Astra

XIX - The Attack

IT WAS HALLOWEEN and Astra got up at the same time as she had the day before. The smile on her face had explained everything to the dead, and they could only be happy for the girl. However, that didn't stop them for wanting to hurt Remus Lupin for calling her into his office when she was meant to visit her father.

Astra was walking out of the kitchens when she turned around the corner and ran straight into Professor Lupin. "Oh, sorry Professor Lupin," she said as some pieces of toast and a few apples fell out of her basket.

"No worries, Astra. If you don't mind me asking, what are you doing with all of this food?" he asked with a soft smile.

"Got it from the kitchens. Having a small feast in my dorm while everyone's out in Hogsmeade," she lied swiftly. Of course, she was going to go visit her convict father in the Shrieking Shack, but he didn't need to know that.

"Oh! If you like, you could come and visit me in my office, I have a new Grindylow that for a lesson that you could look at." Astra sighted quietly, knowing that she wanted to visit Sirius in the Shack, but that it would be suspicious if she didn't go, seeing as she was supposed to have a boring day cooped up in the castle. she could only hope that she could be let out early to check on him in the afternoon.

"Sure, thank you." She put the last of the food back in her basket and had just gone in when they heard someone walking outside. Remus looked outside and said, "Harry?" She watched the conversation silently, trying to hide in the shadows.

Harry doubled back to see who had spoken and met Professor Lupin, looking around his office door.

"What are you doing?" said Lupin. "Where are Ron and Hermione?"

"Hogsmeade," said Harry, in a would-be casual voice.

"Ah," said Lupin. He considered Harry for a moment. "Why don't you come in? I've just taken delivery of a Grindylow for our next lesson. Astra's here as well."

"A what?" said Harry, but he also strained his neck and saw Astra looking around the room with one hand stroking through her wavy dark hair.

He followed Lupin into his office. In the corner stood a very large tank of water. A sickly green creature with sharp little horns had its face pressed against the glass, pulling faces and flexing its long, spindly fingers.

"Water demon," said Lupin, surveying the Grindylow thoughtfully. "We shouldn't have much difficulty with him, not after the Kappas. The trick is to break his grip. You notice the abnormally long fingers? Strong, but very brittle."

The Grindylow bared its green teeth and then buried itself in a tangle of weeds in a corner. "Cup of tea?" Lupin said, looking around for his kettle. "I was just thinking of making one."

"All right," said Harry awkwardly and Astra simply nodded.

Lupin tapped the kettle with his wand and a blast of steam issued suddenly from the spout.

"Sit down," said Lupin, taking the lid off a dusty tin. "I've only got teabags, I'm afraid -- but I daresay you've had enough of tea leaves?" Harry looked at him. Lupin's eyes were twinkling and Astra chuckled slightly at the memory of how she had created a false (but unkowingly true) prediction about Sirius Black.

"How did you know about that?" Harry asked.

"Professor McGonagall told me," said Lupin, passing Harry a chipped mug of tea. "You're not worried, are you? I hope that you didn't take Astra's word for it," he looked at Astra who was looking in the opposite direction with a seemingly innocent expression. She glanced back and saw his eyes have a spark of mischief in them but also nostalgia, and knew that he was probably thinking back of the times with Sirius and James. James himself was sitting in the corner of the room, watching the interaction between one of his best friends and his son and goddaughter quietly.