A Little Knowledge

Late afternoon had come with a fresh blanket of powdery snow covering the ground before the three remaining friends found themselves together again, lounging in front of a cheery fire in the common room. Martin had been outside with the other first years, who were mostly Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors and rather easy to get on with, for most of the afternoon. He was still in high-spirits from the news that his mum would be spending Christmas at Hogwarts with his father, his uncle, and himself. Olivia was rather listless and still working on her defense assignment, scrawling unevenly on a piece of parchment. Sissy was observing this and giving her pointers, chiefly on her penmanship, which Olivia found both unwanted and distracting.

“Surely you aren’t going to hand that in?” Sissy questioned.

“No, I’m only taking notes,” said Olivia a bit sharply as was actually considering tidying the mess up a bit and doing exactly that. It wasn’t as though the professor would really be able to see her handwriting anyway.

“Good then,” said Sissy, rearranging the dark blue throw around her shoulders.

“We aren’t going to sit here all afternoon, are we?” asked Martin, whose nose was still a bit red from being out of doors for so long.

“Supper is in an hour and a half,” Olivia pointed out.

“You two haven’t gone outside in days! And the weather’s perfect,” he objected.

“The temperature is sub-zero,” said Sissy, looking over her shoulder and out the window. A few flakes of snow were falling intermittently.

“But we could all bundle up and build a snowman together!” said Martin.

“Conserve your energy,” suggested Sissy as she watched him bounce in his seat. “If your mum’s coming tomorrow, you shouldn’t tire yourself out.”

Olivia giggled as Martin stopped shaking the couch they were sharing.

“Sensible,” she said, “but not very much fun.”

“You know how I feel about the matter already,” said Sissy coldly.

“Well, if Sophia and I couldn’t convince you to go sledding last year, then what hope have Martin and I this year?” asked Olivia with a sigh as she began gathering up her things.

“So we’ll build a snowman?” asked Martin.

“Just let me bundle up first,” she told him with a smile.

Sissy rolled her eyes and went back to staring into the fire and brooding.

Olivia smiled when she walked down the front steps of the school with Martin and saw that most of their fellow students, not to mention a few of the younger professors, were still out in the snow. Professor Sprout, for instance, was surrounded by Hufflepuffs and apparently organizing a snowball fight between them and the Gryffindors, who were fewer in number, but for the most part older. Olivia noticed that Arthur Weasley was seated on a fallen log while his friend Molly Prewett was in midst of the group of Gryffindors, the leader of whom appeared to be a somewhat unwilling Professor Vector.

“You want to know what I heard in the library today?” asked Olivia quietly, nodding toward Weasley in a very covert manner.

“Sure,” said Martin with a shrug.

“Three nights ago Pringle caught Weasley out after hours ... around four in the morning on his way back to the dormitories or something. Merlin knows what he was doing out so late, but the old man beat him nearly within an inch of his life. Weasley just got let out of the hospital wing today,” said Olivia in a low voice.

“I can’t believe father would allow ...” Martin began.

“Of course he wouldn’t. Pringle left the castle this morning with all of his things. I guess that Filch is the caretaker now. I can’t say it’s much of an improvement, but ... we’ll take what we can get, right?” asked Olivia with half-grin.

Martin looked over at Weasley, who was watching the younger children and Molly with a smile on his face, and nodded. The red-headed young man looked a bit peaky, but happy. Martin supposed that he had heard the good news too.

“Good riddance,” he mumbled to himself.

“I suggest we build our snowman well away from the battlefield,” suggested Olivia after a moment.

The Lions and Badgers were going at it full force, despite the occasional warning from Vector, who simply did not have the same sense of fun as her much younger colleague.

Martin stepped back from the nearly completed snowman and brushed the excess snow from his gloves with a wide smile. It had required the better part of an hour, but it was well worth it in Martin’s opinion. Across the grounds the Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors were still frolicking, although the teachers had mostly retreated indoors due to the cold.

Olivia was still trying to transfigure a couple of stones into pieces of coal for the eyes, but meeting with little success. She wanted the snowman to look a bit more traditional as he had a branch for a mouth, turned so that he was smiling, and a large bit of bark for his nose.

“You try it,” she suggested, handing the stones to Martin.

“But they’re just fine as they are,” he said, reaching to put them in place.

“If you say so,” Olivia shrugged, putting a gloved hand over her mouth to stop herself from giggling at Martin.

The snowman was so large that he had to stand on tip-toe to do it. They had put their enormous creation together using levitation spells, which had come in awfully handy in the task.

“Looks good,” said Olivia, nudging him as he came to stand back and admire it with her.

“And it was fun,” he chuckled.

“Very,” she agreed, “but I wish Sissy could see it.”

Olivia glanced toward Ravenclaw Tower high above them and wondered if Sissy would trouble herself to look out the window. She just shook her head. Sissy, she imagined, was still upset, although Olivia could hardly understand why.

“She proved her point though, didn’t she?” thought Olivia. But then, she did not understand Sissy nearly as well as she understood Sophia, Corinna, or even Martin. She doubted that any of them did. Sissy was like a closed book sometimes.

“I suppose we ...” Martin began to say, but an explosion interrupted him and sent both Olivia and him tumbling back into the snow.

When Martin opened his eyes, the snowman was gone, leaving only a lump of snow and slush where it had stood. The rest of it covered Olivia and him. Mean laughter caused him to raise his eyes. He found himself staring up at Flint and Bulstrode, the latter of whom had his wand drawn. Martin scrambled to his feet, trying to find his wand within his damp, snow-covered robes.

“I wouldn’t bother, Dumbledore. We aren’t here to duel. We just wanted to warn you to stay away from our friend Black after the hols. We don’t appreciate what the lot of you have done to him this term,” said Flint in a low growl.

“Us? What about him? He started it!” said Martin sharply, still trying to find his wand. He didn’t happen to notice it lying behind him in the snow.

“Yeah!” agreed Olivia, who was frantically wiping the snow from her face and sputtering a bit. Some of the stuff had got in her mouth. She was in no position to go for her wand either.

Bulstrode and Flint exchanged smug and malevolent looks, and Flint drew his wand from a handy pocket.

“Then maybe you need a harder lesson,” said Flint.

Martin immediately stepped in front of Olivia, who was scrambling to her feet, and tried to think of something he could do to stop two older and much larger students from doing anything particularly bad to them. Everything that came to mind required a wand.

“Flint,” called a somewhat familiar voice from behind the pair, “I’d think twice about that if I were you.”

Flint started and turned, as did Bulstrode, but both boys lowered their wands slightly.

“What’s it to you, Weasley?” asked Flint. “They aren’t even in your house.”

Martin peered around them to see Arthur Weasley standing there with his wand in hand, although he wasn’t pointing it at Bulstrode or Flint. He looked a bit wobbly, but very determined nonetheless. Martin could hardly understand why Weasley would trouble to defend them, but then he remembered that his father was his head of house and that Weasley only naturally had Gryffindor instincts. At that moment Martin was particularly grateful for those instincts.

“I’m just taking an interest in them,” said Weasley, raising his wand a bit in a gesture meant to ward off any ideas Flint and Bulstrode might have about taking on an older student.

“So are we,” said Flint, inclining his chin.

“Then we’re at an impasse, Flint,” said Weasley.

Of course, by this time Olivia had managed to get her wand out, although Martin was still woefully without. The odds were very nearly even given the fact that Arthur was a fifth year.

“There’s no teachers around,” muttered Bulstrode quietly, “nor any prefects.”

For a tense moment Martin was certain they were going to attack Weasley, but then Flint glanced over his shoulder at bristling Olivia, who, though not very good at defense, looked very fierce at that particular moment. He realized that Bulstrode and himself were unpleasantly caught between their foes. That seemed to make him lose his nerve.

“You can’t protect them all the time. No one can, Weasley,” said Flint before pushing past the Gryffindor. Bulstrode followed as they walked away.

“Thanks,” said Martin.

“Your wand’s on the ground,” Weasley pointed out, watching the two Slytherins make their way back toward the castle.

“Right,” said Martin as he spotted it and picked it up. He wiped it off on his robes.

“Why’d you help us?” asked Olivia.

Arthur shrugged and said, “Seemed like the thing to do. Sorry about that snowman though. I think they hit it with a Reductor spell.”

Olivia turned her attention to the remains of their creation and sighed.

“We could always build another one,” said Martin unenthusiastically.

“Maybe tomorrow,” said Olivia with a shrug.

Arthur smiled and said, “The holidays are only half over. You’ll have another chance.”

“Arthur!” called a slightly shrill voice from the other side of the grounds where the snowball fight had finally found its conclusion. It was Molly Prewett, whom some people considered Arthur’s girlfriend.

Arthur winced and yelled, “Over here!”

Molly jogged over to them and shook her finger at Arthur.

“Madam Pomfrey specifically said for you to stay off your feet and try to rest. Are you resting? You don’t look like you’re resting to me, Arthur.”

“Er, I was just trying to help these kids out, Molly,” he said apologetically. “There were some Slytherins bothering them,” he added.

Molly made a tutting noise as she turned her attention toward Olivia and Martin.

“Must have been that Flint and Bulstrode. Not many of them stayed for the holidays,” she said. There was a rather disappointed look in her eyes as though Prewett had wanted to go home, but couldn’t manage it.

Arthur patted her shoulder in a consoling manner, but said nothing.

“We’ve had some problems with them and Black this year,” Olivia told Molly.

“Oh, who hasn’t? I mean, among you younger ones. But I think Black will be minding himself for the rest of the year,” said Molly.

“Almost makes me wish Pringle wasn’t sacked though,” said Arthur. “There’s nothing to threaten Black with now short of expulsion,” he added.

“I still wouldn’t call it very much of a loss,” said Molly a bit crossly.

“You know what I meant,” said Arthur.

Olivia and Martin exchanged a smile at their behavior. They were just like an old married couple. According to their housemates, the pair had been close since coming to Hogwarts.

“Anyway, thanks again, Weasley,” said Martin, taking advantage of the momentary lull in the squabbling. “I think we ought to return to the castle now. It isn’t long until supper and curfew,” he added, glancing at Olivia, who was nodding in agreement.

“Of course, run along,” said Molly with a smile.

Martin tossed and turned restlessly in his empty dormitory that night. He hated to admit it, but he missed the usual noise of the other boys who lived with him. It was oddly comforting not being alone, especially since he had become on better terms with his roommates. But since they had all gone home to their families for the Yuletide, the room seemed darker and less hospitable at night. Even Wainwright’s snoring would have been welcome.

And, of course, that particular night there was the problem of anticipation. He could hardly wait to see his mum in the morning. Martin was planning to get up extra early to see her. If only he could get some sleep in the meantime ...

Midnight was approaching when he gave up and threw on a house coat. Sitting in the dimly lit common room by the fire was as good of a cure for insomnia as anything. Warm milk would have been nice too. And a good book that had nothing to do with school. Maybe even an adventure story.

Martin sighed as he crept from his dormitory, knowing that he couldn’t have either thing: milk or an adventure book. The kitchens were much too far away, and he wasn’t even sure that the Hogwarts library contained such things.

“Merlin, Martin, don’t you ever sleep?” asked an annoyed feminine voice from the comfortable chair nearest the fire.

He jumped and nearly squealed. He had expected to have the room to himself. But there was Sissy Howard in her dressing gown and pajamas with that blue throw of hers arranged just so as she folded and unfolded a scrap of paper almost compulsively.

“Apparently you don’t either,” he said as he composed himself and went to sit on the couch.

“I got an owl ...” she said.

“Can’t be good news,” he observed.

“I haven’t decided. I think it could go either way,” she replied coolly, staring into the fire. Martin was surprised that the flames did not diminish under her gaze.

“Really?” he asked curiously.

“If you want to know what it says, just ask,” said Sissy, unfolding the note.

Martin could see that it was written in a large, indelicate hand that rather resembled the clumsy script of a small child.

“What does it say?” he asked dutifully.

“That Professor Knowles would like to compliment me on my skills of deduction and logical thought,” she answered.

“Which means?”

“That your father somehow convinced him to be checked for Memory Charms and the result was ... positive.”

“So your theory was correct?”

“So it would seem at present, including your rather significant addition to it.”

“But you don’t seem happy,” observed Martin.

“Do I ever seem happy to you?”

“Er, well, no, I suppose not, but I thought that you would be pleased to know that you figured everything out. I mean, that was a bit work, wasn’t it? What with so little to go on and all that research,” he said rather hastily.

“I find satisfaction in all of that,” Sissy admitted, looking at the note again, “but there’s more.”

“More?”

“He’s going to have the Memory Charm taken off the day after tomorrow. He has generously offered to allow me to be present. He thinks it would be rather educational for me to see a Memory Charm undone,” she said, shifting in her seat.

Martin shivered visibly and said, “But you’re not going to, are you?”

“Of course I am. I ... I shudder to think what Professor Knowles would think of me if I turned down his offer,” she said sternly.

“Madam Pomfrey won’t like it,” Martin warned.

“Immaterial.”

“I don’t understand ...”

“Your father’s doing it, the procedure, I mean,” she answered.

“And ... why is he doing this? Knowles, letting you watch this ... procedure?” asked Martin uncomfortably. “I’m certain it’s not something people our age were meant to see. I’ve heard mum talk about Dark Wizards Obliviating people, and it doesn’t sound especially nice ... not that part nor the part about fixing it either,” said Martin, shaking his head.

“Well, I suppose Professor Knowles considers me a bit advanced for my age. I’m well ahead of everyone in class, not to mention that fact that I am a bit older,” she told him.

“And you’re comfortable with this?”

“No, but it is not necessary for me to be,” she said, inclining her chin a little.

“Well, I wouldn’t trade places with you for the world,” said Martin bluntly, “but if you want to do it, I’m not going to try and talk you out of it.”

“Haven’t you tried that already?” she asked a bit archly.

Martin just frowned and sat back against the couch.

“You haven’t said why you’re down here,” she remarked. “I trust it isn’t because of the snoring.”

“Just couldn’t sleep. I guess I’m anxious to see mum tomorrow,” he shrugged.

“Are you going to introduce Olivia and me to her?” asked Sissy, who was rather curious about his mother and wanted to meet her because she was a respected Auror.

“Of course!” said Martin. “She’ll certainly want to meet my friends if she has the chance. She’s said in her letters that she’s very glad I’ve made friends.”

Sissy smiled slightly and said, “I’m guessing that you didn’t have many growing up.”

“Not really,” Martin admitted, scratching his head, “but that was all right. I had the house elves to play with and my uncles and all.”

“That still sounds lonely,” said Sissy.

“I bet you had loads of friends,” said Martin.

“Not exactly, but there were always people around. If you want to know, I had met Olivia a few times before coming here. Our families travel in the same circles, more or less,” she said.

“But you weren’t friends?”

“Acquaintances.”

“There weren’t that many wizarding children where I grew up,” said Martin.

“The same for me, but there weren’t many wizarding children our age anywhere because of the war and everything. Or haven’t you noticed how small our classes are?”

“I’ve noticed,” he nodded somberly.

“You know, if I keep you up all night, you won’t be in any fit state to greet your mother,” said Sissy, slowly uncurling from her chair.

“You aren’t keeping me up. I’m keeping me up,” Martin corrected, but he took the hint. Sissy was going to bed, or possibly back to bed.

“Insomniac,” she accused with a slight smirk.

“Guilty,” he said with chuckle, stretching as he left the couch.

“Good night then,” she said with a nod before walking away.

Martin watched her walk up the stairs to her dormitory and disappear into the shadows before doing the same.

Only later did it occur to him that Professor Knowles would be having his memory tampered with on Christmas Eve. It struck him as the oddest possible way to spend the holidays.

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