Full story at:
patreon.com/FanFictionPremium
***
- Hey, Ellie, look!
Sitting in the Great Hall at lunchtime, Malia decided to see how things were going in the Magical World and almost choked when she saw her friend's surname in large print on the front page.
- What is it? - Argent asked. - Read it.
- Or maybe you should do it yourself. - Malia looked at the girl pleadingly. She'd rather learn it herself than from an outsider.
- 'Malia, read it already,' said Lydia sitting next to her, tensing slightly. Tate didn't like procrastination. Something's not right.
- Okay, if you say so,' Malia sighed as she grabbed the paper and began to read. - Today it became known that Gerard Argent had been removed from his position as the leader of the Aurorat's dark fighters because of his possible involvement with the Death Eaters, an organisation that was gaining in popularity. The very nature and purpose of the organisation is still being investigated. It is only known that the participants of this movement promote the idea of blood purity and the liberation of the magical world from the muggleborns. Mr Argent's trial is scheduled for the twenty-second of November. You can follow the development of the case with us.
For a few seconds all three were silent. The silence was oppressive, ringing. It seemed that if one reached forward, one could feel it, icy and prickling, sharp and uncomfortable. Malia had rolled up the paper and was now holding it to her like a shield. Lydia looked dazedly back and forth between Allison and Malia, as if seeking support from the other.
Allison, without looking up, tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and calmly put down her fork, picked up her bag and stood up from the table.
- Girls, I'll meet you at the charms. I need to walk. Alone,' the brunette said with pressure and walked out of the room.
- She could do anything right now,' Malia said quietly.
Martin and Tate stood up from the table and walked towards the exit.
Trying to be absolutely silent, the girls followed their friend. Allison exited the castle and walked towards the ... owlery.
- Wait,' Lydia grabbed Tate's arm. - 'She's gone to write to her father,' Martin said, covering her eyes with her hands. - Let's get out of here. We have to go to the enchantment. She'll be back.
With one last glance at Argent's receding silhouette, Malia followed Lydia.
***
Reaching the owlery without going in, Allison leaned her back against the wall and slid down. How on earth could this have happened? Had her beloved Grandpa Gerard become some kind of... assassin? Or whatever that organisation was doing? Freeing the magical world of muggleborns. Yeah, that didn't sound one bit better.
It can't be. The Gerard who gave his beloved Ellie her first bow? The Gerard who joined Chris at her bedside when she was ill? The Gerard who personally bought her an owl when the younger Argent received a letter from Hogwarts? It was impossible.
Allison stood up and walked on stiff legs to the owlery. Reaching her bird, the girl quickly scribbled a letter with a trembling hand. It didn't come out right away.
'Dad, hello.
Remember I told you about Malia? Well. She was reading the paper today and she said.
You know, I was reading the paper and I came across this.
Just tell me, is it true? That article about Grandpa, is it true?
Please don't take too long to answer.
Yours, Allison.
Holding the letter out to the OWLs and making sure it wouldn't fall out on the way, the girl hurried off to the castle.
***
Barely entering the charms office, Stiles sensed something was wrong. Looking around, the boy leaned over to his friend:
- Scott, where are the girls?
McCall, perplexed, looked round.
- They'll probably be here later,' Scott shrugged. - It was still five minutes before class started.
But the girls were gone five minutes later. Even the Slytherins had arrived, and they were still gone. The red and gold tables were half empty.
- All right, let's get this lesson started. Today's lesson will be on the Depulso spell. Who knows what this spell is? - Looking around, the professor looked at Scott and Stiles, who were literally jumping in place. - Mr Stilinski? - Stiles shook his head, continuing to look around nervously. - Mr McCall? - Before Scott could answer, there was a knock on the door and Lydia and Malia walked into the classroom. Scott could feel Stiles, who was sitting next to him, relax.
- We apologise, Professor. Can we come in? - Martin asked.
- 'Of course, of course, Miss Martin, Miss Tate,' Flitwick was clearly pleased that one of his most able students had arrived, and nodded quickly, pointing to the empty seats with his hands.
- So. The Depulso spell. What are its...? - Before the professor could finish, there was another knock on the door and Allison walked in. Lydia and Malia both exhaled simultaneously in relief.
- 'I'm sorry I'm late, sir. May I come in? - Allison asked. Her tone was completely colourless, but no emotion was reflected on her pale face. She looked at the professor confidently, pressing her lips together. Gryffindor.
- Yes, Miss Argent. Please come in,' Flitwick looked confused.
Nodding, the girl sat down between Lydia and Malia. They immediately pounced on her with questions.
- Umm. The Depulso spell. What are its properties? - Flitwick persisted.
Suddenly Matt came to the rescue:
-It's a repulsion spell, you might say. When the caster... - No one was listening.
Looking up, Lydia immediately met Stiles' questioning gaze. With a shake of her head, Lydia, as if remembering something, began to scribble something very quickly on a piece of parchment. The next moment, a note landed on Stiles' desk.
'It's about Allison. You've probably heard of Gerard Argent, right? I'm sure you have. So here it is. He was removed from his position yesterday for possible involvement with some crazy sect calling themselves Death Eaters. They're supposedly out to cleanse the world of Muggles and Muggleborns. Do you realise how serious that is?'
Finishing reading, Stiles stared dumbfoundedly at Lydia. Yes, he had indeed heard of Gerard Argent. They, along with Raphael McCall and his father, had served together for several years. Until that fateful incident when they returned from a mission, just the two of them. After that, Gerard had been appointed leader of the Aurorat, while Jon had chosen to remain a mere obscurantist. But for Gerard to be some sort of Death Eaters? No way.
Lydia, as if reading Stiles' thoughts, nodded slowly, looking sadly at Allison. It was only now that Stiles thought of how she felt. His own grandfather! Sitting quietly all this time, Scott dropped his head on the table.
- Stiles, why is nothing ever easy? - Whispered the boy.
Glancing sadly at his friend, Stiles answered, but in a way that no one could hear:
- Because it's going to get worse, Scotty.
That day, none of the Gryffindors except Matt ever answered Flitwick the properties of the Depulso spell.