Magic? || Years 5-7

Katie's Necklace: Year 6

Amisty trailed after Hermione, feeling rather uncomfortable as they dragged their feet toward the cabins. The tension had yet to dissipate. It was a familiar, welcoming sight, though, once they reached the warm glow of the windows and the fresh candles fighting off the cold as best they could. She pressed her palm to the wolf statue just outside the door, her lips quirked up, and she knocked.

Noel was quick to answer, his smile wide and bright despite the shadows under his eyes.

"Hello, you four!" He beamed, waving them inside. "How have you been?"

"It's been. . . " Amisty trailed off. "Hard."

His smile faded, "Come sit, we have a lot to talk about."

So they crowded around the tiny dining room table, sliding up extra chairs and curling their fingers around cups of tea just to keep them warm. A fire crackled cheerfully in the hearth, reflecting off the smooth black wood of the piano. Almost immediately Noel had smothered them in blankets, casting Warming Charms on their sweaters and scarves and hanging up their cloaks by the door.

"Boots off, please," He threw over his shoulder as he bustled around, putting together a platter of biscuits and fruit.

The warm, bright atmosphere seemed to do them some good. Hermione stopped drumming her fingers and relaxed, Ron stopped pouting at nothing, and Harry finally dropped the scowl for a hesitant grin.

"Are you sure you can even eat chocolate?" He asked as Amisty chowed down on a biscuit. "What with you being all half-wolf and all."

She swallowed, rolling her eyes, "We've been over this before, Harry, shut up."

He snickered and settled down, but not before nicking the next pastry from her hand.

Noel sat down before she could retaliate, sighing heavily.

"I've been traveling around Europe helping the Order keep track of what the Death Eaters are doing," He started off immediately. "It's not the best situation. . . but it's much better than it could be."

"Can we get any details?" Hermione pressed.

He shook his head, "Unfortunately, no. Most of it's been plastered all over the press, anyway, but none of it is anything you need to worry about."

Harry bristled, "Well, I certainly think it is!"

"That's not what I mean, Harry," He soothed. "It's not that you can't know, it's that I don't know enough details worth mentioning."

"What does that mean?" Ron asked, coiled up in his seat

"They've gotten better at covering their tracks," He scrubbed a hand over his eyes. "And they're not afraid anymore, what with the Ministry in shambles. As long as they've got their masks on and their wands, no one has been able to get them arrested."

"Stanley Shunpike got arrested," Amisty piped up.

"Because they're trying to make it look like they're doing something," He replied quietly. "Especially with the Dementors gone rogue."

"Yeah, what does that mean about Azkaban?" Harry leaned forward. "Doesn't that leave it unguarded?"

"A bit. They've been upping security for that too, hiring," He winced, "Hit Wizards and such to guard cells."

Hermione's nose wrinkled, "Oh dear."

"Yes. . ."

He continued on, filling them in on the lighter things going on and what the Muggles were being told. Just severe storms and such, hiding the murders with sudden heart attacks and other out of nowhere maladies.