"…and that's basically what I had in mind," said Oleandra animatedly. "Well, what do you all think?"
Along with Charms and Herbology, Monday morning's Study of Ancient Runes lesson was one of the rare classes in which students wouldn't be reprimanded too much for gossiping. Professor Babbling preferred a hands-off approach to teaching— she didn't mind if her students didn't listen in class as long as they weren't being disruptive, but that also meant she wasn't taking responsibility for their failure to learn!
"It's too dangerous," a faint voice whispered in Daphne's ear. "There's a chance you'll die."
"It's too dangerous," argued Daphne, shuddering slightly. "We'll die."
Oleandra had just finished explaining her suicidal plan to track and take down the Dusk-Elf who might or might not be hidden in Hogwarts, but Daphne wanted nothing to do with it. Or at least, she thought so?
"It's a great plan!" protested Oleandra. "Tracey, you agree with me, right?"
"Daphne's right, it's a bit risky," said Tracey soothingly. "There's no guarantee she'll show up, and then we'd have to handle the Death Eaters all on our own…"
Oleandra's genius plan was for them to leave the safety of the castle and return home for Christmas. Naturally, their fellow Slytherins would then report to their parents their presence on the Express, which would lead to Voldemort hunting them down personally. Then, the Dusk Elf would arrive and tear through the Death Eaters' ranks to get at Oleandra, and amidst the chaos, Team Oleandra would seize the final victory.
"It won't work…" came the susurration, echoing through Daphne's skull. "He sees everything you see… he will not fall for that trick again…"
"It won't work," repeated Daphne. "He won't fall for the same trick you used with Amelia Bones. The Dark Lord doesn't make the same mistake twice."
Oleandra glanced briefly at Daphne, her face betraying no change in emotion.
"Can't we talk about something else?" Tracey said brightly, clapping her hands once as if to close the book on the subject. "Like, if we actually want to win the Quidditch Cup— especially after Gryffindor flattened us last Saturday— we'll have to take matters into our own hands. I heard Draco doesn't even show up to Quidditch practice any more. That could be grounds for having him removed as captain…"
Unfortunately for Tracey, the bell chose that exact moment to ring, signalling the end of the first period.
"Well, good luck with Defence Against the Dark Arts!" said Oleandra, jumping to her feet. "I'm off to finish that Potions essay on the uses of Essence of Insanity. Lend me your notes?"
"Yes," said the voice.
"No," said Daphne firmly. "Do it on your own."
Oleandra clicked her tongue and rolled up the piece of parchment on which she'd doodled a complicated runic array, then dashed out of the classroom, leaving Tracey and Daphne behind.
"There's something going on with Oleandra again," observed Tracey. "She's changed her wand again, have you noticed?"
Daphne nodded— she'd recognise her mother's wand anywhere.
She had also noticed a newfound sense of purpose in her twin sister's eyes— probably due to that moronic plan of hers. That person would never walk into her trap, and now that he knew the truth, he'd just let her face the Dusk Elf on her own. Besides, Oleandra's antics couldn't distract her from her ultimate purpose.
"What are you two dawdling around for?" asked Hermione as she passed by on the way to the door. "Professor Snape will give you detention if you're late."
…
A few minutes later, the three girls had crossed the Transfiguration Courtyard, running into Harry and Ron along the way, and when they reached the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom, all five of them lined up outside the door. As usual, Professor Snape opened it at the last possible moment before the bell rang, and they slipped into their usual seats. But before he could say a single word, there was a knock at the door…
"Enter," said Professor Snape, giving his wand a wave.
"Pardon the intrusion," said Professor Dumbledore cheerily as the door opened on its own before him. "But I believed it would be for the best if I accompanied our new transfer student to his first class."
Professor Snape's face fell, and the students erupted in hushed whispers.
A transfer student, halfway through the Autumn term? In all their six years at Hogwarts, not once had anything like this happened. Hogwarts already served the entire British Isles… so where could someone new possibly have come from? Surely not from overseas— not with You-Know-Who running amok on his home ground…
"You cannot seriously be considering this, Dumbledore," Snape said through gritted teeth. "That man has already completed—"
"From his point of view, this student has not yet completed his studies," Professor Dumbledore interrupted him. "Come in, Sirius."
A handsome boy with long, tousled black hair entered the classroom, dressed in Gryffindor's colours and flashing a boyish grin— and the moment he caught sight of Snape's furious expression, his smile only widened.
"True rejuvenation?" said the voice in Daphne's head. "Or a mere trick?"
Naturally, Daphne recognised Sirius at once— despite his newfound youthfulness. She had spent a good deal of time under Sirius Black's care the previous year, when they'd been sequestered together in his house. He was supposed to be in the Hospital Wing in a catatonic state, but something strange had obviously happened to him…
"My name's Sirius Black," said the boy, bowing slightly. "You might know my father from The Daily Prophet's articles?"
A couple of Gryffindor girls to Daphne's left started whispering and giggling to each other. Young Sirius was quite attractive, after all…
"Well, then," said Professor Dumbledore as he stepped back through the door. "I'll leave you to your class, Severus."
Gears started turning in Professor Snape's brain, and his lips curled. He was a well-regarded teacher now, so why bully the son of his bully, when he could bully one of his old tormentors, who had turned back into a teenager…?
"Don't bother sitting down, Black," Snape drawled, a thin, cruel smile playing on his lips. "Today's lesson will be a practical demonstration on Nonverbal spells. Wands out, everyone…."