Secrets

Chapter 13 - When Galleons Fly

The next morning, Lisa and Padma were unable to get Kyra out of bed. She'd dreamed of Justin all night, and the reality of waking had caused a fresh spring of tears to fall. If she stayed in bed, maybe she could go back to sleep and be with him for a while longer.

The castle was eerily quiet and somber as the rest of the students headed to the Great Hall for breakfast. Even the Slytherins were more bearable than usual, having come to grudgingly respect the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. They'd had a hard time turning his few faults into material they could use against him, and after several months had finally given up.

The Ravenclaw sixth-years had Transfiguration Tuesday morning, and as they sat around the tables attempting to turn galleons into bats, they discussed both Kyra’s absence and the reasons why one would want to turn a galleon into a bat.

"Is she sick?" Noel asked the girls, concerned about his friend.

"Not really," Lisa replied, flicking her wand at her galleon. It flipped over, but that was it.

"She's still upset about Professor Bale?" Terry asked. His galleon had sprouted a pair of wings that were attempting to flap.

Lisa nodded at her boyfriend.

"It seems to me that she's taking his death a little hard, isn't she?" Anthony commented. "I mean, we all miss him, and think it was a horrible way to go, but you don't see anyone else skipping classes over it."

"You forget that she was spending almost ten hours a week with him," Lisa rebuked their friend. "Lately, I think she was spending more time with Professor Bale than with me," she added, "though I think that's mostly my fault."

"Or mine," Terry chimed in.

"She did seem to enjoy spending time with him," Noel commented. "Do you think maybe she had a crush on him?"

Terry was the first to successfully turn his galleon all the way into a bat, and it flapped its wings and flew up into the rafters of the Transfiguration classroom. "Lisa thinks she might have been in love with him," he replied.

"Terry Boot!" Lisa exclaimed. She picked up her galleon and threw it at him angrily. "I told you not to tell anyone that."

"Ow! I'm sorry," he replied, looking flustered. "I forgot."

"Honestly," Padma said softly, "that would explain a lot." She flicked her wand, and her bat flew off to join Terry's in the rafters.

"If you guys say anything to anyone, including her, I swear I'll turn all of you into galleons and spend you at Honeydukes!" Lisa threatened.

"Speaking of spending galleons," Anthony spoke up, "I bet I could take this galleon into a shop and walk out with a dozen bats."

"But what if it's a life or death situation and there aren't any shops around, all you need is a bat, and all you have is a pocketful of galleons?" Noel asked, knowing the situation was as likely to occur as a Muggle was to grow wings and fly.

"I'll die rich," Anthony quipped.

They all laughed, and finished turning their galleons into bats.

---

When class ended and the students had filed out, Professor McGonagall left the classroom and headed to the stairs leading to Professor Dumbledore's office.

"Peppermint stick," she said, and the magical stairs rotated into view.

When she reached the top of them, she spoke to the ancient looking wizard sitting behind the desk. "What do you know about Kyra Bradley?" she asked the Headmaster. With the ears of a cat, Professor McGonagall always overheard every conversation that occurred in her classroom.

The Headmaster frowned. "Yes, I knew I'd forgotten something," he said slowly. "How is she?" he asked.

The Transfiguration teacher told him of the conversation she'd overheard, and Professor Dumbledore nodded knowingly. "Thank you, Minerva. Would you do me a favor and bring her to my office in the morning, say around ten o'clock?"

Professor McGonagall eyed Dumbledore curiously, wondering what he knew that he wasn't going to tell her. "Aye, Professor Dumbledore," she responded, nodding in agreement. "Are things proceeding as planned?"

The Headmaster nodded. "Yes, thank you, Professor McGonagall."

"You’re quite welcome," she replied before leaving the office.

~*~