Lost and Found...Love

Chapter 18

Exam - Twigg-Jones Style

"This is the strangest exam," whispered Hermione, "that Anna's ever given us." Adjusting her sunglasses, she shifted her weight and then leaned back against the wall.

"Shush, someone's coming," cautioned Ron. He swiveled his head, peering down the dark stretch of hallway, straining his ears to hear the footsteps, trying to judge their location. Tapping Hermione's thigh, he jerked his head to the left, indicating that direction. Hermione leaned forward to look around Ron.

Leaning close to his ear, she whispered, "Sinistra's high heels."

Ron nodded and his hair brushed her face. Hermione clamped her hand over her mouth and nose to keep from sneezing.

Carrying a lantern, Professor Sinistra came around a corner of the hallway that leads to the library. Looking left and right, she stopped, turned full circle and then continued toward them. As she passed Ron, he carefully timed his movements and fell into step about two paces behind her.

After a few yards, she stopped again and he froze. She listened intently, but Ron had slowed his breathing to the shallow, noiseless method Professor Twigg-Jones had taught the class. Hermione watched with fingers crossed.

As soon as Professor Sinistra began to walk again, Ron reached out and tugged at the ribbon hanging off of her belt. It came free with a slight flutter. He quickly stuffed it inside his pocket, and it disappeared from view.

As he started to back up, Professor Sinistra reached the next corner and turning, gazed back down the hall, tilting her head. Ron stopped, holding his breath. After a moment, she turned and continued down the next hallway. Ron slowly exhaled and walked back to lean against the wall, next to Hermione.

"Got it!" he whispered. "That's my three, and I'm done."

"That was good. I have to get one more, from Professor Flitwick and I'm done, too."

"Should we go looking for him or just stay here and wait for him to wander by?"

"We'd better go looking for him. If the Professors check their ribbons every hallway or so, Sinistra will know generally where and when she lost that one and where we might be and tell the others. Better keep them guessing."

"Right. Let's move."

X # X # X

Going to the right, but passing the hallway taken by Professor Sinistra, they continued to the bottom of the tower stairway leading to Professor Trelawney's classroom. Hearing whispers, they slowed their pace. Then spotting the outlines of Harry and Neville, they walked over to join them.

"How are you doing, Harry? Neville?"

"I've got mine." Neville proudly declared, holding up three ribbons.

"I've got one more...Snape, wouldn't you know." Harry shook his head.

"Luck of the draw, mate." Ron grinned at his friend, holding up his three ribbons.

"Shut it, Ron."

"I need one from Flitwick, and then I'm done, too," Hermione whispered. "And keep your voices down. We can't get caught this close to the end!"

Ron started to say something, but Neville reached out and clamped his hand over Ron's mouth and pointed down the hall. A light was flickering around the corner at the far end. Hermione tugged Ron's sleeve. She waved to Harry and Neville and pulled Ron down the next hallway, away from the approaching light.

X # X # X

Harry and Neville watched as a lantern emerged from around the distant corner and started coming toward them. They couldn't quite make out who was behind the lantern, with the glare shining at them, until they heard the person cough. Snape.

Harry swallowed and looked at Neville, who gave him an encouraging nod. Harry moved toward Snape and started to match his footsteps, but then Severus stopped, whipped around and shone the lantern back down the hall. Harry stepped forward and when Snape turned around again, Harry grabbed the end of the ribbon, tugged and as Snape started walking again, pulled it free and pocketed the ribbon in one swift movement.

Severus stopped suddenly. Harry stood stock still, but then he heard voices coming toward them. Neville waved to Harry, pointing away from the approaching noise. Harry nodded and backed away from Snape as Neville side-stepped along the wall. They were about ten feet behind Snape when the Slytherin gang rounded the corner, Draco in the lead.

"What are all of you doing walking the halls at this late hour?"

"We've been recruited by the illustrious Professor Twigg-Jones to help with this 'exam' of hers. What fun," explained Draco, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Really. And your contribution would be?"

"Pansy, Millie, Theo and I have ribbons on our belts. We're to walk the halls and come back to the Great Hall at one o'clock in the morning," replied Draco, turning to show the ribbon hanging from his belt loop.

"I am similarly equipped, although I hardly see what..." Severus reached behind his back and realized his last ribbon was gone. "Damn." Spinning, he peered back down the dark corridor, where he had just been walking.

"What? Where's yours?" said Draco, checking Snape's back. "Don't tell me they got it."

"Apparently."

Harry saw Neville hesitate and then start to move back toward the Slytherins. He waved frantically, trying to get him to stop, but Neville shook his head no, grinning and slid down the wall, moving behind the group. He motioned to Harry, who quickly copied the move on the opposite wall.

Snape looked over his shoulder at the group of Slytherins. "I thought I heard some footsteps back down the far hall. Follow me. We may still be able to catch them."

"Yeah, let's get those junior Aurors," said Draco, laughing.

The four Slytherins laughed, poking and jostling each other, and then started off, following Snape's receding figure. Unnoticed, Harry and Neville reached out and relieved them of their ribbons, which they stuffed in their pockets. Neville and Harry turned and walked as quickly and quietly as possible in the opposite direction, and around the corner into the next hallway.

X # X # X

"We did it!" whispered Neville, grinning from ear to ear. "Wait until the others hear about this!"

"Let's go. We're done, and then some," Harry agreed.

Heading for the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, they hadn't gone halfway down the corridor when they heard a shout from the far end of the other hall.

"Hey! It's gone!"

"What? Oh, no, mine is too!"

"Son of a ...let's get them..."

Harry spun around, looking for someplace to hide, but there was nothing in the hall...except...a very tall bookcase. Whipping out his wand, he whispered, " 'Wingardium Leviosa'."

Running footsteps sounded in the other hall, stopping just short of the corner.

"We were right here when we were talking to you, Professor, they must have been behind us."

Neville was rising steadily up the face of the glass fronted bookcase. He got his feet planted on the top and pulling out his wand, pointed it at Harry, but they both froze as the Slytherins appeared in the archway from the other hall. Draco and the others stood there, staring and shining their lanterns back and forth, trying to see into the gloom.

Harry looked up at Neville, knowing he didn't dare even whisper the incantation. Just then, Snape walked up behind the group.

"Spread out and sweep down this corridor. Slowly."

Harry felt himself start to lift off the floor. Neville had used Snape's voice to cover his saying the incantation.

"Use your arms and legs. If they're wearing invisibility capes they can't move very quickly, so be sure they don't squeeze past you."

Harry looked up at Neville, who was mouthing the incantation, pulling him higher and higher, as Draco, Pansy, Theo and Millie moved forward, swinging their arms and occasionally kicking their feet sideways. He was moving steadily upwards, but would he get high enough, quickly enough, to avoid being hit by the arms of the advancing group? Suddenly Harry felt himself shifting and nearly gasped.

Brilliant, Neville! he thought. His friend was tilting him, in order to swing his legs up out of the way, and looking around Harry realized the Pansy Parkinson was almost to him. Would he be high enough?

She walked right under him, just inches to spare.

Then he felt himself drifting sideways. Lifting his head he saw why; Snape. The Potions Master was a good foot taller than Pansy and he and Harry were nose to nose, about a yard apart. But in seconds, Neville had put him out of the way as Snape walked by. Harry's feet started to drop, until he was vertical and he touched down on the floor about ten feet behind the students and Snape.

Harry took out his slingshot, loaded it with a soft rubber ball and aiming very carefully, put the shot into the far hall. Thud.

"What was that?" Draco stopped.

Harry held his breath. If he'd banked it correctly...thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud. The ball had ricocheted off of the wall and landed at the top of the next staircase, then started bouncing down the stairs, like so many retreating footsteps.

"Let's get 'em!" Draco shouted and the Slytherins took off running, chasing the fading sound.

Harry whipped out his wand and was lifting Neville off of the top of the bookcase, straight out, away from it, when Snape turned around, gazing back. The Potions Master pulled out his wand.

"'Expelliarmous!'"

The spell streaked down the hall and went right though the air where Neville had been standing, only seconds before, exploding in a shower of green sparks as it hit the wall beyond. Snape's eyes narrowed and then he turned and stalked after the Slytherin students.

X # X # X

Harry grabbed Neville's arm and led him in the opposite direction than Snape and the Slytherins had gone. When they had walked far enough Harry stopped, and turning, threw his arms around Neville and gave him a big hug.

"Neville, you were brilliant, tipping me up like that to get me out of the way!"

"Only thing for it, mate, but how did you know Snape was going to fire off a spell at me."

"I saw him eyeing that bookcase and I just had a feeling he suspected, but couldn't be sure, so I figured I better move you, just in case. I had to get you down anyway, so." Harry shrugged.

"Well, we'd better get to the classroom. Wonder how the others made out?"

"Here comes Dean and Pavarti, let's see how they did." Harry waved at the two approaching figures, who waved back.

"Hey, you two, how'd you do?" Dean inquired in a whisper as they reached Harry and Neville.

"We're done, how about you?' Harry whispered back.

"Us, too. What was all that noise a little bit ago?"

"Slytherins and Snape."

"Slytherins? What were they doing out?"

"Anna sent them, as a sort of surprise bonus, I guess."

"We're heading back."

"So are we."

"Let's go, then."

X # X # X

The four walked off silently and were soon in the D.A.D.A. classroom.

'How'd you guys do?' was the greeting for each returning team. 'Got 'em all!' was the standard answer.

"Anna is going to be so pleased and Snape and those Slytherins hopping mad," giggled Hermione as the Re-illusionment charm worked its way down her body. "There," she sighed, looking down at her shoes, "that's much better."

"Did you see Draco and his faithful lap dog and Theo and his pet cow?" Marietta Edgecombe asked with a straight face, only to collapse into Lavender Browns' arms, both of them laughing hysterically.

"That's cold," admonished Ron, "true, but cold and yeah, we heard them. CLUMP! CLUMP! CLUMP! Didn't quite understand the concept of trying to find us, did they?"

"Well, they nearly found Neville and me," Harry related. "Neville did a great job of lifting me out of the way, with inches to spare. Bit of quick thinking, that."

"You did the tricky bit, getting me out of the way of Snape's spell, Harry."

"What are friends for?"

"It's five 'til one. We'd better get down to the Great Hall. Or should we be fashionably late?" Ron asked only to be shoved toward the door by Hermione. "Hey! Watch it, Granger."

"Get moving, Weasley. I want to see their faces when we show them their ribbons and tell them where we lightened their burdens," Hermione said over her shoulder as she marched out the door.

Invitation to a Luau

The sixth year N.E.W.T.s class entered the Great Hall to find the tables against the walls and six benches facing the staff table. All of the participating members of the Hogwarts staff were at their places and Draco and his fellow Slytherins were standing behind Professor Snape's chair, with rather sour looks on their faces.

Anna was in front of the staff table at her place, leaning on the edge, arms crossed, staring at the floor. The students settled themselves on the benches and waited in silence. A long moment passed before she raised her head, no expression on her face. The students nodded as she made eye contact with each of them. She then looked over her shoulder at Dumbledore, who stood.

"Will each of you return the ribbons you were assigned to retrieve to the matching staff members. How about starting with you, Mister Finch-Fletchley? Also, as you hand each of the ribbon back, please inform the owners where they were acquired by you and at what time."

One by one, they gave back the signed ribbons to the rather bemused staff members, some of whom were shaking their heads, trying to figure out how it had been done so efficiently. Snape gave Potter a murderous look when Harry told him where the ribbon had been lifted from his belt.

"What about ours? Who got our ribbons?" inquired Draco, even as he glared at Harry, knowing the answer.

"Yes, who was it, Professor Twigg-Jones?" echoed Snape. "We're just shivering with anticipation to hear the names."

That comment brought a bit of a smile to Anna's face.

"I don't know the answer myself, Professor Snape, not having talked to any of the students since ten o'clock." She looked up at the class. "I've got a Galleon bet on this with Professor McGonagall, so let's hear it. Who has the Slytherin ribbons?"

Nobody moved for a few seconds, and then Harry stood and walked forward to hand Theo and Millicent their ribbons. Then, slowly, Neville stood, pulled the other two ribbons from his pocket, walked up to the staff table and handed them back to Draco and Pansy. The rest of the class jumped to their feet and cheered heartily and the staff joined in. Even Snape did a perfunctory two or three claps, and then turned and started to send the Slytherin students off to their dungeon common room.

"Wait, Professor," Dumbledore said. "They should hear where and when, also, don't you think?"

Draco and the others stopped and turned back to glare at Harry and Neville.

"Mister Potter...Mister Longbottom, location and time, please."

"Same spot where I grabbed Professor Snape's, about a minute after, as a matter of fact. We just held the ends and they walked away, leaving them dangling from our hands. Dead easy, really."

"If they hadn't been having so much fun talking and laughing, they might have felt if happen," added Neville. "Noisy lot, Slytherins; always running their mouths when they should be paying attention."

He looked at Harry, who solemnly nodded agreement. They turned and went back to their seats, while the rest of the class laughed and clapped. Draco, Pansy, Theo and Millicent had nothing to say, for once, so they turned and stalked out.

"He's got a point," Anna said over her shoulder to Snape. "Bet they didn't learn from that lesson, either."

"Probably not," he hissed back.

X # X # X

"Well," Professor Dumbledore rose and turned left and right, addressing the staff, "on behalf of Professor Twigg-Jones and her students, I would like to thank all of the staff for their participation in this exam. It was very generous of you to give a few hours of your free time this evening. I suggest we toddle off to our beds and leave these students to do a bit of celebrating." He looked over his glasses at the class, his eyes twinkling, and winked.

"Indeed," Anna turned to face her fellow staff members. "I couldn't have done this exam without all of your unselfish and generous help. Class!" She spun around. "Don't you agree?"

As one, they student s jumped to their feet and applauded the staff, who rose and returned the claps and cheers. Then the teachers headed out of the Great Hall, waving and smiling, following in Dumbledore's wake, except, of course, for Snape, who had stalked out first, ahead of them all.

After the doors had swung shut, there was a moment or two of silence, and then Anna let out a war whoop and started dancing around the dais, laughing and twirling and clapping.

"You DID it! You DID it! You DID it! I just knew you'd pull it off! Well done!!!!!"

The students came surging up to the front and she hugged each one of them, congratulating them and they were all talking at once, telling her about close calls and incidents of all sorts that had happened.

They all quieted down to hear Harry and Neville's story of Snape and the Slytherins.

"I'm impressed, you two. And, I'm just tickled pink at how well all of you did tonight. I expected nothing but success, however; I'm tickled pink none the less. And a Galleon richer; I bet Neville would get Draco's ribbon. Minerva bet on Hermione. Sorry, dear."

"That's ok," replied Hermione. "I'm glad it was Neville; taught Draco a lesson."

"Yeah, but the git won't realize that," Neville pointed out. Everyone nodded agreement.

"Oh, well, can't say you didn't try," said Professor Twigg-Jones "Now, I've a big surprise for you lot, so sit down and I'll tell you all about it."

They all looked at one another and grinning, plopped down on the floor right where they were standing.

"All of you are WAY too literal," she laughed. "Ok, here it is. Easter holiday term break starts tomorrow and I'm inviting all of you, plus Ginny, Dennis, Colin, Cho, Katie and Luna, to a party at my place next Saturday. Not in London at my townhouse; I'm having all of you out to my country house for the entire day for a pool party, cookout, movies, and other fun and games."

The kids stared open mouthed at her for a second, and then they started cheering.

"Now, here's the deal," continued Anna, holding up a hand for silence. "I have no idea if you or your families have anything already planned for that day, so this is what I've come up with."

Picking up a bag from under the staff table, she handed each of the students a plastic lei.

"I know, I know: it's simple, it's cheap, it's Muggle AND it's a Portkey. If you can come, just be ready at 9 AM next Saturday, put your lei on and you'll come straight to the party. If you can't make it because of other family plans, just send me an owl during the week and leave the lei lying on a table and it will disappear.

"You'll be going home about 11 PM, the same way. Your name is written on that little tag I attached to each lei, so we can account for everyone and you will use the same lei to get home. You'll only need to bring yourself, a bathing suit, maybe a change of clothes, suntan lotion, you know: pool party stuff. And be prepared to spend the day having fun!"

"Where's your house located?" Luna asked.

"Outside of a tiny place called Bootle Station, at the western side of the Lake District, overlooking the Irish Sea. It's actually Christopher's family's old place. We used it as often as I could drag him away from his work. It's filled with Muggle do-dads: computers, stereo system, billiard tables, pinball machines, video games, big screen TV with a well stocked video library and of course, the pool, which is in a huge greenhouse attached to the converted barn.

"Outside there's a big patio, bar-b-que pit and picnic tables, croquet lawn. We were considering turning the property over to St. Mungo's as a rest and rehab center, but he died before those plans were completed. I still may do that, someday. But next Saturday, it's all yours!" She beamed around at them. "Winky and I'll be down there this week getting everything ready. So, let's hear...what do you all want to eat?"

The next few minutes were spent planning the menu and finding out more from Anna about Briarwood Manor.

"It's been in Christopher's family for six generations, but Gwen, my step-daughter, doesn't like it much, 'too big by half and slightly frumpy', she says; the house, not the barn. She likes to stay in the 'little lodge'; that's another, smaller house, hidden way back in the woods on the property. Plus, she likes the idea of St Mungo's putting it to good use all the time, instead of it sitting idle."

"How about leaving it to Hogwarts, as a weekend retreat for the students? Sounds like a lot more fun than Hogsmeade!" Ron ventured, with several students seconding his proposal.

"I'm not crazy enough to have the whole school down to visit. Well, maybe a graduation party for the seventh years. Hmmm, I'll have to think about that! Oh, dear," she gasped, checking her watch, "it's really late! You all have to catch the Express tomorrow morning, so let's set the tables and benches back in place, ready for breakfast, shall we?"

The Great Hall was soon back to normal.

"That's done. Ok, gang, it's off to bed with you!" Anna pointed to the door and the class started heading for their dorms, waving goodbyes as they split off in different hallways and up the ever shifting staircases.

X # X # X

Anna leaned on the railing and gazed out at the Irish Sea, sparkling in the morning sun. As she took a sip from her steaming mug of coffee, she heard footsteps on the graveled garden path behind her. Remus Lupin stepped up into the gazebo and walked over to join her.

"What a magnificent view, Anna. No wonder you and Christopher loved spending time down here."

"Yes, we did have some lovely visits, and it was almost as hard to get Christopher back to London, away from his gardens, as is was to get him away from his research in the first place, to come here," she laughed. Looking at her watch, she took a deep breath. "Ready?"

"Sure. This will be fun. Shall we get back to the front terrace to welcome them properly," asked Remus, offering his arm.

"Why, thank you, kind sir." Anna linked her arm with his and they strolled back to the front of the manor house, then turned and faced the stretch of lawn at the edge of the drive.

"It's going to be a beautiful day. You really know how to pick them, Anna."

"I've got nothing to do with the weather. I'm good, but not that good."

"You were up extra early, though, I noticed," Remus remarked, smiling. "Afraid you might miss something?"

"Oh, be quiet. I made a promise to myself to be out here when they started to arrive. I almost slept on a chaise lounge, right on this very spot, but thought better of it. My luck, I'd have awakened to find the entire bunch of them standing over me, watching me drool on the pillow."

"Oh, now there's a picture," Remus grimaced, and then glancing at this watch, he looked out to the grass strip before them. "Any second now."

Out on the lawn, there was a series of pops and the members of the original D.A. appeared on the lawn, individually or, as in the case of Ron, Ginny and Luna, in small groups, leis around their necks, duffle bags or beach bags over their shoulders and smiles on their faces.

"Hello, everyone!" Anna called. "Welcome to Briarwood Manor!"

"Remus! Great to see you!" Harry bounded up the stairs to the terrace and gave his friend a hug. "How's everything in London?" he asked, with a grin and a wink.

"We're getting along just fine. Thanks for asking." Remus smiled back, turning slightly red.

"Hello, Professor!" "Hey Anna!" "Professor Lupin!" "How are you?" "Cool house!" "Everyone here?"

It was a bit confusing for a few minutes as everyone was talking at once, greeting each other and looking around.

"Come in everyone." Anna led the way to the front door and opened it to usher them into the main hallway.

"Oh, Anna, this is lovely," Hermione exclaimed, spinning around to take it all in.

The hallway ran straight through the house, with doors opening of either side, leading into a sitting room on the right and a strangely familiar study on the left.

"Is this," Justin asked, "the room in your husband's painting?"

"Yes, with a few additions of odds and ends from our London house. Come on through, everyone."

The group passed the graceful stairway, rising from the center of the hall, which had a center landing, from which two sets of stairs split off to the two upstairs hallways where the bedrooms were located. As they passed the stairs they saw a billiard room on the left and a large dining room on the right. Anna then headed down a back hallway to a side door that opened onto a covered walkway leading to a small vine covered pergola.

From there the class got their first glimpse of 'the barn'; a huge old stone edifice with an equally large greenhouse attached to the far end. Hanging baskets of flowers and greenery and sparkling sunlight reflecting off of the surface of the pool were visible through the glass. A side door to the barn opened and Winky stepped out, waving and smiling. With whoops and shouts, the kids broke into a run across the lawn, heading straight for the door. Flashing neon lights and music could be seen and heard, even from the pergola.

"Changing rooms are on both sides of the door to the pool!" Anna shouted after them, then shaking her head, she and Remus crossed the lawn to join the fun.

As they arrived in the barn and walked to the door of the pool area, Ron Weasley was flying off the diving board to execute a massive cannonball.

"COWABUNGA!" SPLASH!

The girls squealed and the guys laughed and jumped in to join him. Anna suspected that most had been wearing their bathing suits under their shorts and t-shirts; the quicker to get into the pool.

Putting his arm around Anna's shoulder, Remus gave her a squeeze.

"It's really special of you to do this for the kids, Anna."

"I do have an ulterior motive, unfortunately, besides having fun on spring break," she confided. "I want them to have one good memory to carry with them, Remus. One good 'remember when' to talk about - please God - when they're as old as you and me. We have damn few of them ourselves and too few people to remember with us. Hopefully, with some training and a little luck, this lot will get through this war mostly intact and fairly healthy."

Remus gave her shoulder another squeeze and kissed her cheek.

"From your mouth to God's ear, Anna."

Then he picked her up in his arms and jumped into the pool, with Anna screaming blue bloody murder. Surfacing, laughing and sputtering, they joined in the fun.

.