After a long winded discussion (mainly of Blake asking a dozen questions about how this room worked), the pair finally left the Room.
So, she just wanted to show me the Room of Requirement as, what, a thank you for agreeing to arrange a meeting with Dumbledore?
Blake fought down the odd feeling of disappointment he got from thinking about that. Anyway…
Apparently, the Room of Requirement wasn't a very well known room, which shocked Blake, considering how useful it was. I know where I'm training instead of the stupid Forest from now on, he thought, triumphant. Wait - so that was where Greengrass was sneaking off to all those times! No wonder I couldn't tail her!
Greengrass's parents had apparently heard about and used this room during their time at Hogwarts, and told her about it too, explaining where the blonde girl had mysteriously disappeared to all those times during the last 2 years.
Nepotism at work again, he thought with a sigh. Having rich and powerful parents in magical society is way better than having them in the Muggle world - not that I would know.
"What're you smirking about?" Greengrass asked, seeing the silly grin on his face.
"Nothing," he responded immediately.
January was a good month for business, as always. After doing absolutely no work during the holidays, most students were desperate to get their essays completed last minute.
"Cheers, Neville," he said, exchanging the gold coins for the Potions and Care of Magical Creatures essay. Although the latter subject was becoming increasingly fun and interesting, partially due to Hagrid's growing confidence, and partially due to Malfoy's absence after dropping the subject, some people still didn't like the fact that Hagrid enjoyed bringing out the most dangerous, random and weird animals possible to lessons, and Neville was one of them. Surprisingly however, Tracey wasn't one of them - actually, she was the opposite.
"They're gorgeous!" she cried, petting the Hippogriffs after begging Blake to let her accompany him and Blake to see Hagrid. Speaking of Hagrid, the man had gone red in the face as Tracey hugged Buckbeak, as if she'd hugged him. Tracey's one hundred percent his new favourite, Blake thought with a smirk as he exchanged a look with Connor (who seemed shocked). Even beyond me and the Golden Trio - I mean, after beating me and Hermione in a test, she kind of has to be.
Upon hearing that Tracey was so gifted and interested in Care of Magical Creatures, Zabini looked slightly worried.
"Don't bring those things around me!" he snapped as she tried to drag him to Hagrid's hut one day.
Speaking of Zabini, it seemed that the half-blood had finally found a subject he could be better than Blake and Greengrass at.
"I told you," he said, smirking after a mini-test, holding up the small scroll that read '100%'. Blake and Greengrass rolled their eyes.
"It's not even an official test, Zabini."
"I've actually been half-asleep during most lessons," Blake said, hoping to incite a reaction.
"Stop lying!" Zabini raged. "I've seen you in lessons! You make more notes than me!"
Either January was a fun, stress-free month for the Slytherins, and despite a lack of progress with finding Sirius Black, Blake considered it one of the best months at Hogwarts so far.
"Professor?" Blake asked Lupin on the final search before the full moon.
"Hmm?"
"I was wondering if we could have a duel."
Both Lupin and Greengrass stopped suddenly, and turned to him agape. Oops. Was I too direct?
"I mean, you don't have to," he added hastily. "I just wanted to see where I was, y'know?"
Lupin studied the expression on his face.
"Well, Blake, as your Defence teacher, I can assure you that you're perfectly fine for Defence - I daresay you're arguably one of the best third-years I've ever seen, and-"
He hesitated for a moment.
"I was in a year with people who were exceedingly talented," he said in a measured tone. Sirius Black.
"I appreciate that, Professor, but I really want to see where I measure up to a trained adult," he responded. "You were in the Order of the Phoenix, weren't you? I want to see how I'd fare in real combat - obviously non-lethal," he added hastily again.
Lupin looked at him, as if studying him.
"Apologies, Professor," Greengrass said quickly. "Renshaw's overstepping his-"
"Not at all, Daphne," Lupin interrupted smoothly, eyes still on Blake's. "Very well, Blake. I'll be free at around 9pm on Thursday evening - does that work for you?"
Blake considered. "Any earlier?"
"I'm afraid not," Lupin shook his head. "I'm teaching someone else, you see."
Who could he be teaching?
"Harry?" Blake immediately guessed. Noticing the look of surprise on Lupin's face, he continued, knowing he'd been right.
"The Patronus Charm, right?"
"Yes," Lupin said, still slightly miffed that Blake had realised.
"Could I learn too, please?" Blake asked quickly. Seeing the look of surprise on Lupin's face, he explained.
"I still can't produce a full, corporeal Patronus."
Lupin sighed.
"Blake, producing a-"
"People my age can do it!" he said fiercely, although he didn't dare give away the fact that it was Greengrass he was talking about.
"I spoke to Professor McGonagall about it - apparently, the problem is something to do with my memories. I confirmed it with my mum too, but I'm not sure how to proceed," he continued, ignoring what his mother had told him.
Lupin sighed.
"Very well, Blake." He turned to Greengrass.
"Will you be joining us, Daphne?"
"If that's okay, Professor," she said politely. Blake fought the urge to roll his eyes. Stop acting like a princess, he thought. I literally saw you fight multiple Dementors. There's no need for you to join us, you nosey little sh*t.
"Very well," Lupin said as they reached the castle. "I suppose it's better to have multiple students at once - you can all learn from each other."
The teacher and students bade each other farewell, before returning to their respective rooms. But as he fell asleep, Blake had just thought of something he wanted to do. It's no doubt useful - Sirius Black's undoubtedly using it to evade the Dementors even now, and as an unregistered, to say it would be useful in the future against Voldemort is an understatement.
It's dangerous though! a voice in his head that sounded eerily like his mother's said, but Blake shook his head anyway.
Has that ever stopped me before? No - I've made up my mind.
I'm going to become an Animagus.
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