𝐑𝐄𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐒-ℍ𝕒𝕣𝕣𝕪 ℙ𝕠𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣❥

𝐆𝐎𝐅 𝟐𝟎

Ron's tiny owl was twittering madly on the top of the icicle-laden banisters, a scroll of parchment tied to his leg. People passing him were pointing and laughing, and a group of third-year girls paused and said, "Oh look at the weeny owl! Isn't he cute?"

"Stupid little feathery git!" Ron hissed, hurrying up the stairs and snatching up Pigwidgeon. "You bring letters to the addressee! You don't hang around showing off!"

Pigwidgeon hooted happily, his head protruding over Ron's fist. The third-year girls all looked very shocked.

"Clear off!" Ron snapped at them, waving the fist holding Pigwidgeon, who hooted more happily than ever as he soared through the air. "Here - take it, Emily." Ron added in an undertone as the third-year girls scuttled away looking scandalized. She pulled Sirius's reply off Pigwidgeons leg. Emily pocketed it, and they hurried back to Gryffindor Tower to read it.

Everyone in the common room was much too busy in letting off more holiday steam to observe what anyone else was up to. Ron, Harry, Emily and Hermione sat apart from everyone else by a dark window that was gradually filling up with snow, and Emily read it out:
Dear Emily,

Congratulations on getting past the Horntail Harry and we'll done sweetie for coming first! Whoever put your names in that goblet shouldn't be feeling too happy right now! I was going to suggest a Conjunctivitus Curse, as a dragon's eyes are its weakest point - "That's what Krum did!" Hermione whispered - but your way was better, I'm impressed. Don't get complacent, though. Emily. You've only done one task; whoever put your names in for the tournament's got plenty more opportunity if they're trying to hurt you. Keep your eyes open -particularly when the person we discussed is around and concentrate on keeping yourself out of trouble.
Keep in touch, I still want to hear about anything unusual. I love you Emily. Sirius

"He sounds exactly like Moody," said Harry quietly, Whilst Emily tucked the letter away again inside her robes. "'Constant vigilance!' You'd think I walk around with my eyes shut, banging off the walls. ..."

"But he's right, Harry," said Hermione, "you two have still got two tasks to do. You really ought to have a look at those eggs, you know, and start working out what it means. . . ."

"Hermione, they've got ages!" snapped Ron. "Want a game of chess, Harry?"

"Yeah, okay," said Harry. Then, spotting the look on Hermione and Emily's faces, he said, "Come on, how'm we supposed to concentrate with all this noise going on? We won't even be able to hear the eggs over this lot."

"Oh I suppose not," she sighed, and she sat down to watch their chess match, which culminated in an exciting checkmate of Ron's, involving a couple of recklessly brave pawns and a very violent bishop.

Emily awoke very suddenly on Christmas Day. Wondering what had caused her abrupt return to consciousness, she opened her eyes, and saw something with very large, round, green eyes staring back at her in the darkness, so close they were almost nose to nose.

"Dobby!" Emily yelled, scrambling away from the elf so fast she almost fell out of bed. "Don't do that!"

"Dobby is sorry, miss!" squeaked Dobby anxiously, jumping backward with his long fingers over his mouth. "Dobby is only wanting to wish Emily Lupin-Black 'Merry Christmas' and bring her a present, miss! Emily did say Dobby could come and see her sometimes, miss"

"It's okay," said Emily, still breathing rather faster than usual, while her heart rate returned to normal. "Just - just prod me or something in future, all right, don't bend over me like that. .."

Emily pulled back the curtains around her four-poster, Her yell had awoken Hermione.

"Someone attacking you, Emily?" Hermione asked sleepily.