The Talisman of Monguk

Chapter 2: Bullies and Blueberry Pie

It was a warm July evening about one week later. Angela Hawkins and Remus Lupin walked casually down Magnolia Drive toward a park. Angela was carrying a picnic hamper. The only other person around was a teenage boy sitting on a swing across the park staring into the dirt. The boy was lean with unkempt black hair and glasses, wearing torn jeans and an oversized t-shirt. Except for the lightning-shaped scar on his forehead, he appeared quite ordinary. He seemed lost in thought, unaware of the newcomers. Angela glanced over at the boy.

"Is that Harry?" she asked.

"Yes, that's him," Lupin replied.

Lupin looked around and spotted a picnic table nearby.

"This is a good spot. We can watch from here without being too conspicuous." He sat on the bench. "What did you bring?" he asked, pointing to the hamper.

"It's dinner," she replied. "I had to come directly from work and haven't had time to eat. I barely had time to change my clothes. I brought plenty of food though. I was hoping that you'd join me. I hate to eat alone."

She opened the basket and began to unpack the contents. She spread out a tablecloth and began to take out plates and utensils.

Suddenly, Lupin leapt to his feet. Angela stopped and looked in the direction of his gaze. From the far end of the park, three figures were walking toward the boy on the swing. One of them was larger than the others and seemed to be the leader. He was a heavy-set boy with no neck. This boy approached Harry. They exchanged words and the large boy began to make threatening gestures. The two other boys closed ranks, shielding Harry from view.

"They look like Muggles," Angela said. "Let me handle this, but have your wand ready in case things get out of hand."

She rapidly crossed the park toward the boys. Lupin sat back down, watching out of the corner of his eye, but his hand moved to his wand.

"Is there a problem here?" Angela asked as she reached the boys.

The two boys spun around, surprised to see anyone else. As they stepped aside, she saw that the larger boy held Harry's shirt in his left hand, his right fist prepared to punch. Harry's right hand was reaching for the wand in his back pocket.

"Release Harry!" she commanded calmly.

The large boy looked at her in surprise and then turned back to Harry. "Do you know her?" Harry, looking equally surprised, shook his head.

"I said release him!" Angela repeated.

Although he did not release his grip, the large boy considered her carefully. She was a slight woman wearing baggy cargo pants and a t-shirt. He didn't recognize her from the neighborhood, but she didn't look like one of Harry's strange wizard friends either. Still, she was an adult. His usual targets were neighborhood children.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"I'm Angela Hawkins. And I think it only fair to warn you that I have a black belt in karate. Now release Harry!" she insisted.

One of the boys laughed. "Do you know who you're dealing with? Big D, here, is the Junior Heavyweight Boxing Champion. Come on, Dud. We can take her."

"Yeah, we can take her," chimed the other, cracking his knuckles menacingly. "You aren't scared of a girl, are you?"

The goading of his friends seemed to settle the matter.

"You two take care of her," Dudley said. "I've got other business."

The first boy aimed a right hook at Angela's head. With lightning reflexes, she blocked the punch, kicked him, and chopped. She backed off, her fists in guard position, ready for the next assault. With a stunned look, the boy doubled over and moaned. The second boy moved in for a punch, but Angela met him halfway with a kick to his chest. He flew backwards, landing hard on the pavement. Meanwhile, Harry took advantage of the distraction to break free of Dudley's grip. He pulled out his wand and pointed it at Dudley's chest. Angela turned toward Dudley, her guard up, poised for attack, and spotted the wand.

"Harry, put that away," she scolded. Harry hesitated, but slowly complied.

Angela turned again to Dudley. "So do you want a go at me, too?" she challenged.

Dudley looked from Harry to Angela to his two friends groaning on the pavement.

"Let's get out of here," he yelled.

He pulled his two friends to their feet and they all took off running back across the park the way they'd come.

"That was brilliant!" Harry exclaimed when they'd gone. "Thanks. But...er...who are you?"

"I'm Angela Hawkins. I'm pleased to meet you, Harry," she said holding out her hand. Harry shook her hand with a quizzical look on his face. "How do you know who I am?"

"I'm one of your guards for tonight. My partner is right over there."

She pointed toward the bench where Remus Lupin was waiting. He had risen to his feet and was smiling and waving at Harry.

"Professor Lupin," Harry exclaimed.

"Oh, you already know each other then?"

"Yes," Harry replied. "So you must be with the Order?"

"Yes, I'm a new recruit. Just joined a few weeks ago."

"Well...er...it's nice to meet you too."

"Remus and I were just about to have dinner. Would you care to join us?" Angela offered.

"Sure," Harry replied enthusiastically.

As they walked over to the table, Angela chided Harry for pulling out his wand. "You really should be more careful about that wand. I work for the Ministry and I've seen your case file. One more incident of underage magic and you'll be expelled for sure. Dolores Umbridge has been livid with rage since she returned from Hogwarts. She'd just love to have an excuse to get at you. A black eye is nothing compared to what she's capable of doing."

Harry looked down at his shoes sheepishly. After his last year at Hogwarts, he knew perfectly well what Umbridge could do.

Angela continued, "My best advice is to avoid the bullies whenever possible. Do you know those boys?"

"Yes, that's my cousin, Dudley, and his gang."

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Angela replied, her tone softening. "Perhaps I could teach you a few defensive maneuvers."

When they'd reached the table, Lupin stepped over and shook Harry's hand.

"How are you, Harry?" he asked kindly.

"Fine," Harry lied.

Harry was full of questions and impatient for answers after weeks at the Dursley's with no news. He was dying to know what was happening with the Order and what Lord Voldemort was doing. He began, "So what's happening with Vold--"

"Shhh!" cautioned Lupin, interrupting him and looking around suspiciously. "Lower your voice! We can't talk about that here."

"Well, then, when are you coming to take me away from here?" Harry demanded, his frustration evident.

"I'm afraid we can't discuss that either...But it will be soon. Just a little while longer," he added soothingly.

Harry let out an exasperated sigh and plopped down hard on the picnic bench.

"Perhaps some dinner will help," Angela offered.

She put a plate in front of Harry and started unpacking the picnic. Although the hamper was small, it was amazing what was coming out of it. Angela took out two foot-long baguettes stuffed with ham and cheese, a large potato salad, a big bag of crisps, and an entire blueberry pie. Harry's eyes widened as he watched the spectacle.

"Oh, I almost forgot. I'm sure I packed some drinks." Angela rummaged around in the basket and then stuck her whole arm in up to her shoulder.

"Ah, here they are!" she exclaimed, pulling out three bottles of butterbeer. "They were hiding at the very bottom."

Harry peered into the now empty basket. It looked like a perfectly normal picnic hamper, just eight inches deep. He grinned.

"Go ahead. Tuck in," she encouraged, and they all began to eat.

Half an hour later, they were all stuffed. Harry and Lupin had eaten three slices of pie apiece. Angela surveyed what was left of the meal with a bemused look and exclaimed, "Doesn't anyone feed you boys?"

"Excellent meal, Angela," said Lupin.

"Yeah, thanks," agreed Harry between mouthfuls of pie.

"So, Harry," Angela began, "how do you know Remus?"

"He was my Defense Against the Dark Arts professor in my third year at Hogwarts. He's the best Dark Arts professor I've ever had."

"Really! What do you mean?" asked Angela intrigued.

Harry continued. "He brought in interesting creatures, like grindylows and hinkypunks. His classes were never boring. He even taught me how to produce a Patronus."

"You can produce a Patronus? At your age?"

"Yeah, a stag."

"I'm impressed," Angela replied, looking from Harry to Lupin with wonder. Lupin appeared embarrassed.

"Please tell me more," she pressed.

Harry then told the story of their lesson with the boggart. A boggart is a shape-shifter that tries to scare you by changing into the thing that you most fear. Harry told how his friend Neville's greatest fear was Professor Snape and how the boggart Snape had been forced into Neville's grandmother's dress and hat.

Angela laughed. "Very funny, but I don't imagine that Professor Snape enjoyed it much."

"Do you know Snape?" Harry asked.

"Professor Snape," Angela corrected. "And, yes, he was my seventh year Potions Master. It was his first year of teaching at Hogwarts."

"And what do you think of him?" Harry asked cautiously.

"He was very demanding, but he always treated me fairly," Angela replied.

"That's because he doesn't have it in for you," Harry muttered under his breath.

Angela appeared not to have heard him and turned to Lupin. "How long did you teach at Hogwarts?" she asked.

"Just the one year," he replied.

"Only one year? But you obviously did well there?" she countered.

Lupin cast a warning look at Harry and stammered, "Well...I...Another opportunity came up and I took it." He then changed the subject. "It's beginning to get dark. We'd better get Harry home."

He helped Angela pack up the picnic hamper and they all walked out of the park toward Privet Drive. They strolled the streets cautiously with Harry between them and their hands on their wands. The walk was uneventful and they reached Privet Drive in no time.

"Goodbye, Harry," whispered Angela. "It was nice meeting you."

"Take care, Harry," said Lupin.

Harry waved, walked quickly to the front door, and let himself in without making a sound. When he was safely inside, Angela and Lupin looked around for an inconspicuous place to continue their watch. They settled on a concealed spot behind one of many carefully pruned hedges. They watched in silence for a while. When she thought it safe, Angela spoke in a barely audible voice.

"Listen, I've been thinking...I've never had a decent Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher in my life...and I'm...I'm really terrible at dueling. Professor Dumbledore knows it. I suppose that's why they always pair me with you or Mad-Eye or Kingsley for these watches. Do you think...would you be willing to give me dueling lessons? I can't afford to pay you properly, but perhaps I could provide meals for you? Does a dinner for a lesson sound fair? I'm a pretty good cook." She looked at him hopefully.

Lupin looked surprised. He hadn't seen this coming.

"Please, just think about it," she pleaded. "You don't have to give me an answer right away."

He considered the proposal for several minutes.

"Well," he said. "Why not? When do you want to start?"

Angela smiled. "As soon as possible. I'm available on weekends."

"How about Saturday? Say, three o'clock at headquarters?" he replied.

"That would be wonderful!"