The Other Potter: Book 1

Chapter 6

The new term started with a flurry of owls on Monday morning. I had already caught up with Luna the day before, thanking her thoroughly for the necklace, as we walked around the black lake.

"How was your Christmas?" Luna asked, her voice as light and airy as usual, her eyes watching the lake for any signs of life.

"It was wonderful." I said, my thoughts still mulling over what happened with Harry and the mirror.

Luna stopped, her eyes now on me. She could tell something was off, she was so intuitive like that.

"Did something happen?"

"Not really. Just... some new information came to light about my twin and I."

Luna nodded in understanding. She herself was an only child, but she could imagine what it was like to Have Harry as a twin.

We continued to walk around the lake, talking about a number of things, for hours before we separated.

Now, Monday morning, I was crunching on bacon that I had managed to grab before Ron and waiting for mail. Luna had said that her father wanted to send the newest issue of the Quibbler to me early, wanting my take on an article. As the owls started to file in, I watched them, trying to find my Sherlock.

Sherlock did indeed land in front of my plate, quibbler attached to his leg. I took the paper, gently rubbing between his eyes as a reward, before he took off. What I didn't expect was a second owl, another pure black one, dropping something else infront of me. The owl didn't land on the table like Sherlock had, instead it flew down just enough to drop the flower in front of me before it disappeared again with the other owls.

I had done a little reading into the book Theo had sent me, but I had to do it in secret. Harry and Ron would just glare at me anytime I pulled it out of my bag or brought it down from my room, and Harry was now demanding to spend more time with me after what Dumbledore said that night. I was so relieved when Hermione returned because the two boys returned their attention to her and their crazy scheme to find what's behind Fluffy.

I picked up the flower, recognized it immediately, and almost chuckled. It wasn't a flower per say, it was Basil. Basil meant good wishes to those who received it. I smiled at it, smelling it softly before setting it back down. I looked up to see the golden trio giving me weird looks.

"Someone sent you... basil?" Harry asked, gently picking it up.

"Yeah, guess it's some kind prank." I tried to cover quickly.

"Or someone is trying to give you advice on cooking." Harry said, dropping the basil back on the table. "After classes today the three of us are going to go to the library to try and find more on Nicholas Flamel. Do you want to come?"

"No offense, but now thanks. I'm not really into figuring this whole thing out. Besides, I have friends to catch up with."

"What, Theo?"

I paused my chewing, looking at my brother. His eyes were accusing me already and I huffed out a breath.

"Maybe. Maybe I wanted to see how Cedric's holiday was. Ever think of that?"

Harry opened his mouth to say something snarky back but stopped when we heard a familiar swoosh of cloak. Harry's mouth shut almost comically and I looked over my shoulder.

"Hope you're all having a wonderful morning." Snape spoke slowly at the four of us.

Again I noticed how his eyes seemed to soften when he looked at me.