Chapter 6

Grace who was watching closely saw Harry’s Boggart turn into something like a Dementor or something more, which made her took a step back unconsciously.

She saw how Lupin quickly shielded Harry from that thing. The Boggart popped into a small balloon and went back into the wardrobe.

Although everything happened so quickly that even Harry didn’t see what it was she still saw it for a brief moment.

After class she noticed that Lupin whispered to Harry, and if her memory was right, this should be the time when Lupin invited Harry to his office. She walked slowly, letting everyone go first, then she turned around to look for Lupin.

*knock* *knock*

The door opened

“Professor,” Grace greeted as she entered.

“Grace, do you need something?” Lupin asked as he put down his quill.

“Uhmm… Professor, I would like to apologize for being rude in class earlier,” she started, as she really didn’t mean it.

” It’s nothing.” Lupin raise his head from his papers,” It’s natural to lose composture from time to time. Alright, I can tell you came here for something else.”

Grace felt embarrassed. ” Professor, I really came here for some other reason, but it was still in my plan to apologize,” she tried to explain.

“I understand, Grace. What would you like to talk about?”

“…Harry’s Boggart, Professor.. Although I didn’t see all of it closely, I still catch a glimpse of it.”

Lupin frowned and looked a little worried. ” You saw from a distance?”

“Yes, Professor.. I have a pretty sharp eyesight and hearing so I still saw it even for a moment.. I’m not just sure if it’s Dementor or something else,” Grace frown ,” Dumbledore warned us at the beginning of the school year about Dementors, so I looked for more information about them and learned that there’s a spell against them.”

” You mean?” Lupin stood up and walk around his table

” Yes, Professor.. I want to learn it,”

” It’s not that easy,” Lupin said while thinking if he should teach Grace with Harry

” Professor, I’m not afraid of hard work. I’m just afraid that I won’t learn it in time when it’s needed.” Grace showed her firm stance.

Lupin laughed and nodded. ” A Gryffindor indeed! Alright, I’ll teach you. See me again the day after tomorrow after your last class in the afternoon. For now, take this book and study it.” Lupin gave Grace a well-worn leather-bound book.

” This is?” Grace was confused as she looked at the book.

“There are more spells you can learn from that book. About the Patronus, I will guide you personally. You should go to your next class now.”

Grace smiled wider with excitement. “Yes, Professor! Thank you very much.” Then she ran outside.

Lupin laughed and shook his head.

Grace stopped after some distance away then called out a name. ” Winky!”

Winky suddenly popped in front of Grace. ” Miss!”

Grace smiled and kindly asked Winky, ” Winky, I’ll trouble you for a moment. Can you send me near the Potions class, in a corridor where no one is around? I’m about to be late.”

” No trouble, Miss! Winky is happy to help!” Then she touched Grace’s sleeve and they popped up in the dungeon just a few steps away.

” Thank you, Winky. I’ll have to go now.” Grace gently patted Winky’s head before going inside the class.

Winky smiled and quickly disappeared to return to the kitchen.

Grace patted her chest as she just made it in time. She sat next to Hermione then talked to her.

” I’m not late, am I?” Grace asked Hermione

” No, there are still five minutes. Where did you go?”

” I just asked Professor Lupin about something.”

” I see.” Hermione looked at Malfoy then whispered, ” Be careful later. We heard earlier that Malfoy wants to complain to Snape about what happened in Defense Against the Dark Arts, and he might make up stories about you too, since he’s still angry about what happened in Care of Magical Creatures.”

Grace nodded, then saw Snape about to enter. She put her index finger on her lips to stop Hermione from talking.

As usual, Snape gave Harry a hard time. However, something had changed, he would most of the time look at Grace and ask her questions about potions, then let her do the work.

Thankfully, Grace always managed to answer correctly and make the potion, so Snape had no choice but to give points to Gryffindor. His face was so dark that he look scarier.

After class, Harry and the others were obviously happy about what happened. They wanted to talk to Grace but she was already gone.

” She’s like a ghost, she would just suddenly disappears after class,” Ron said.” It’s scary,”

Hermione felt a little disappointed. She thought she could finally have someone to talk to more but Grace would always disappear.

Ron shook his head. He didn’t know why Hermione always looked for Grace when they weren’t even close in the first place. “Harry, let’s go to Hogsmeade this Halloween!”

” I’ll have to see Professor Lupin first,” Harry part way with his friend.

Hermione went to the library while Ron join the other Gryffindors.

*

Grace decided to visit Dumbledore after having some free time, however, when she got there, she remember that she needs to say the password which she didn’t know.

Thinking it over, she decided to gamble.‘ I can’t waste my time and effort for nothing, I might as well give it a try’

“Sweet Cockroach!” Nothing happened. “Chiz Wizi!” Grace started to feel embarrassed and tried again. “Sherbet Lemon!”

‘Aahhh! Saying silly words in front of a huge door feels so embarrassing!’ She looked around to make sure no one was watching her. ” Okay, one last try. If it doesn’t work, I’ll just leave,” she said to herself.

“Dumbledore!” Grace shouted. To her surprise, the door opened.

When Grace opened the door, she was met with Dumbledore’s wide smile. ” Good job, Grace! Hahahaha!”

” Y-you’ve been watching me?!” Grace’s eyes widen her face turned red and she almost wanted to run away.

Seeing she was shy, Dumbledore decided to change the subject. ” Would you like some? Sherbet Lemon?” He pushed the jar towards Grace.

Grace knew Dumbledore was doing it on purpose, so she took a handful aggressively.

” How about you eat one?” Dumbledore gestured

Grace didn’t actually like candy. The only time she had eaten any was when a classmate gave her one in elementary school, but her teeth ached that night. After that experience, she never ate candy again. She regretted taking so many out of embarrassment, now with Dumbledore encouraging her, she could only bite the bullet as she would not admit that her action was so childish.

She slowly unwrapped one. When she was about to eat it, she hesitated.” ..Won’t my teeth ache if I eat one?” Grace asked  her concern.

Dumbledore was amused by Grace, she obviously didn’t like candy but was willing to try it. He couldn’t hold back his laughter at her question. ” No, rest assured, child, it won’t affect your teeth. Also, if your teeth do ache later, you can ask Miss Granger for help.”

Grace thought that made sense. She closed her eyes as if ready for whatever would happen. After eating one, she tasted it and was surprised, it was good.

She looked at Dumbledore with shining eyes. “It tastes good!”

Dumbledore hadn’t expected Grace to actually like it. Seeing how she enjoyed it made him think about how Grace had been living. He could tell she was a serious, smart, and considerate kid, but seeing how she acted when alone, how easily embarrassed she was, or how much a simple candy affected her, made him realize that no matter how capable a student was outside, they were still a child at heart.

” I’m glad it’s to your liking, Grace. Now shall we talk about what you came for?” Dumbledore asked, while taking out another jar of candy, this one was different. ” Here, you can take this one. It’s Acid Pops. You can try one first if you want. If you like it too, then take the whole jar, I have more here anyway.”

Grace dropped her formalities and just took one Acid Pop. It had a very different taste, and there was a strange feeling on her tongue, but it was fun. She took the whole jar just like what Dumbledore advice without embarrassment then proceed to talk about her real purpose for coming.

” Headmaster–”

” Dumbledore.”

” Dumbledore, it’s about Winky.”

” Winky? What’s wrong?”

” I went to the kitchen before and met Winky.” Grace started as she recall Winky’s situation before,” She kept crying because of her previous master, and when I thought about how her previous master treated her, I felt sorry for her. So I would like to ask your permission, is it possible for me to take Winky?”

” You want Winky? hmm.. as long as Winky agrees.” Dumbledore quickly summoned her. “Let’s ask her opinion. Winky!”

*pop*

” Headmaster! Miss Grace!” Winky greeted excitedly.

” Hmm… Winky finally stopped crying?” Dumbledore asked, seeing how lively she was.

” Winky is happy now! Miss Grace said Winky is a good house-elf!”

” Then do you agree to be part of her family? You will serve her personally and live with her, she will be your new master.”

Winky’s eyes widened. She looked at Grace with teary eyes and cried, ” Winky will serve Miss Grace! Winky is happy to have a new family! Winky has a new master now!” Winky was emotional.

Grace looked at Winky as if she were a child who had finally found her family. She thought about her own family too, and couldn’t help but bend down and hug Winky.

” We’ll be family from now on. It’s just that you’ll have to stay here at Hogwarts for the time being until I find a house where we can live.”

” Winky understands, Miss Grace.”

” It seems you really like Winky.”

” Yes.”

” Alright, that’s settled. I will keep paying her a salary while she works in the kitchen as usual, until you find a new place to stay.”

” Thank you, Dumbledore.”

“Winky, is that okay with you?” Dumbledore asked.

” Winky is willing to take a money now!”

” Really? That’s good! Hahaha. Why are you willing now? You always got angry before whenever I gave you one.”

” Because Winky understands now,” Winky said proudly. ” Miss says she would feel uncomfortable if Winky serves her without Winky getting paid. Winky wants to serve Miss Grace, so Winky is willing to take money!”

” Hahaha, very good, Winky.”

Grace smiled helplessly. ” I’ll teach her little by little to understand these things, for now, it’s good that she’s happy.”

Dumbledore agreed. ” That’s good.”

” Thank you, Dumbledore. We’ll take our leave now.”

“Alright, visit me again anytime.”