The Seers' Truth: A Broken Beginning

Chapter 19

The Wall

Saturday morning dawned with a chilly fall rain obscuring the sunrise. Samara still went to the owlery to see Aggie and bring her some tidbits of food that she had saved from supper last night, but she didn't stay in the chilly rain. She was glad she didn't have Quidditch practice, although Ginny seemed actually excited to play in the rain.

"I don't know who the beaters will be though. Fred and George aren't back," Ginny paused, trying to make herself say the euphemism that Dumbledore had used for their covert excursions to the ministry. "They aren't back from their 'fieldtrip' yet," Ginny said. Ginny yawned and rubbed her eyes.

"Still not sleeping well?" Samara asked.

"No. I wish the twins were back."

Samara frowned. They had left on Wednesday evening. It was already Saturday. She hoped the twins were all right. She liked them. "I'll probably see you at supper," she said softly as she headed out to breakfast. "I'm eating with the Hufflepuffs this morning and the Slytherins for lunch."

"Still time to back out of going to Slytherin," said Ginny, opening the window for the tapping Errol.

"Why would I want to do that?" asked Samara.

Ginny frowned.

"What is it?" asked Samara. "Bad news?"

"No. I guess not. It's from my Mum. She's just worried."

"About what?" asked Samara.

Ginny handed her the letter.

++

Dear Ginny,

Congratulations on making the Gryffindor Quidditch Team! Try not to gloat to your brother. I'm sure Ron had been insufferable since you made it and he didn't. Hopefully Quidditch practice will tire you out enough that your will sleep well and not need any more potions.

Your father and I received a standard missive from the Infirmary informing us that Madam Pomfrey prescribed two days of dreamless sleep potion. Such potions are not given to students without parental permission or knowledge, but the missive gave no other information.

Ginny, Dearest, if you are having nightmares again, you should have told us. We should return to St. Mungo's for additional treatments or at least to be sure that the previous protections are still in order.

We only want what is best for you. Owl if you need anything.

Love,

Mum and Dad

++

"So what are you going to do?" asked Samara.

"Tire myself out with outrageously strenuous Quidditch!" said Ginny.

Samara laughed. "See you later, then--"

<<===>>

Samara realized as she put several sausages on her plate that most of the Hufflepuffs near her were obviously vegetarian.

Seeing her hesitate, Justin Finch-Fletchley said, "Don't let it bother you." He put a bite of sausage in his own mouth. "I love animals as much as anyone, but it doesn't interfere with my meals."

Samara smiled. "Don't worry," she said. "It doesn't bother me." She piled three more sausages on her plate.

Conversation drifted between various craft projects each was doing to drawing and painting and then to music.

"Well, of course Beethoven was a wizard," said Susan Bones. "How else could he write music when he was deaf?"

"What I don't understand," said another Hufflepuff, "is why he didn't see a healer?"

"I heard he was a little like Trelawney," said Hannah Abbot. "She has an inner eye. He had an inner ear."

"We all have inner ears, Silly," said Susan Bones.

Little chuckles broke out and Hannah Abbot seemed genuinely hurt and applied herself to eating her breakfast.

"Oh dear," remarked Justin to one of the other Hufflepuff boys as he refolded his copy of the Daily Profit. "I know some of you exchange Wizarding money for Muggle money at Gringotts. Listen to this:

++

Ministry Money Swept Under the Rug

In a closed meeting today, Minister Cornelius Fudge was questioned about the appropriation of funds from The Quidditch World Cup last year. Although an entire year has passed, no new evidence has been found to determine what had happened to the Muggle money that was lost or stolen from Gringotts Wizarding Bank.

The Bank continues to assert their innocence while the Ministry asserts theirs. Allegedly, in a heated meeting of finger-pointing and insults, Fudge went so far as to threaten to curse Dakon Gar, the Goblin President of the Bank. The goblin had suggested that Fudge be subjected to Veritaserum.

In addition to the Quidditch World Cup money, rumors of smuggled Flying Carpets came to the attention of the Ministry, and several goblins were suspended from Gringotts. The said Carpets were never delivered, or perhaps they were delivered to another location, but funds were removed from the Ministry Account at Gringotts nonetheless.

When asked for a comment, Minister Fudge said that obviously one or more of the Goblins are embezzling money from Gringotts. He doesn't blame all of the Goblins, but he stated, apparently, Dakon Gar is hiding something or protecting someone. When asked if wizards should be concerned about their money in the Wizarding bank, Minister Fudge downplayed the entire situation, saying he feels that it is one or two corrupt individuals and that Gringotts is still the safest place for Wizards to keep their money."

++

"Doesn't affect me," said Samara. "My parents' money is in a Muggle bank, but if I were the Malfoys I might worry."

After a while, Susan asked if they were ready to tour Hufflepuff Hall. There were a few other students from Ravenclaw and Susan, as the Hufflepuff Prefect, was conducting the tour.

Beatrice was talking with Sally Anne Picks about Care of Magical Creatures, and Samara moved closer to listen. "Even though Mr. Hagrid was a Hufflepuff," Sally said, "I really didn't like Blast-Ended Skrewts."

"Mr. Hagrid," interrupted Samara. "Not Professor Hagrid?"

"Yes, Mr. Hagrid used to teach here. He wasn't actually a professor because he never graduated. He was expelled from Hogwarts, but two years ago, they found out he was innocent."

"Innocent of what?" asked Beatrice.

"Of setting a monster on the students," said Sally.

"So he could get his degree if he wanted to, now, right?" said Samara.

"I guess so. It's a little late," said Susan. "He's teaching now, anyway, so what does it matter?"

"Well, of course it matters. It's never too late for what you really want," said Samara.

"Saturday," said Susan Bones as they approached the two suits of armor that flanked the entrance to Hufflepuff House. The crossed lances were moved and the door opened.

"That's your password?" said Samara. "It's pretty simple isn't it?"

"Well, just for today," said Susan Bones. "We don't want anyone to forget it. That would be so embarrassing."

"So you change it daily," said Beatrice. "That's wise."

"Anyway," continued Sally, "I thought the hippogriff was really exciting. I was glad that hippogriff who was supposed to be killed got away. In fact, I asked Professor Sprout to put him on the Wall just because he was so beautiful, but she said 'beauty doesn't get you on the Wall--only hard work, perseverance, and loyalty.' Well, I told her Mr. Hagrid was certainly loyal to the hippogriff and I even think he had something to do with its escape.

"So finally, Professor Sprout agreed. I've just started painting it. I hope it will be done when Mr. Hagrid gets back."

"It's the greatest honor," said Susan Bones.

"And where is this Wall that--" Samara stopped and gasped as they entered the Hufflepuff common room.

The beauty of the mural took her breath away. Covering over half of the common room wall was a painting of such complexity that it appeared real. Samara noted a large shaggy-looking man with bushy black eyebrows and a mane of black hair that was blowing wildly about his face. The man was bowing politely to a huge creature. The creature, apparently the Hippogriff, was looking ferociously at the man. Its head was finished, but its wings and body was only sketched in ink. Even half done, the creature looked magnificent.

"Oh Sally," said Samara in awe. "You painted that creature? You are right. It's beautiful."

"Thanks, Samara," said Sally self-consciously.

"The Wall depicts Hufflepuff history since the beginning of Hogwarts," said Susan. "We always try to find Helga."

Samara was reminded of a Muggle book that she had as a child where you had to find the little fellow in the red and white shirt. Since many of the Hufflepuffs were dressed in yellow robes, finding any one yellow robed Helga was considerably harder.

"Look for the green," suggested Susan Bones. "Helga's usually somewhere near Salazar Slytherin."

"What?" Samara stared in surprise. Everything she had heard in Gryffindor Tower about Salazar Slytherin had not suggested that he would look twice at a Hufflepuff.

"She loved him," Susan said. "Whether he deserved it or not is--Oh! There he is!"

Indeed Salazar scowled darkly at them before ducking into a small green door and pulling young and giggling Helga into a dungeon room. He slammed the door.

"Not very friendly is he?" said Beatrice.

"What Slytherin is?" countered Susan.

"That's not true," interrupted Sally Anne hotly. Her mousy brown curls bobbed as she sprinted back to face Susan.

Susan rolled her eyes. "Except for Vincent," she said sweetly. Then, explaining, she continued, "Sally Anne asked Vincent to go to Hogsmeade with her next weekend."

"Hush. Don't tell everyone," said Sally Anne.

"Vincent?" questioned Beatrice.

"Vincent Crabbe, he's the big guy that hangs around with that snake Malfoy," Susan explained.

"Sally asked him?" said Samara.

"Well," shrugged Susan, "he's really very shy. Actually, he hardly thinks for himself without Malfoy."

"He does SO think. You just don't know him," snapped Sally Anne. Her hands were clenched in tight little fists and she looked like she was ready to launch herself at Susan.

"Ok, Ok," said Susan, "We know, love is blind."

They started to turn away from Sally.

"Wait!" She said, her large brown eyes pleading with Samara. "Please don't mention me in Gryffindor Tower. Draco Malfoy doesn't approve of us dating and Vincent told him we broke up."

What a coward! Thought Samara, but she kept her disparaging thoughts to herself. It's not Malfoy's business, is it? The more Samara heard about Draco Malfoy, the less she liked him, and yet the stories and the person himself didn't seem to match up.

"Well," Sally's pale face blushed, "my father is a Muggle, so you can't blame him."

"The Crabbes are a very old wizarding family and--"

"You're kidding me!" spat Samara annoyed.

"Um--Oh look--" cried Susan, directing everyone's attention back to the Wall. "It's Cedric Diggory!"

Everyone paused to look at him as if he were the house icon. Samara had to admit he was good looking in a bland sort of way. He waved and winked at the girls, before mounting his broom and flying off toward the Quidditch pitch.

After discussing Cedric's actions of last year for a while and silently mourning his death, Beatrice and Samara completed their tour. Afterwards, they went back to one of the craft rooms where some of the boys and girls were making shirts.

"I have an idea for a shirt," said Samara. Beatrice helped her with it and when it was finished, it depicted a beautiful caricature with soft brown curls and big eyes. She was holding a wand and when she waved it, the color of the shirt changed from yellow to green. Silver and black letters blinked "Muggle-born and Proud."

Samara tried to present it to Sally Anne, but Sally looked at her in horror and ran away.

"I expected that," said Beatrice.

Samara shrugged and they proceeded to change the shirt. Samara drew the hair longer and darker like her own. Beatrice added the shirt colors red and blue as well as the Slytherin and Hufflepuff colors. Then they added the appropriate letter colors of gold and bronze.

"Should we make one for you too?" asked Samara.

"We don't have time if we're going to eat lunch with the Slytherins."

"Ok," said Samara. "We'll come back and make one for you. I'll bet Hermione Granger would wear one too."

"I'm sure she would," agreed Beatrice.

"I'm ready to go," Samara's eyes twinkled. "Just let me change my shirt." She pulled the new T-shirt over her head and kept her robe partially open.

"You're not going to Slytherin like that, are you?" asked Sally Anne.

"Sure," said Samara. "Why not?"

Susan giggled, "You should sit by Malfoy."

"Oh, I intend to," said Samara.

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