บท 24: Hogmeade Village

Cross was eating lunch in the small lunch room, Draco was talking about how he nearly died with his arm in a sling and wrapped in bandages. Cross rolled his eyes and continued reading as he ate with one hand.

Astoria was absorbed into his story as she gasped and said "So dangerous!?" Cross choked on his food, while Hermione, Harry, and Ron chuckled at another table. Cross smacked her head and chided "Don't listen to this goof. The bird was scared.." he paused and looked at Draco before mumbling "Maybe it's because he's so ugly.."

Draco tuned green and Daphne burst out laughing, fell backwards and hitting the floor. Hermione and the other two turned to their food and laughed as well. Draco clicked his tongue and said to Astoria with a pitiful expression "You don't think I'm ugly do you?"

Astoria shook her head and Draco added "I'm more handsome than Cross, right?" the whole cafeteria went silent and the students looked at Draco with expressions of disdain. Who was this guy? Cross might be useless but there's no doubt that he is extraordinarily handsome, some of the students would even go as far to say that he was beautiful.

You had to really watch out for those students, they were dangerous. They'll do anything! Truly mad men.

Astoria looked to be in a pickle, she finally lied and said "Of course." the rest of the students boo'd and Draco felt amazing, he knew he wasn't, but what a girl! He thought he was in love! Cross shook his head and continued reading, ignoring the budding romance, this dumb little girl actually started paying more attention to Draco than him!

Unacceptable!

Draco smiled softly and started talking to Astoria more, strangely changing his tone to be gentle. Boom, that was a critical hit. Astoria blushed and they started talking, ignoring everyone else.

Cross looked at them and sighed, Daphne patted his shoulder and said "She's too far gone." Cross looked up and said sadly "There's no cure for being an idiot!" he glanced at Ron when he said that before writing something down.

Ron was offended and Hermione giggled, covering her face with her book, while Harry just chuckled as he ate.

Cross threw a paper at Draco before picking up his book and walking out of the room.

Draco read the paper and his eyes lit up.

A while later

Cross was standing in the Defense against the Dark arts classroom. There was a cabinet shaking in the middle of the room, Lupin walked around and said "Intriguing isn't it? Can any one guess what's inside?" on kid said "That's a boggart, that is!"

Lupin said "Very good! Can any one tell me what a boggart looks like?" Hermione popped into existence and answered "No one knows. Boggarts are shapeshifters, they take the form of what someone fears most. That's what makes them so ter-"

Lupin finished "Terrifying, yes. There's a very simple charm to rid the Boggarts! Let's practice it now, without wands please. Repeat after me: Ridikulus!" the class returned "Ridikulus!" Lupin nodded "Good! But this isn't enough! You really need laughter to finish it off. Let's have a volunteer, uhh Neville!"

Cross looked at Hermione next to him and said "You know, you might kill Ron like that." Hermione waved and said "Nonsense." Ron said "No, he's right, I nearly had a heart attack I did!" Hermione snorted and paid attention to Neville changing a Boggart of Snape.

Cross sighed and shook his head, she can't learn my low-key methods.

Lupin laughed at Snape, who had Neville's grandmother's clothes, as he waved "Weasley, you're next!" before putting on some music. Ron stepped up and the Boggart turned into a spider, before Ron made it have roller skates and slip on the ground.

Cross stepped up, since he was next and the Boggart was the spider for a few seconds. Cross' face was completely blank, Lupin said "You're not scared of anything?" Cross tilted his head and the Boggart changed into... Molly Weasley.

Ron shouted "Oi! That's me mum!" the Boggart came over and started cleaning Cross' face and straightening his clothes, the students were stunned. Cross stepped back and waved his wand saying "Ridikulus!"

Molly turned into a gangster, she had a leather jacket and was smoking. Cross smirked and stepped away as Hermione stepped forward, Lupin was still laughing and Ron was aghast, while Harry was laughing along with the rest of the class.

The boggart changed into.. Cross.

Cross was stunned and the class was silent, Hermione was startled and the Boggart said "You're flat." The class was completely stunned and they looked at Cross, who was also dumbfounded on the side.

Hermione glared at him, then turned to the Boggart saying "Ridikulus!" The Boggart turned into Cross with cat ears and a tail, acting like a cat, licking his hands.

Cross just had his mouth open wide in disbelief, so venomous?! Hermione smirked and walked to the side. The class chuckled secretly and the next girl walked up, the Boggart turned into a snake.

Cross looked at Hermione with his mouth open. Hermione snorted and smiled. Cross shook his head and Ron said "Oi! You're scared of my mum?" Cross answered seriously "She's very scary." Ron shook his head and said "You haven't seen angry.." Cross replied "You said that already..."

Cross looked back to the Boggart, which had turned into a Dementor for Harry. Lupin got in front of him and the Boggart changed into a full moon. Cross rubbed his chin and though that was very interesting.. A werewolf scared of the moon?

Lupin said "Ridikulus!" the moon turned into a balloon and flew around the room before Lupin threw it into the cabinet and locked it saying "Alright everyone that's enough for today! Thank you! My apologies."

The class started leaving the class, while Harry started at the cabinet in a daze.

Cross left the class, reading his book, not really bothered by the class at all. Hermione puffed her cheeks seeing Cross was still nonchalant about the Boggart, she vowed to make him flustered one day.

Cross didn't mind at all and continued back to his room. Cross teleported to the Room of Requirement, he merged with the two clones and absorbed all the practice and knowledge. He mumbled to himself and sent out the clones again, continuing their tasks, before teleporting back to his room and meditating on the lightning element.

A few days passed

Cross was in street clothes and handed a permission slip to Filtch as McGonagall said "If you don't have a signature, you're not allowed to go to Hogsmead Village." Ron and Hermione looked at Harry, who sighed and said "Have fun guys." Cross remembered that he killed Harry's aunt and said "Professor, Harry's aunt died over the summer. It's very understandable that he couldn't get his slip signed due to excessive grief. Perhaps you could bend the rules for the circumstances?"

McGonagall looked at Harry's sad look and sighed as she said "I truly cannot, my apologies Mr. Potter." she looked at Cross and said "Mind your tongue, Mr. Greengrass. That is a sensitive topic." before leaving, Cross clicked his tongue as he watched her go with his hands in his pockets.

Harry sighed and waved as they left.

Ron and Hermione waved back and Cross ignored him, this was the last time he was going to help Harry for something insignificant. The debt of killing his aunt was dealt with, now he was a free elf!

Hermione and Ron followed Cross and the group as they made their way to Hogsmead Village.

Cross felt something rub his leg and looked down to see Mrs. Norris. He picked her up and said "Did you do it?" Mrs. Norris nodded happily, Cross smiled and stroked her softly as they made their way, under Filtch's guidance.

A few dozen minutes later

They stopped at Hogsmead Village and Filtch said "Alright, be careful ye brats." Cross handed him Mrs. Norris and Filtch looked uncomfortable as he said "Hmm, Greengrass. Thanks fer helpin Mrs. Norris." Cross nodded and said "No problem."

Filtch looked around and said "Hmm. Be careful around the school. Strange things go on everywhere." Cross stopped and said seriously "I will. Thank you." Filtch nodded and awkwardly walked away.

Cross walked around the Village, he looked around at all the shops before walking along the road and pulling up a hood, putting his hands in his pockets as he walked into an alley. Hermione saw Cross disappear into an alley and frowned but kept silent.

Cross walked into the alley and spread out his strings everywhere. The strings went around the buildings and into the ground. He continued walking through the town through the alleys before coming across a dilapidated house.

Selena poked her head out of the bag, and slithered out to Cross' shoulder before slipping into his hood and hiding herself only golden snake eyes visible. Cross walked into the house and dangled his right hand out of his pocket, the only thing visible in his hood was his glowing red eyes, the red was just black.

Cross dragged his hand and strings by his side, scanning the entire house. He heard a noise and whipped his arm to the right, strings shot out, digging into the wall like drills. Selena glared at the wall and was ready to petrify whatever came out.

Cross pulled his hand back and tore the wall out.

A black wolf snarled behind the wall, Cross spread out his fingers, his face still not visible, as 5 different colored strings shot out and sped towards the wolf.

The wolf swiped his claws at the strings while jumping at Cross, who jumped back and took his other hand out of his pocket, hiding it behind his back letting loose invisible strings into the ground.

Cross twisted his other hand and the colored strings spun together forming a multi-colored spike before shooting at the wolf from behind. The wolf jumped to the side, before getting caught by invisible strings coming out of the ground.

Cross revealed his other hand and twitched his fingers, the strings blew out from under the ground and tied up the wolf's legs before lopping around the wolf's neck, the twisting spike zoomed and stopped right before the wolf's head, merely millimeters from its skull.

The invisible strings on it's neck tightened and drops of blood hit the floor. Selena was impressed and watched the wolf like a hawk... or snake.

Cross spoke in a hoarse voice "Why are you here, Sirius Black." The wolf was surprised and morphed back into his human form, still tied up. Cross split the spike into 5 different colored spikes and they hovered mere inches from Sirius' head.

He moved his other hand and the invisible strings drilled into Sirius' clothes, taking out his wand and bringing it to Cross. Selena poked her head out and gently bit on the wand, threatening to snap it in half.

Cross looked at the silent Sirius and remained in control. Sirius sighed and said "Are all Wizards nowadays so vicious?" Cross wasn't amused and said "Answer me." as the strings around his neck tightened, drawing more blood.

Sirius chuckled and said "Well, you see. That is top secret." Cross replied "You have the notion that I will not kill you? I have to say you shouldn't become a gambler." as he was about to clench his fist and end everything.

Sirius let out a breath, feeling the strings getting tighter, he knew this boy was serious. He said "I'm trying to find someone." Cross said hoarsely "Harry Potter, I presume?" Sirius unexpectedly shook his head and said "No. A rat. Goes by the name Peter Pettigrew."

Cross frowned and said "Missing a finger? A rat Animagus? Buck teeth, even looks like a rat in human form?" Sirius was surprised and said "You know him?! Tell me where he is quickly!" the strings tightened and Cross said "Remember you situation, Black. What do you want with the rat?"

Sirius said hatefully "The rat is a traitor! He killed my god son's parents!" Cross frowned, he seemed to have meddled in a big event. This wasn't good. Cross said "And who is that?" Sirius answered "Harry Potter. He is my god son."

Cross nodded and thought about it, it seemed there's also a conspiracy here as well. Cross ignored the revelation and said coldly "What is your relationship with Albus Dumbledore." Sirius asked in confusion "The headmaster? Why would y-" the strings tightened and Cross uttered in a tone as cold as ice "Answer me, Black!"

Sirius said "No relation." Cross frowned and said "I don't believe you." Sirius said "There really is no relations!" Cross sneered and retorted "And you just so happened to be in Hogsmeade, near Hogwarts. Dumbledore lord over the entire area around, I don't believe you haven't come into contact with him. Even the Dark Lord wouldn't directly come anywhere near Hogwarts if he wasn't sure Dumbledore couldn't sense him."

Cross tilted his head and added "Plus, I don't believe you truly escaped Azkaban on your own. The Dementors would snuff you out like a candle in the wind. This is your last chance, Black." Sirius' face was gloomy and he said "I am part of Dumbledore's hidden army to fight against Voldemort. The rat is one of Voldemort's followers, being the headmaster, Dumbledore cannot take action therefore I have become the executioner, not that I mind of course. I hate that filthy rat."

Cross frowned, something wasn't making sense, who was the mastermind behind the school plot? He asked "This rat.. Is he capable of reaching his hands out to the students of Hogwarts?" Sirius was confused but shook his head and said "Impossible, neither him nor Voldemort would dare to reach into the students of the school."

Cross frowned and flicked his finger, a white glowing string slowly penetrated into Sirius' head. Cross immediately backed out and his expression was grave. Sirius was confused and felt something was wrong, so he asked "What?"

Cross kept silent and took back the 5 spikes as he stretched out his palm, touching Sirius' head as he said "Keep calm. I shall not harm you." before speaking in Elven "Ultimate cleanse!" a golden green aura swept through Sirius, washing away everything in his mind and on his clothes.

Cross' eyes turned pure gold as he chanted "Nature's Protection! Condensed!" a golden light shone on Sirius' head and sank into his mind, forming a golden barrier, that slowly disappeared, turning invisible.

Cross backed off and threw up the 5 spikes as he said "Who are you?" Sirius's expression was unreadable as he said coldly "Sirius Black." Cross nodded and said "How do you feel?" Sirius' face turned grave as he said angrily "I'm pissed." Cross nodded and took his spikes back as he said "I don't want any part of the schemes at the school. I hope you can leave me out of it. That barrier is not impenetrable. Tread carefully, Mr. Sirius Black."

Cross pointed his finger and said in Elven "Selective Obliviation." his finger glowed white and his figure, voice, Selena, and strings disappeared. Only leaving the words he said along with the barrier.

Cross threw Sirius his wand back and dispelled the strings before teleporting out of the house, back to an alley, leaving Sirius there with his eyes closed and a grave expression on his face.