The Adventure That Lies Ahead | PJO x HP

CHAPTER 72

Isa didn't see Draco around school until Thursday. According to Harry, he came in late to their Double Potions with bandages bound up in a sling and acting like he was a war veteran. Apparently, he ordered Harry and Ron to cut up his Potions ingredients which only infuriated the two Gryffindors even more. What really pissed Isa off though was that Draco complained to Mr. Malfoy, the school governors, and the Minister about Hagrid.

"Hey, have you seen the Daily Prophet?" Nolan asked, walking up to her where she was seated at the Hufflepuff table with a copy in his hand.

"No, why?" Isa said.

Nolan placed it in front of her as he prepared his own plate for lunch. Isa pulled out her wand and translated it to ancient Greek. Her eyes scanned the paper, yet she didn't know what the boy was so worried about.

Nolan rolled his eyes. "They think Sirius Black's been sighted."

Isa raised an eyebrow. "They think? They're not even sure?"

"It was a Muggle who spotted him. They think he's just an ordinary criminal, don't they? So she phoned the telephone hotline. By the time the Ministry of Magic got there, he was gone."

Isa bit her lip just thinking about Sirius Black and his escape. She was putting the puzzle together in her head, but there was one very critical piece missing.

She looked up and her eyes locked with a startling grey one across the hall. He was smirking cockily at all the attention he was getting with his arm, but when his eyes landed on hers, it fell.

Later that afternoon, the second year Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors would be joining the third years for their Defense Against the Dark Arts because of their insufficient education last year with the basilisk and the fraud aka Gilderoy Lockhart. Isa felt bad that Professor Lupin had to cover up topics that were supposed to be discussed last year.

Professor Lupin wasn't there when they arrived at his first lesson. Nolan and Ginny took a seat beside each other and smiled sheepishly at Isa. She stuck her tongue out at them before taking an empty seat by the back and beside the window. The empty chair beside her scraped against the floor as somebody took a seat beside her and dumped his bag on the table. Isa looked to her side to see that it was Draco.

"Having fun acting like some war veteran?" Isa asked with a hint of amusement. Draco just rolled his eyes at her when finally, Professor Lupin entered the room. Lupin smiled vaguely and placed his tatty old briefcase on the teacher's desk. He was as shabby as ever but 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? Today's will be a practical lesson. You will need only your wands."

A few curious looks were exchanged as the class put away their books. They had never had a practical Defense Against the Dark Arts before unless you counted the memorable class last year when their old teacher had brought a cageful of pixies to class and set them loose.

"Right then," Professor Lupin said when everyone was ready. "If you'd follow me."

Puzzled but interested, the class got to their feet and followed Professor Lupin out of the classroom. 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 midair and stuffing the nearest keyhole with chewing gum.

Peeves didn't look up until Professor 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⎼"