that she was fine, it was an accident, it was Care Of Magical Creatures, y'know, accidents were going to occur…
'How's it going?' Harry asked one Thursday morning. They were seated in Potions, making a Shrinking Solution. Secret had already done this potion, but due to the fact she was waiting on her Felix Felicis to stew, she had joined in today, glad to be making a simple potion with her arm.
'Not good.' she groaned, attempting to cut up Daisy Roots one handed. 'I've tried to convince him that it was just an accident, but he won't listen - oops!'
A root had just gone flying across the classroom, hitting Goyle in the head.
'Sorry!' she called over the laughter of the Gryffindors.
Snape looked over, looking down at her with concern.
'Weasley, cut up Snape's roots for her.' he said, before returning to his work.
Ron went red.
'I can do it, seriously Ron, just hold the root down…' Secret muttered.
Ron reached over and held the root as Secret cut, rougher than she would like.
'Oh dang it.' she muttered. 'Ahh well, they'll do.'
'Professor,' Malfoy drawled, having looked over their shoulders, 'Weasley mutilated Snape's roots.'
Snape swept over, much to Secret's annoyance.
'He didn't, I cut them, he held the root for me…' She defended him.
Unfortunately, that didn't seem to help.
'Weasley, I asked you to cut up Snape's roots, not just hold them. Change roots with Miss Snape.'
'But sir!'
Ron had just spent about half an hour carefully cutting his into equal sized pieces.
'Now.'
Grumbling, Ron gave Secret his roots, before taking the knife again and working on hers.
'Sorry.' she whispered.
'Not your fault.' he mumbled.
'And sir, Snape will need her shrivelfig skinned.' Secret shot daggers at Malfoy, who's voice was full of amusement as he called out once again.
'Potter, you can skin Snape's shrivelfig.' Snape said quietly, giving Harry his signature look.
'I can do it Harry…' Secret grumbled.
'No, I'll do it. You might end up flinging it across the room at Crabbe next. And whilst that may be extremely funny, Snape will somehow blame me, and take points.' Harry sighed, taking her shrivelfig and skinning it, before handing it back.
'Cheers.' she mumbled.
'Seen your pal Hagrid lately?' They all looked to see Malfoy, smirking.
'None of your business.' Ron said, not looking up.
'I'm afraid he won't be a teacher much longer,' said Malfoy in mock sorrow, 'Father is not happy about Secret's injury…'
'Which she wouldn't have got, if you hadn't of been such a moron in the first place.' Harry snapped.
'He's complained to the school governors. And to the Ministry of Magic. Father's got a lot of influence, y'know. And a lasting injury like this,' he gave a huge, fake sigh, gesturing to Secret's bandaged arm. 'who knows if her arm will ever be the same again?'
'So that's why your telling Uncle all this fake stuff!' Secret whispered furiously, accidentally beheading a caterpillar head too hard and sending it flying across the room to hit Pansy - which Snape ignored - before putting her knife down. 'To get Hagrid fired!'
'Well,' Malfoy said, lowering his voice to a whisper, 'partly, Potter, but there are other benefits. Secret, give those here,' he raised his voice, 'I'll slice your caterpillars for you.'
'Very generous of you, Mr Malfoy. 5 points to Slytherin.' Snape said in a monotone, heading towards Neville's cauldron.
Poor Neville - he was in trouble. Neville regularly went to pieces in Potions lessons; it was his worst subject, and the fact he was terrified of Professor Snape made things ten times worse. His potion, which was supposed to be a bright, acid green, had turned..
'Orange, Longbottom,' said Snape, ladling some up and allowing to splash back into the cauldron, so that everyone could see. 'Orange. Tell me, boy, does anything penetrate that thick skull of yours? Didn't you hear me say, quite clearly, that only one rat spleen was needed? Didn't I state plainly that a dash of leech juice would suffice? What do I have to do to make you understand, Longbottom?'
Neville was pink and trembling. He looked as though he was on the verge of tears. It was times like these that Secret really did hate her father.
'Please, sir,' Secret spoke up, 'please, I could help Neville put it right...'
'I don't remember asking you to show off, Miss Black,' said Snape coldly, before his eyes widened at his words. Secret felt a stab in her chest, and suddenly found it hard to breath.
'Longbottom, at the end of this lesson we will feed a few drops of this potion to your toad and see what happens. Perhaps that will encourage you to do it properly.'
Snape moved away, leaving Neville breathless with fear.
'Help me!' he moaned to Secret.
Secret nodded, determined to help him now. 'Ok, what you need to do is...'
After a few moments, Snape called, 'You should have finished adding your ingredients by now; this potion needs to stew before it can be drunk, so clear away while it simmers and then we'll test Longbottom's...'
Crabbe and Goyle laughed openly, watching Neville sweat as he stirred his potion feverishly. Secret was muttering instructions to him out of the corner of her mouth, so that Snape wouldn't see, grateful Hermione had agreed to pack her things away as well so Secret could help the boy.
With the end of the lesson in sight, Snape strode over to Neville, who was cowering by his cauldron. Secret was breathing heavily, not from fear that she may have mucked up his potion - she knew the concoction's recipe far too well for that - but from the adrenaline rush she had come to associate with rule breaking. Even after three years, she loved it.
'Everyone gather round,' said Snape, his black eyes glittering, 'and watch what happens to Longbottom's toad. If he has managed to produce a Shrinking Solution, it will shrink to a tadpole. If, as I don't doubt, he has done it wrong, his toad is likely to be poisoned.'
The Gryffindors watched fearfully. The Slytherins looked excited. Snape picked up Trevor the toad in his left hand and dipped a small spoon into Neville's potion, which was now green. He trickled a few drops down Trevor's throat.
There was a moment of hushed silence, in which Trevor gulped; then there was a small pop, and Trevor the tadpole was wriggling in Snape's palm.
The Gryffindors burst into applause. Snape, looking sour, pulled a small bottle from the pocket of his robe, poured a few drops on top of Trevor, and he reappeared suddenly, fully grown.
'Five points from Gryffindor,' said Snape, which wiped the smiles from every face. 'I told you not to help him, Miss Snape. Class dismissed. Stay behind, Miss Snape.'
The class surged to the door, Secret at the back.
'Miss Snape, I said to remain behind!'
Secret paused at the door, and turned. The class, sensing something was about to happen, stopped, hushed whispers fainting away.
'With all due respect sir, I do not know who this Miss Snape is. As you said quite clearly yourself earlier, I am Miss Black. Good day Professor.' she said coolly, before leaving.
Deciding she was not hungry, Secret headed away from the Great Hall, choosing to wander the corridors instead. Without her realising, her feet had taken her to an office, an office that now bore five names, scribed in plaques that were nailed on the door. Her grey eyes drifted over the names, her mind debating whether to knock. For if she had really disowned Snape has her father, then, that would no longer make Andy and the guys her uncles.
Sighing, she lowered her raised fist that had been poised to knock, when she heard her name being said.
Not for the first time in her life, she pulled the trusty tangle of fleshy string out her pocket, and slipped it under the door, sticking the other end in her ear.
‘… Severus, you have truly mucked it up.’ Andy was finishing.
‘I didn’t mean to call her that, it, it just slipped out.’ That was Snape. ‘The look of her face when I called her that… she looked like I had just poisoned the Weasley twins.’
‘By calling her “Miss Black”, you have effectively just told her that she isn’t your daughter! Severus, despite what you may believe, she still looks up to you as a dad, and I know I can only imagine what she must have felt. If she never forgives you, then I can hardly blame her.’
‘… I’m going for lunch.’
Quickly retracting the ear, she hid behind a statue as Snape swept out. He headed off down the corridor, as Secret removed her hiding frame from where she had been crouched, watching as her father’s figure shrink – and not just from her sight either.
'Secret?' Andy had come out and spotted her staring at the now-empty corridor.
'Hey… Andy…' she mumbled.
'You know, despite it all, I'm still your uncle.' He sighed, gently grabbing her shoulders, turning her round, cupping her cheek. 'We all are.'
'I-I just don't know what to think…' she mumbled.
'Then just, just breath. Come in, sweetie, and we'll have a cup of hot chocolate, and, we can forget about it for now, ok? We can pretend that none of this was happening, like everything is ok for now, ok?' Andy wrapped his arms round her, holding her tight.
Secret gave a sniffle. '…ok.'

Professor Lupin wasn’t there when they arrived at Defence Against the Dark Arts. They all sat down, took out their books, quills, and parchment, and were talking when he finally entered the room. Lupin smiled vaguely and placed his tatty old briefcase on the teacher’s desk. He was as shabby as ever, but Secret noted that her godfather looked healthier than he had on the train, as though he had had a few square meals.
‘Good afternoon,’ he said. ‘Would you please put all your books back in your bags? Todays will be a practical lesson. You will need only your wands.’
‘I’m worried.’ Secret muttered to Harry and Ron, who both nodded as they stuffed their book in their backs and drew their wands; the last practical lesson that they had involved Lockheart setting a bunch of pixies loose in the classroom – a memory still fresh as ever in everyone’s minds.
‘Right then,’ said Lupin, when everyone was ready. ‘If you’d follow me…’
Now Secret was just confused. Yet, she stood up, and joined the back of the class moving out the door in wake of Lupin. He led them along the deserted corridor and around a corner, where the first thing they saw was Peeves the Poltergeist, who was floating upside down in mid-air and stuffing the nearest keyhole with chewing gum.
Peeves didn’t look up until Lupin was two feet away; then he wiggled his curly-toed feet and broke into song.
‘Loony, loopy Lupin,’ Peeves sang. ‘Loony, loopy Lupin, loony, loopy Lupin…’
Secret raised her eyebrows. Although he was rude and a royal pain, he usually showed respect to teachers. Her gaze, along with everyone else’s, darted to Lupin to see how he would take this; to her surprise, he was still smiling.
‘I’d take that gum out of the keyhole if I were you, Peeves,’ he said pleasantly. ‘Mr. Filch won’t be able to get in to his brooms.’
‘Yeah, cause that’s gonna work.’ Secret muttered – to her right, Hermione heard and gave a smile.
Peeves paid no attention to Professor Lupin’s words, except to blow a loud wet raspberry.
Professor Lupin gave a small sigh and took out his wand.
‘This is a useful little spell,’ he told the class over his shoulder. ‘Please watch closely.’
He raised the wand to shoulder height, said, “Waddiwasi!” and pointed it at Peeves.
With the force of a bullet, the wad of chewing gum shot out of the keyhole and straight down Peeves’s left nostril; he whirled upright and zoomed away, cursing.
‘Cool, sir!’ said Dean Thomas in amazement.
‘That was pretty epic.’ Secret said.
‘Thank you, Dean, Secret,’ said Remus, putting his wand away again. ‘Shall we proceed?’
They set off again, the class looking at Lupin with increased respect, something that made Secret grin. He led them down a second corridor and stopped, right outside the staffroom door.
‘Inside, please,’ said Professor Lupin, opening it and standing back.
The staffroom, a long, panelled room full of old, mismatched chairs, was empty except for one teacher.
Professor Snape was sitting in a low armchair, and he looked around as the class filed in. His eyes were glittering and there was a nasty sneer playing around his mouth.
‘Oh fudgekins.’ Secret muttered.
As Professor Lupin came in and made to close the door behind him, Snape said, ‘Leave it open, Lupin. I’d rather not witness this.’
He got to his feet and strode past the class, his black robes billowing behind him.
At the doorway he turned on his heel and said, ‘Possibly no one’s warned you, Lupin, but this class contains Neville Longbottom. I would advise you not to entrust him with anything difficult. Not unless Miss Granger or Miss Snape are hissing instructions in his ear.’
Neville went scarlet, Harry glared at Snape and Secret scowled; it was bad enough that he bullied Neville in his own classes, let alone doing it in front of other teachers.
Professor Lupin had raised his eyebrows.
‘I was hoping that Neville would assist me with the first stage of the operation,’ he said, ‘and I am sure he will perform it admirably.’
Neville’s face went, if possible, even redder. Snape’s lip curled, but he left, shutting the door with a snap.
‘Now, then,’ said Professor Lupin, beckoning the class toward the end of the room, where there was nothing but an old wardrobe where the teachers kept their spare robes. As Professor Lupin went to stand next to it, the wardrobe gave a sudden wobble, banging off the wall.
‘Woah!’ Secret exclaimed, jumping back and unfortunately landing on Pansy’s foot, ‘Whoops, sorry Pansy…’
“Nothing to worry about,” said Professor Lupin calmly, because a few people had jumped backward in alarm as well as Secret. ‘There’s a Boggart in there.’
Secret however, felt that this was something to worry about. Neville gave Professor Lupin a look of pure terror, and Seamus Finnigan eyed the now rattling doorknob apprehensively.
‘Boggarts like dark, enclosed spaces…’ Lupin’s word floated in one ear and out the other, because Secret knew exactly what was going to happen. They were going to have to face it. And she did not want to. She knew exactly what it was…

‘Daddy! Daddy!’ A little seven-year-old came running down the stairs, missing one and tumbling down.
‘Secret! What ever is the matter?” Snape exclaimed, rushing out the where she was sitting on the floor, rubbing her arm.
‘My wardrobe is rattling around.’ She said simply.
Snape sighed. ‘Probably a boggart. Just ignore it for now, and I will come sort it out later.’
Secret nodded, as she made her way back up.
‘A boggart? I bet I can get rid of it! It isn’t hard, I’ve seen daddy do it!’ she mumbled. ‘Yeah, I bet! I’m a big girl, I can do this!’
She went back into her room, and faced the wardrobe, watching as it continued to jump on its four legs.
‘Now, what was it Daddy used? Ridic… Ridik… Riddikulus! That was it!’
Grinning with brash confidence, she focused on the doorknob, imaging it turning.
As the door swung open, she looked into the darkness, waiting for whatever would come…
‘Daddy?!’ To her surprise, Snape stepped out, looking pale – well, more pale than usual. ‘But you were downstairs….’
Thump!
He fell to the ground, and Secret saw it – the large knife in his back, the crimson blood that stained his robes, the motionless face.
‘Daddy! Daddy! Riddikulus! Riddikulus! Daddy, wake up! Riddi… Riddi… Daddy!’
She sank to the ground, still squeaking the word.
‘Riddikulus! RIDDIKULUS!’
‘Secret!’ Snape was at her door, looking at the scene. Quickly realised, he moved to stand in front, staring at his own dead body.
Pop!
The boggart changed, and Secret was staring at her own lifeless body.
‘Riddikulus.’ Snape said very firmly, wand pointed at the creature.
The boggart changed into a flame-red dancing flower, which Snape gave a lough laugh to, and it disappeared in wisps of red smoke..
‘Secret, what did I say?’ Snape quickly scooped the child up, rocking her.
‘I, I just wanted to show you that I’m a big girl, Daddy…’ she whimpered.
‘You are a big girl, Secret. But there are just some things that you’re not big enough for yet.’ Snape soothed.
Secret sniffled, face buried in his shoulder.
‘Come on, I’ll make us some coco. You’re not too big for that, are you?’
‘No way, Daddy!’

‘Riddikulus!’ Secret was jerked from the memory as the class chanted.
‘Good,’ said Lupin, ‘Very good. But that was the easy part, I’m afraid. You see, the word alone is not enough. And this is where you come in, Neville.’
The wardrobe shook again, though not as much as Neville, who walked forward as though he had just been informed he was going to receive the Kiss.
‘Right, Neville,’ said Professor Lupin. ‘First things first: what would you say is the thing that frightens you most in the world?’
Neville’s lips moved, but no noise came out.
‘I didn’t catch that, Neville, sorry,’ said Professor Lupin cheerfully.
Neville looked around rather wildly, as though begging someone to help him, then said, in barely more than a whisper, ‘Professor Snape.’
Nearly everyone laughed, Secret included. Even Neville grinned apologetically.
‘Frightens us all,’ Mulled Lupin, smiling ‘And I believ, you live with your grandmother?’
‘Er, yes,’ said Neville nervously. ‘But, but I don’t want the Boggart to turn into her either!’
‘No, no, you misunderstand me,’ said Professor Lupin, now smiling as another ripple of laughter rolled through the class. ‘I wonder, could you tell us what sort of clothes your grandmother usually wears?’
Neville looked startled, but said, ‘Well... always the same hat. A tall one with a stuffed vulture on top. And a long dress... green, normally... and sometimes a fox-fur scarf.’
‘And a handbag?’ prompted Professor Lupin.
‘ A big red one,’ said Neville.
‘Oh I know what is going to happen.’ The class turned to see Andy had strolled in, grinning.
‘Oh, hello there, Professor Biersack.’ Said Lupin cheerfully.
‘Hello, Lupin.’ Andy replied. ‘Don’t mind if I stay, do you? If what I think is going to happen will, well, I want to see it.’
‘No, perfectly all right with me. Right then,’ said Lupin, turning back to Neville. ‘Can you picture those clothes very clearly, Neville? Can you see them in your mind’s eye?’
‘Yes,’ said Neville uncertainty, plainly wondering what was coming next – and judging by the various confused looks from the class, he wasn’t the only one.
‘When the Boggart bursts out of this wardrobe, Neville, and sees you, it will assume the form of Professor Snape,’ said Lupin. ‘And you will raise your wand, thus, and cry ‘Riddikulus’, and concentrate hard on your grandmother’s clothes. If all goes well, Professor Boggart Snape will be forced into that vulture-topped hat, and that green dress, with that big red handbag.
There was a great shout of laughter, Secret included. The wardrobe wobbled more violently, as if angered.
‘If Neville is successful, the Boggart is likely to shift his attention to each of us in turn,’ said Lupin. ‘I would like all of you to take a moment now to think of the thing that scares you most, and imagine how you might force it to look comical...’
The room went quiet. Secret pondered – how could she get out of this one?
‘Everyone ready?’ said Professor Lupin.
Aww hell naw, there was no way she was ready. But she couldn’t say anything; everyone else was nodding and rolling up their sleeves.
‘Neville, we’re going to back away,’ said Lupin. ‘Let you have a clear field, all right? I’ll call the next person forward... Everyone back, now, so Neville can get a clear shot…’
They all retreated, backed against the walls, leaving Neville alone beside the wardrobe. He looked pale and frightened, but he had pushed up the sleeves of his robes and was holding his wand ready – he certainly looked more confident than he did in Potions this morning.
‘On the count of three, Neville,’ said Lupin, who was pointing his own wand at the handle of the wardrobe. ‘One — two — three —now!’
A jet of sparks shot from the end of Professor Lupin’s wand and hit the doorknob. The wardrobe burst open. Hook-nosed and menacing, Professor Snape stepped out, his eyes flashing at Neville.
Neville backed away, his wand up, mouthing wordlessly. Snape was bearing down upon him, reaching inside his robes – Merlin, he looked menacing enough right now to scare Secret to death.
‘R — r — riddikulus!’ squeaked Neville.
There was a noise like a whip crack. Snape stumbled; he was wearing a long, lace-trimmed dress and a towering hat topped with a moth-eaten vulture, and he was swinging a huge crimson handbag.
There was a roar of laughter- Secret even spotted Andy doubled over, laughing.
The Boggart paused, confused, and Professor Lupin shouted, ‘Parvati! Forward!’
Parvati walked forward, her face set. Snape rounded on her. There was another crack, and where he had stood, was a blood-stained, bandaged mummy; its sightless face was turned to Parvati and it began to walk toward her very slowly, dragging its feet, its stiff arms rising…
‘Riddikulus!’ cried Parvati.
A bandage unravelled at the mummy’s feet; it became entangled, fell face forward, and its head rolled off.
‘Seamus!’ roared Professor Lupin.
Seamus darted past Parvati.
Crack!
Where the mummy had been was a woman with floor length black hair and a skeletal, green-tinged face - a banshee.
She opened her mouth wide and an unearthly sound filled the room, a long, wailing shriek that made the hair on Secret’s neck stand on end…
‘Riddikulus!’ shouted Seamus.
The banshee made a rasping noise and clutched her throat; her voice was gone.
Crack! The banshee turned into a rat, which chased its tail in a circle, then - crack! - became a rattlesnake, which slithered and writhed before - crack! - becoming a single, bloody eyeball….
‘It’s confused!’ shouted Lupin. ‘We’re getting there! Dean!’
Dean hurried forward.
Crack!
The eyeball became a severed hand, which flipped over and began to creep along the floor like a crab.
‘Riddikulus!’ yelled Dean.
There was a snap, and the hand was trapped in a mousetrap.
‘Excellent! Ron, you next!’
Ron leapt forward.
Crack!
Quite a few people screamed, and Secret yelled out ‘Merlin’s pants!’
A giant spider, six feet tall and covered in hair, was advancing on Ron, clicking its pincers menacingly. For a moment, Secret thought Ron had frozen. Then -
‘Riddikulus!’ bellowed Ron, and the spider’s legs vanished; it rolled over and over - Lavender Brown squealed and ran out of its way - and it came to a halt at Harry’s feet. He raised his wand, ready…
‘Here!’ shouted Professor Lupin suddenly, hurrying forward.
Crack!
The legless spider had vanished. For a second, Secret looked wildly around to see where it was. Then, she saw a full moon hanging in the air in front of Lupin, who said, ‘Riddikulus!’ almost lazily.
Crack!
‘Forward, Neville, and finish him off!’ said Lupin as the Boggart landed on the floor as a cockroach.
Crack!
Snape was back. This time Neville charged forward looking determined.
‘Riddikulus!’ he shouted, and she had a split second’s view of Snape in his lacy dress before Neville let out a great ‘Ha!’ of laughter, and the Boggart exploded, burst into a thousand tiny wisps of smoke, and was gone.
‘Excellent!’ cried Professor Lupin as the class broke into applause. ‘Excellent, Neville. Well done, everyone... Let me see... five points to Gryffindor for every person to tackle the Boggart — ten for Neville because he did it twice... and five each to Hermione and Harry.’
‘But I didn’t do anything,’ said Harry, confused.
‘You and Hermione answered my questions correctly at the start of the class, Harry,’ Lupin said lightly. ‘Very well, everyone, an excellent lesson. Homework, kindly read the chapter on Boggarts and summarize it for me... to be handed in on Monday. That will be all.’
Talking excitedly, the class left the staffroom, Secret feeling relieved that she hadn’t had to face it.
‘Did you see me take that banshee?’ shouted Seamus.
‘And the hand!’ said Dean, waving his own around.
‘And Snape in that hat!’
‘And my mummy!’
‘I wonder why Professor Lupin’s frightened of crystal balls?’ said Lavender thoughtfully.
‘Crystal balls?’ thought Secret. She was sure she had seen a full moon…
‘That was the best Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson we’ve ever had, wasn’t it?’ said Ron excitedly as they made their way back to the classroom to get their bags.
‘He seems like a very good teacher,’ said Hermione approvingly. ‘But I wish I could have had a turn with the Boggart…’
‘What would it have been for you?’ said Ron, sniggering. ‘A piece of homework that only got nine out of ten?’
Hermione gave an exasperated sigh and turned to Secret. ‘What about you?’
‘Secret, scared?” Ron chipped in before she could reply. ‘If Secret had faced that boggart, it wouldn’t of known what to turn into. She’s not scared of anything.’
Secret simply rolled her eyes.

Loved it!!!
"Secret simply rolled her eyes," <--nice line!
PAMS!!

In no time at all, Defense Against the Dark Arts had become most people's favorite class. Only Draco Malfoy and his gang had anything bad to say about Lupin.
‘Look at the state of his robes,’ Malfoy would say in a loud whisper as Lupin passed. ‘He dresses like our old house elf… Oww!’
Of course, anytime Secret was passing and she heard, she always seemed to “accidently” stand on his foot. But no one else cared that Lupin's robes were patched and frayed. His next few lessons were just as interesting as the first. After boggarts, they studied Red Caps, nasty little goblin like creatures that lurked wherever there had been bloodshed: in the dungeons of castles and the potholes of deserted battlefields, waiting to bludgeon those who had gotten lost. From Red Caps they moved on to kappas, creepy. water-dwellers that looked like scaly monkeys, with webbed hands itching to strangle unwitting waders in their ponds.
Secret only wished she had as much fun in her other classes. Worst of all was Potions. Snape was in a particularly horrid mood these days, and no one was in any doubt why. The story of the boggart assuming Snape's shape, and the way that Neville had dressed it in his grandmother's clothes, had traveled through the school like wildfire. Snape didn't seem to find it funny, which was no shock to anyone. His eyes flashed menacingly at the very mention of Professor Lupin's name, and he was bullying Neville worse than ever – much to Secret’s displeasure.
Secret was also growing weary about the hours she spent in Professor Trelawney's stifling tower room, trying to ignore ominous things she kept seeing in the crystal balls, that would always happen, although admittedly she had yet to see Harry’s death crop up. She couldn't like Professor Trelawney, even though she was treated with respect bordering on reverence by many of the class. Parvati and Lavender had taken to haunting Professor Trelawney's tower room at lunch times, and always returned with annoyingly superior looks on their faces, as though they knew things the others didn't, which Secret snorted at whenever they told her. They had also started using hushed voices whenever they spoke to Harry, as though he were on his deathbed, which also irritated Secret if she was in the area.
Nobody really liked Care of Magical Creatures anymore, which, after the action-packed first class, had become extremely dull. Hagrid seemed to have lost his confidence. They were now spending lesson after lesson learning how to look after flobberworms, which had to be some of the most boring creatures in existence.
‘Why would anyone bother looking after them?’ said Ron, after yet another hour of poking shredded lettuce down the flobberworms' throats, and Secret could only agree.
At the start of October, however, Secret had something else to occupy her, something rather enjoyable and made up for her rubbish classes. The Quidditch season was approaching, and Oliver called a meeting on Thursday evening to discuss tactics for the new season.
‘This is our last chance - my last chance - to win the Quidditch Cup,’ he told them, striding up and down in front of them. Secret couldn’t quite meet his face; she was just reminded about catching him with Penelope. ‘I'll be leaving at the end of this year. I'll never get another shot at it. Gryffindor hasn't won for seven years now. Okay, so we've had the worst luck in the world - injuries - then the tournament getting called off last year…’
Wood swallowed, as though the memory still brought a lump to his throat.
‘But we also know we've got the best-ruddy-team-in-the-school," he said, punching a fist into his other hand, the old manic glint back in his eye. ‘We've got three superb Chasers…’ Wood pointed at Alicia Spinner, Angelina Johnson, and Katie Bell.
‘We've got three unbeatable Beaters.’
‘Stop it, Oliver, you're embarrassing us,’ said Fred and George together, pretending to blush, whilst elbowing Secret.
‘And we've got a Seeker who has never failed to win us a match!’ Wood rumbled, glaring at Harry with a kind of furious pride.
‘And me,’ he added as an afterthought.
‘We think you're very good too, Oliver,’ said George.
‘Spanking good Keeper,’ said Fred.
‘The point is,’ Wood went on, resuming his pacing, ‘the Quidditch Cup should have had our name on it these last two years. Ever since Harry and Secret joined the team, I've thought the thing was in the bag. But we haven't got it, and this year's the last chance we'll get to finally see our name on the thing....’
Wood spoke so dejectedly that even Fred and George looked sympathetic.
‘Oliver, this year's our year,’ said Fred.
‘We'll do it, Oliver!’ said Angelina.
‘Definitely,’ said Harry.
Full of determination, the team started training sessions, three evenings a week. The weather was getting colder and wetter, the nights darker, but no amount of mud, wind, or rain could tarnish Secret's wonderful vision of finally winning the huge, silver Quidditch Cup – Snape had often gone on about it when she was little, and it used to fill her dreams, gleaming and shining.
　　
Secret returned to the Gryffindor common room one evening after training, cold and stiff but pleased with the way practice had gone, to find the room buzzing excitedly.
‘What's going on?’ She asked Lee Jordan, who was peering at a new notice on the board.　
‘First Hogsmeade weekend," said Lee, moving so she could see. ‘End of October. Halloween.’
‘Excellent,’ said Fred, who had appeared behind the girl, ‘I need to visit Zonko's. I'm nearly out of Stink Pellets.’
‘I need to ask Uncle if he can sign my permission form, cause there ain’t a chance Snape will.’ Secret mulled.
‘Could go ask now.’ George added.
‘Might do…’
‘OY!’ The trio jumped and spun to see Ron fighting with Crookshanks, who was attacking his bag. ‘GET OFF, YOU STUPID ANIMAL!’
Ron tried to pull the bag away from Crookshanks, but Crookshanks clung on, spitting and slashing.
‘Ron, don't hurt him!’ squealed Hermione. The whole common room was watching now.
Ron whirled the bag around, Crookshanks still clinging to it, and Scabbers came flying out of the top -
‘CATCH THAT CAT!’ Ron yelled as Crookshanks freed himself from the remnants of the bag, sprang over the table, and chased after the terrified Scabbers.
George made a lunge for Crookshanks but missed. Secret dove for the animal, but it slipped through and she merely landed on top of the male. Scabbers streaked through twenty pairs of legs and shot beneath an old chest of drawers. Crookshanks skidded to a halt, crouched low on his bandy legs, and started making furious swipes beneath it with his front paw.
Ron and Hermione hurried over; Hermione grabbed Crookshanks around the middle and heaved him away; Ron threw himself onto his stomach and, with great difficulty, pulled Scabbers out by the tail.
‘Look at him!’ he said furiously to Hermione, dangling Scabbers in front of her. ‘He's skin and bone! You keep that cat away from him!’
‘Crookshanks doesn't understand…’ Secreet heard no more, as she had left, walking down the corridors and to Andy’s office.
‘He’s not in right now.’ Jinxx had answered. ‘Come on in, he should only be a moment.’
She slipped in, and smiled as she saw the guys lounging on couches.
‘Heya, Secret!’ Ashley cheered, holding his arms out. ‘Give us a hug, I haven’t had one in ages!’
Rolling her eyes, she walked over and sat next to him, allowing him to slip his arms round her and hug her tight.
‘So, what does our lil’ Secret requires that’s made her trek all the way from her common room, at this time in an evening, to our office?’ asked CC.
‘I need Uncle to sign my permission form for Hogsmead.’ Secret replied.
‘Must Andy sign it? Surly you could get on of us.’ Jake said.
‘None of you are my parent or legal guardian.’ Secret pointed out.
‘We’re wounded Secret! Well all think of you as our daughter.’ Groaned Ashley, being dramatic as normal.
‘Unfortunately, McGonagall doesn’t.’ Secret said.
‘Darn it.’
The door opened at this point, and Andy walked it.
‘Heya, Secret! What’s up?’ he grinned as he spotted the witch.
‘I need my Hogsmead form signing.’ She said, slipping off the sofa and over, holding the form.
Andy took it, pulled a quill from a draw, and dipped it in the ink before scrawling on the paper.
‘There we go. Should be enough for McGonagall.’ He grinned.
‘Cheer’s Uncle.’ She smiled, hugging him.
‘It’s ‘k. Off you go, unless you fancy staying for hot chocolate.’ Andy said, hugging back.
‘Hot Chocolate!’

‘So, where are we going first?’ Secret looked up at the twins as they made their way down the courtyard, following the rest of the crowd.
‘Zonko’s, surely.’ She replied in disbelief to Fred’s comment.
‘The Troublemaker-In-Training knows well.’ George added.
As they passed the gates, Secret felt a shiver fly down as she saw the Dementors, and moved to Fred, grasping his hand. Fred noticed, and gave it a reassuring squeeze, not letting go until they had reached the beginning of the village.
‘So, to Zonko’s!’ George suddenly grabbed her other hand, dragging her off.

When they got back, pink faced and cold, the trio had great fun trying to sneak all their Zonko’s produce past Filch, who seemed very suspicious of the three.
‘I have no idea where he gets these wild accusations from.’ Secret muttered as they entered the common room, having received and earful from the caretaker about if he caught one wiff of a dungbomb, then they would all be in trouble.
‘Can’t imagine.’ Said Fred cheerfully.
‘Come on, feast will be starting soon.’ George reminded.
They went to their rooms to deposit their stuff, before heading down, discussing about Zonko’s and how they could alter some things for their own jokes.
The Great Hall had been decorated with hundreds and hundreds of candle-filled pumpkins, a cloud of fluttering live bats, and many flaming orange streamers, which were swimming lazily across the stormy ceiling like brilliant watersnakes. The food was delicious; even Secret, Fred and George, who were full to bursting with Honeydukes sweets, managed second helpings of everything.
The feast finished with an entertainment provided by the Hogwarts ghosts. They popped out of the walls and tables to do a bit of formation gliding; Nearly Headless Nick, the Gryffindor ghost, had a great success with a reenactment of his own botched beheading.
It had been such a pleasant evening that Secret's good mood couldn't even be spoiled by Malfoy, who shouted through the crowd as they all left the hall at Harry, ‘The dementors send their love, Potter!’ – she merely made a mental note to hex him later.
The trio followed the rest of the Gryffindors along the usual path to Gryffindor Tower, but when they reached the corridor that ended with the portrait of the Fat Lady, they found it jammed with students.
‘Why isn't anyone going in?" said Secret; she couldn’t see anything, due to be one of the shorter students.
Fred peered over the heads in front of him. ‘The portrait seems to be closed. Dunno what’s going on…’
‘Let me through, please,’ came Percy's voice, and he came pushing through the crowd. ‘What's the holdup here? You can't all have forgotten the password… excuse me, I'm Head Boy…’
A silence suddenly fell over the crowd, from the front first, so that a chill seemed to spread down the corridor. Then, they heard Percy say, in a suddenly sharp voice, ‘Somebody get Professor Dumbledore. Quick.’
‘I can’t see anything.’ Frowned George.
‘You think I can?’ Secret scowled.
A moment later, Professor Dumbledore was there, sweeping toward the portrait and the Gryffindors squeezed together to let him through.
‘Hang on… Up you get!’ Fred’s hands were suddenly lifting Secret, so as he could sit her on his shoulders. ‘What can you see?’
Secret peered, and then gasped, hands over her mouth. ‘Holy Flying Saucers…’
The Fat Lady had vanished from her portrait, which had been slashed so viciously that strips of canvas littered the floor; great chunks of it had been torn away completely.
Dumbledore took one quick look at the ruined painting and turned, his eyes somber, to see McGonagall, Lupin, and Snape hurrying toward him. Snape, seeing the portrait, immediately spun to look round the students. His eyes rested on Secret, before he breathed out, and turned back to Dumbledore.
‘We need to find her,’ said Dumbledore. ‘Professor McGonagall, please go to Mr. Filch at once and tell him to search every painting in the castle for the Fat Lady…’
‘You'll be lucky!’ said a cackling voice.
It was Peeves, bobbing over the crowd and looking delighted, as he always did, at the sight of wreckage or worry.
‘What do you mean, Peeves?’ said Dumbledore calmly, and Peeves's grin faded a little. He didn't dare taunt Dumbledore.
Instead he adopted an oily voice that was no better than his cackle. ‘Ashamed, Your Headship, sit. Doesn't want to be seen. She's a horrible mess. Saw her running through the landscape up on the fourth floor, sir, dodging between the trees. Crying something dreadful,’ he said happily.
‘Poor thing,’ he added unconvincingly.
‘Did she say who did it?’ said Dumbledore quietly.
‘Oh yes, Professorhead," said Peeves. ‘He got very angry when she wouldn't let him in, you see.’ Peeves flipped over and grinned at Dumbledore from between his own legs.
‘Nasty temper he's got, that Sirius Black.’

Secret couldn’t sleep. Either side of her, Fred and George were both snoring, but she couldn’t sleep. She just sat there, huddled up in her sleeping bag, watching the slumbering students, and Percy strolling amongst them, occasionally telling some off for chattering.
She looked down. What is he was still in the castle? He may be her father, but what if he hurt someone? What if he was on his way to the Hall, and he was going to burst in, and take her? Take away from her friends, her family, everyone…
‘Secret?’ she was jerked from her thoughts to see Percy peering at her, concerned. ‘You should be asleep.’
‘I can’t sleep Percy. I’m frightened.’ She whispered.
Percy looked at her with pity and surprise – never before at Secret openly admitted being scared.
‘You gotta try. You need your energy for tomorrow.’ He sighed, crouching to her level.
‘What about you?’ she asked.
‘I’m on patrol until Dumbledore returns. Then, I can go to sleep.’ He said.
‘Will… W-Will you come over here, and stay with me?’ she timidly asked.
He nodded. ‘I will.’
Standing up, he went back to paroling.
Five minutes later, the doors opened and Dumbledore came in, followed by McGonagall and Jinxx.
‘No sign. He’s gone. I am perfectly happy to send the students back to their dorms tomorrow.’ Said Dumbledore as Percy approached him. ‘I would think it best you get some sleep – a young lady is waiting for you.’
Secret gasped softly as his blue eyes flashed in her direction – was there anything this man didn’t know?
Percy nodded, before fetching his sleeping bag and dragging it over to the girl. He placed it down, before getting her to lie down and climbing in his own next to her.
‘Don’t worry Secret, he can’t hurt you anymore.’ Percy soothed softly.
Secret bit her lip, and looked straight into his eyes.
‘You promise?' she whispered, surprised at how timid and scared her voice had gone.
Percy nodded, reaching out to grasp on of her hands in his own. ‘I won’t let him.’

Awww so cute!! Sorry responded so late, had not realized you added a chapter

Anyways yay!! Percy and Secret are so adorable!

‘He’s mental, Perc, mental!’ Percy sighed as he turned his gaze upon the small girl, who stood there, fuming. ‘Can we not get anyone else?’
‘None of the other portraits would do it. Sir Cadogan was the only one brave enough to volunteer.’ He explained.
‘Y’reckon that might be due to his lack of sanity?’ Secret huffed. ‘He spends most of the day challenging people to duels, and the rest of the time thinking up stupid passwords he changes at least twice a day! There’s more intelligence in Crabbe or Goyle than in him!’
‘Sorry Secret. We’re gonna have to put up with it. Maybe with him changing it constantly, it will reduce the risk of Black getting in – the Gryffindor Tower needs top protection, especially since you and Harry are in it.’ Percy said softly.
‘Ugh!’ Secret threw her hand up in defeat. ‘For that last time, I do not need more protection! I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself, I am not 5 years old, I’m 13 for Merlin’s sake…’
‘Secret, you are 13, yes, but you are only just a teenager. For the love of merlin, stop being so stubborn and just accept it.’ Percy said.
Secret groaned, turned on her heel and marched off.
‘Hey, wait!’ Percy called, running to catch up, ‘Where are you going now?’
‘Quidditch Practice.’ Secret mumbled.
‘Miss Snape, I would not advise that with your arm.’ Secret shot a look as Snape came towards them, concern evident.
‘What you advise, and what I do, are two different things, Professor.’ She replied.
‘Let me rephrase that; Miss Snape, you will not be practicing with your arm.’
‘What – but Sir! We have our first match on Saturday! If I drop out, we will only have two beaters!’ Secret protested.
‘Then the Gryffindor team will have to manage with just two beaters.’ Snape strode off, Secret cursing him mentally.
‘Like heck we will.’ She mumbled.

Despite her father’s words, Secret continued to train, secretly so Snape would not realise. On their last training before the Match, however, Oliver had bad news.
‘Flint’s just been to see me. We’re not playing Slytherin after all!’ he said angrily. ‘We’re playing Hufflepuff!’
‘Why?’ asked the team.
‘Flint’s excuse is that Malfoy’s arm is still out of action from the fall in Care Of Magical Creatures – apparently he twisted it upon landing.’ Said Oliver, gritting his teeth, ‘but I know that’s rubbish. They just don’t want to play in this weather. Think it’ll worsen their chances…’
As Oliver said that, a low rumble of thunder went across the sky.
‘That’s rubbish! There is nothing wrong with Malfoy’s arm!’ Harry exclaimed furiously.
‘Yeah! Secret’s still playing, and she had hers sliced open!’ Fred exclaimed.
‘That was my excuse.’ Said Oliver, frowning. ‘But Flint said that Snape had told him, that Secret wasn’t meant to be playing…’
All gazes turned upon the flame haired girl.
‘What? You really expected me to just sit there while you lot beat the crap outta the Slytherin team?’ she scowled.
‘Secret, Snape will murder you if you play.’ Said George.
‘Yeah, and then Sirius Black will murder him, providing You-Know-Who didn’t get there first, come on George, we all know he won’t.’ Said Angelina, impatiently. ‘Let’s let Secret play, and show the Slytherin’s what a real Quidditch Player is.’
Oliver nodded. ‘But we’ve been practicing all those moves assuming we’ve been playing against Slytherin, and instead it’s Hufflepuff, and their style’s quite different. They’ve got a new captain and seeker, Cedric Diggory…’
Angelina, Alicia and Katie suddenly giggled.
‘What?’ said Wood, frowning.
‘He’s that tall, good-looking one, isn’t he?’ asked Angelina.
‘Strong and silent.’ Said Katie, befre they giggled again.
‘Yeah, only cause he’s too thick to string two words together,’ said Fred impatiently, ‘I don’t know why you’re worried, Oliver. Hufflepuff are a pushover – last time Harry caught the snitch in about five minuets, remember?’
‘We were playing in completely different conditions!’ Wood shouted suddenly, making Secret jump. ‘Diggory’s put together a very strong side! He’s an excellent seeker! I was afraid you’d take it like this! We mustn’t relax! We must keep our focus! Slytherin are trying to wrong-foot us! We must win!’
‘Oliver, calm down!’ Secret exclaimed. ‘We’re taking Hufflepuff very seriously. Seriously.’

‘What’s Snape doing here?’ Ron muttered.
Secret shrugged, looking at her father as she took her stuff out. Where was Lupin?
‘Where’s Professor Lupin?’ she asked.
Snape looked at her. ‘Professor Lupin finds himself incapable of teaching at the present moment.’ He said, smirking. ‘Take out your books.’
‘Really? I would never of guessed we’d need our books.’ Secret said sarcastically.
‘1 point from Gryffindor for being a smart aleck.’
Secret scowled.
Snape swept to the front, taking the register, before looking up. ‘Professor Lupin has left no record of what you have covered so far…’ he stopped as the door flew open.
Secret looked, hoping to see Lupin, only to see Harry.
‘Sorry I'm late, Professor Lupin. I –…’He stopped as he saw it was Snape.
‘This lesson began ten minutes ago, Potter, so I think we'll make it ten points from Gryffindor. Sit down.’
But Harry didn't move.
‘Where's Professor Lupin?’ he said.
‘He says he is feeling too ill to teach today,’ said Snape with a twisted smile, ‘I believe I told you to sit down?’
But Harry stayed where he was. ‘What's wrong with him?’
Secret winced – why couldn’t he just sit down?
‘Nothing life-threatening,’ Snape said, looking as though he wished it were. ‘Five more points from Gryffindor, and if I have to ask you to sit down again, it will be fifty.’
Harry walked slowly to his seat and sat down. Snape looked around at the class.
‘As I was saying before Potter interrupted, Professor Lupin has not left any record of the topics you have covered so far…’
‘Please, sir, we've done boggarts, Red Caps, kappas, and grindylows,’ said Hermione quickly, ‘and we're just about to start…’
‘Be quiet,’ said Snape coldly. ‘I did not ask for information. I was merely commenting on Professor Lupin's lack of organization.’
‘He's the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher we've ever had,’ said Dean Thomas boldly, and there was a murmur of agreement from the rest of the class.
Snape looked more menacing than ever – Secret shrunk in her seat.
‘You are easily satisfied. Lupin is hardly overtaxing you - I would expect first years to be able to deal with Red Caps and grindylows.’
‘Or Crabbe and Goyle.’ Secret muttered.
‘Today we shall discuss…’
Secret watched him flick through the textbook, to the very back chapter, which he must know they hadn't covered.
‘Werewolves,’ said Snape.
‘But, sir,’ said Hermione again, ‘we're not supposed to do werewolves yet, we're due to start hinkypunks…’
‘Miss Granger,’ said Snape in a voice of calm, which made Secret slightly wary, "I was under the impression that I am teaching this lesson, not you. And I am telling you all to turn to page 394." He glanced around again. 'All of you! Now!’
With many bitter sidelong looks and some sullen muttering, the class opened their books.
‘Which of you can tell me how we distinguish between the werewolf and the true wolf?’ said Snape.
Everyone sat in motionless silence except Hermione and Secret, whose hands, as they so often did, had shot straight into the air.
‘Anyone?’ Snape said, ignoring the two. His twisted smile was back. ‘Are you telling me that Professor Lupin hasn't even taught you the basic distinction between...’
‘We told you,’ said Parvati suddenly, ‘we haven't got as far as werewolves yet, we're still on…’
‘Silence!’ snarled Snape. ‘Well, well, well, I never thought I'd meet a third-year class who wouldn't even recognize a werewolf when they saw one. I shall make a point of informing Professor Dumbledore how very behind you all are....'
‘Please, sir,’ said Hermione, whose hand was still in the air, ‘the werewolf differs from the true wolf in several small ways. The snout of the werewolf…’
‘That is the second time you have spoken out of turn, Miss Granger,’ said Snape coolly. ‘Five more points from Gryffindor for being an insufferable know-it-all.’
Hermione went very red, put down her hand, and stared at the floor with her eyes full of tears. It was a mark of how much the class loathed Snape that they were all glaring at him, because every one of them had called Hermione a know-it-all at least once, and Ron, who told Hermione she was a know-it-all at least twice a week, said loudly, ‘You asked us a question and she knows the answer, as does Secret! Why ask if you don't want to be told?’
The class knew instantly he'd gone too far. Snape advanced on Ron slowly, and the room held its breath.
‘Detention, Weasley,’ Snape said silkily, his face very close to Ron's. ‘And if I ever hear you criticize the way I teach a class again, you will be very sorry indeed. Now, who can tell me the difference between an Animagus and a werewolf?’
Secret stuck her had in the air, but Hermione didn’t – which angered Secret as he must have really made Hermione upset.
‘Still no one?’ said Snape, ignoring Secret.
‘For the love of Flying Saucers, am I a statue?!’ Secret exclaimed, really irritated now. ‘An Animagus chooses to change shape, a werewolf has no choice; when the full moon comes, he changes whether he want to or not. When he does, he can’t recognize anyone – he’d kill his best friend if he got in the way. Also, the werewolf will only respond the call of its own kind.’
‘Awooo!’ called Malfoy.
‘Like the noise made by the hairy thing over there.’ Secret simply said.
A small ripple of laughter ran through the class.
‘Miss Snape, do not speak out of turn, I have already had to remove points from Gryffindor for such things. Five more points, and if anyone does so, it will be fifty.’
No one made a sound throughout the rest of the lesson. They sat and made notes on werewolves from the textbook, while Snape prowled up and down the rows of desks, examining the work they had been doing with Professor Lupin.
‘Very poorly explained... That is incorrect, the kappa is more commonly found in Mongolia.... Professor Lupin gave this eight out of ten? I wouldn't have given it three....’
Secret rolled her eyes at him as she looked at her page, twirling her quill between her fingers.
“With each full moon, he will transform… no cure has been found, but the Wolfsbane potion will alleviate symptoms… many suffers will grey early and have scars… affected victims find it difficult to secure work… often, when faced with a boggart, it will transform into a full moon….”
Full Moon.
Secret froze, as something in her head slid into place.
Lupin’s boggart was a full moon…
“… many suffers will grey early and have scars…”
Lupin’s face had scars, and he was greying, though he could not have been more than thirty…
“… victims will find it difficult to secure work…”
Lupin’s patchy robes, looking like he didn’t eat much…
“… full moon…”
‘Sir.’ Said Secret quietly.
Snape paused by her desk.
‘Yes?’ he asked softly.
‘When is the next full moon?’
A small, sour smile appeared on Snape’s lips. ‘Tonight.’
Secret nodded. ‘Right.’
‘Anything you wish to discuss?’
‘No Sir. I was merely wondering when it would be wise to barricade myself in my room. The last thing I want is for Malfoy to get in.’
When the bell rang at last, Snape held them back.
‘You will each write an essay, to be handed in to me, on the ways you recognize and kill werewolves. I want two rolls of parchment or, the subject, and I want them by Monday morning. It is time somebody took this class in hand. Weasley, stay behind, we need to arrange your detention.’
Secret left with Harry and Hermione, who waited until they were well out of earshot, then burst into a furious tirade about Snape.
‘Snape's never been like this with any of our other Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers, even if he did want the job," Harry said, ‘Why's he got it in for Lupin? D'you think this is all because of the boggart?’
‘I don't know,’ said Hermione pensively. ‘But I really hope Professor Lupin gets better soon....’
Ron caught up with them five minutes later, in a towering rage.
‘D'you know what that…’ (he called Snape something that made Hermione say ‘Ron!’) "…is making me do? I've got to scrub out the bedpans in the hospital wing. Without magic!’ He was breathing deeply, his fists clenched. ‘Why couldn't Black have hidden in Snape's office, eh? He could have finished him off for us!’

‘Lee, Lee!’ The boy turned as he saw Secret running up to him.
‘Hey Secret. You playing this Saturday?’ he asked.
‘See, there’s the thing, I’m not meant to be playing.’ She said. ‘Snape doesn’t want me to, cause of my arm, but I think I’ll be fine for it. However, if he catches me on the pitch, the odds are I will spend the rest of my evenings in detention sorting out flobberworms without protective gloves.’
Lee grinned. ‘That’s a nasty thought.’
‘Yeah – so, I need you to introduce me as another person. I’m gonna have a different hair colour, so its not like it will be obvious, fingers crossed, the team know about it, I’ve somehow managed to persuade McGonagall, I just need you to call me something else.’
‘Anything in particular?’
‘To be honest, you could introduce me as Charity Bumberbridge from the second year for all I care, just give me a different name!’
On the day of the match, Secret somehow managed to make her way to breakfast wearing her Quidditch kit. As she sat, the twins sat either side, so if Snape was to pass, he would just think it was their kit.
‘I remember when we first met you in your first year. You were so innocent.’ Said Fred, eating his bacon.
‘Yeah, now look at you, risking your life to play Quidditch.’ Added George as he downed his apple juice.
‘Yeah, I’m a monster.’ Secret grinned as she spooned porridge in her mouth.
The rain threw itself down upon them as they ran for the pitch, and in the dressing rooms, Secret tapped her hair, so it was a rich, chocolate brown. She nodded at herself in the mirror – hopefully that would work.
As they made their way out, battling against the rain, she looked round, discreetly flexing her arm so as to make sure it wasn’t going to cause her much pain – it was not yet fully healed, but she could swing a bat with it, and that’s all she needed.
‘Captain’s, shake hands.’ Through the downpour, she saw Oliver and Cedric shake, and swung her leg over her broom, grasping it tightly with her already-numbing fingers.
The shrill whistle was lost in the wind as they kicked off, Secret looking round for the bludgers.
‘… and Gryffindor have gotten a temporary beater for today, due to Snape being out of action, a second year by the name of Charity Bumberbridge…’
‘Really Lee?’ Secret thought as she flew round. That was all she managed to catch, as his commentary was lost in the howling gale, as were the bludgers.
Grumbling herself, she zoomed round, unable to see clearly where she was hitting bludgers and merely whacking them anywhere she could see.
With the first flash of lightning came the sound of Madam Hooch's whistle; looking round, Secret could just see the outline of Wood through the thick rain, gesturing her to the ground. The whole team splashed down into the mud.
‘I called for time-out!’ Wood roared at his team. ‘Come on, under here…’
They huddled at the edge of the field under a large umbrella; Secret rubbed her hands together in a desperate attempt to regain feeling in them, trying to ignore the pain in her arm.
‘What's the score?’ she asked.
‘We're fifty points up,’ said Wood, ‘but unless we get the Snitch soon, we'll be playing into the night.’
‘How’s your arm doing, Secret?’ asked Fred.
‘Aching, with the occasional shot of sharp pain, but I’ll live.’ She brushed it off.
‘I've got no chance with these on,’ Harry said exasperatedly, waving his glasses.
At that very moment, Hermione appeared at his shoulder; she was holding her cloak over her head and had that look on her face that suggested she had just thought of something genius.
‘I've had an idea, Harry! Give me your glasses, quick!’
He handed them to her, and as the team watched in amazement, Hermione tapped them with her wand and said, ‘Impervius!’
‘There!’ she said, handing them back to Harry. ‘They'll repel water!’
Wood looked as though he could have kissed her.
‘Brilliant!’ he called hoarsely after her as she disappeared into the crowd. ‘Okay, team, let's go for it!’
Kicking off, Secret grasped the bat in her hand, ducking under as Katie flew over her head.
There was another clap of thunder, followed immediately by forked lightning. This was getting more and more dangerous – Secret was praying someone would get the Snitch, and quick, preferably Harry.
But something odd was happening. An eerie silence was falling across the stadium. The wind, though as strong as ever, was forgetting to roar. It was as though someone had turned off the sound, as though Secret had gone suddenly deaf… oh no…
And then a horribly familiar wave of cold swept over her, just as she became aware of something moving on the field below...
She looked, and felt the blood run cold in her body.
At least a hundred dementors, their hidden faces pointing up at Harry, were standing beneath him.
‘HARRY!’ She screamed.
He looked and Secret saw him, saw him freeze, saw him fall. She urged her broom, dropping her bat – maybe it might hit one on the head – and raced to his falling figure…
‘Come on, come on…’ she begged mentally.
He was getting closer, falling faster… She reached out, and with her good arm, grasped him by the robes.
Relief in her body, she dragged him on the back of her broom, looking down at the Dementors… there was no way she could land.
She then heard the whistle. Looking above her, she saw Cedric had the Snitch, grasping in his hand. He looked, and saw Secret, with Harry. He flew and as soon as he was in her range, spoke, ‘What happened? Is he ok?’
‘He fell… the Dementors… they affect him worse…’ she explained.
Cedric went pale.
‘I want a rematch. I didn’t win fairly. I want a rematch, help me explain, Charity...’ He said.
‘Ahh, see, I’m not actually Charity…’
‘What?’
Secret explained, when suddenly, bright silver coated the bottom of the pitch. When it faded, not a Dementor was in sight.
Secret and Cedric flew down, and landed, only to be surrounded by teachers as they got Harry off her broom.
‘I want a rematch… no, I didn’t wain fairly… I don’t care… I want to call it off…’ Secret only caught grasps of Cedric’s argument with Madam Hooch as he walked away.
‘What happened? Is he ok?’ Dumbledore was lifting Harry onto a stretcher.
‘I caught him, but he was already out of it when I did so.’ Secret explained, trying to move before Snape could come along and catch her.
‘Right. You should go shower, Ms Bumberbridge, and quickly – we don’t want Professor Snape seeing you.’ Dumbledore winked, and Secret very quickly left.
Having a quick wash, she regrouped with the team, hair back in its red state, and they made their way to the Hospital Wing
‘Thank god you caught him, Secret,’ whispered Fred, squeezing her shoulder as they huddled round.
‘Yeah, who’d of known what might have happened…’ added Geeorge.
‘That was the scariest thing I've ever seen in my life…’ Katie shuddered.
‘Harry!’ said Fred suddenly. ‘How're you feeling?’
Secret looked to see him, wide awake.
‘What happened?’ he said, sitting up so suddenly they all gasped.
‘You fell off,’ said Fred. ‘Must've been - what - fifty feet?’
‘Would’ve been, of Secret hadn’t caught you,’ said George.
‘We thought you'd died,’ said Alicia, who was shaking.
Hermione made a small, squeaky noise. Her eyes were extremely bloodshot.
‘But the match,’ said Harry. ‘What happened? Are we doing a replay?’
No one said anything. ‘We didn't - lose?’
‘Diggory got the Snitch,’ said Secret. ‘Just after you fell. He didn't realize what had happened. When he looked back and saw you on the back of my broom, he tried to call it off. Wanted a rematch. But they won fair and square...’
‘Even Wood admits it,’ added George.
‘Where is Wood?’ said Harry.
‘Still in the showers,’ said Fred.
‘We think he's trying to drown himself,’ Secret said.
Harry put his face to his knees, his hands gripping his hair. Fred grabbed his shoulder and shook it roughly.
‘C'mon, Harry, you've never missed the Snitch before.’
‘There had to be one time you didn't get it,’ said George.
‘It's not over yet,’ said Secret. ‘We lost by a hundred points,’
‘Right? So if Hufflepuff loses to Ravenclaw and we beat Ravenclaw and Slytherin...’
‘Hufflepuff'll have to lose by at least two hundred points,’ said George.
‘But if they beat Ravenclaw...’
‘No Way, Ravenclaw is too good. But if Slytherin loses against Hufflepuff...’
‘It all depends on the points - a margin of a hundred either way…’
After ten minutes or so, Madam Pomfrey came over to tell the team to leave him in peace.
‘We'll come and see you later,’ Fred told him. ‘Don't beat yourself up, Harry, you're still the best Seeker we've ever had.’
The team left, only to bump into a very worried Percy.
‘Secret Snape!’ he exclaimed, ‘Where have you been, I have been looking all over for you!’
‘Visiting Harry,’ she said.
“For the entire of the match?”
“What?”
“I couldn’t find you anywhere!”
“I am very small, Percy, you might have just lost me…”
“Secret, I am very well aware of where you were, you were on the pitch, playing, when you weren’t meant to be!”
“If you already knew, why did you ask me where I was then?”
“Don’t backchat me, young lady…”
“If you two have finished your lover’s tiff…” Grinned Fred.
“Shut up Fred.” They both said in union.