AN: I would like to say thanks to all my group members
on the Third-Floor Corridor for taking such an interest
in where this story is headed and for putting up with me
for not getting chapters out like other writers do. I
guess they understand that some good things take time.
\:D/ the disclaimer is in the first chapter, so please
take note of that.
Chapter Twelve
Thanksgiving
The silence Ron was giving off continued for only a
brief time due to a series of letters from his parents
and the Nelsons. Ron kept his letters from his family a
secret and Harry had a feeling he had asked for some "girl
advice" from his father. Heather had not kept her letters secret,
especially when she opened her letter from her parents and
screamed. "OH MERLIN!"
"What's wrong?" Ron asked now concerned as almost
everyone in the room was looking at her as if she had
grown a second head.
"I can't believe they did that!" she exclaimed in no great detail.
"What?" Harry asked and Heather handed him the letter
from her parents. Harry took it and began to read it so Ron,
Hermione, and himself could understand what was going on.
My dearest Heather,
I am writing to tell you to come
Home for Christmas break.
"Well, that is not completely horrible." Hermione
commented.
"Read on."
I know you just met your brother and
made some new friends, so we are
inviting them and their families to our
annual Christmas party.
"A party! Bloody Hell!" Ron's eyes shot big
in surprise.
"That is not all of it, read on."
I have sent out the invitations and
the date is set for the weekend after
Christmas on New Years Eve. I know
this is rather short notice, but I am sure
you can make the necessary arrangements.
We of course will allow you to stay with your
Brother and friends for the week of Christmas
And then fly over with them for the party.
They will, of course, stay with us at the house
Because you know how much your father
And I enjoy entertaining guest and not to
Mention, you can show your friends
Around the sites of Chicago.
Lots of love,
Mom
Xoxoxox
"What is so horrible about that?" Harry seemed
confused on what the problem was.
"I cannot believe it!" Heather moaned as she
laid her head on her folded arms, which were on the table.
"I cannot believe they are going to do this to me! Not to
mention you guys and your families!"
"What is wrong, Heather? Stop being so dramatic!"
Harry was growing frustrated and a little annoyed with his
sister's indirect explanation of what was wrong.
Heather sighed and looked up for the first time
since she began having her fit. "Every year my parents
throw this big Christmas party for all of their friends
and relatives. It's boring and it is a major snob fest.
I cannot believe my parents want you guys exposed to it!"
"So, simply tell them we have other plans. That's
all." Hermione tried to solve her problem.
"I can't do that."
"Why not?"
"Because if we don't go, they will be deeply offended."
"Oh,"
"And besides, it would look good for Ron's
dad to meet my father since my father is the Secretary
of Magic. As you know that is the equivalent of the Minister
of Magic here and besides, Cornelius Fudge goes every year,
so if Ron's dad goes they would have to eventually meet up."
Heather commented as she picked at her meal. "And my parents
really want to meet all of you guys, especially Harry. My mom
and dad went to school with the Nelsons and they really want to
meet the "boy-who-lived"."
"I guess then we can do nothing but to accept
the invitations." Harry and the rest of them looked toward
the ceiling to spot several official looking owls fly into
the Great Hall toward several different people. Many of
them flew to former members of Sifto-Salt house and a few
of them were flown over to the Professor's table (Professors
Dumbledore, Gaddis, McGonagall, Shift, and Snape). Then four
snowy owls flew over to where Ron, Harry, Hermione, and Ginny
claimed. The birds left as quickly as they came, not before
they delivered the white envelopes. Harry looked as his letter,
his very first piece of mail from another culture.
Inside, he found his invitation to Heather's adoptive parents
annual Christmas ball. The invitation matched the envelope in
color, but the invitation was written in black ink and had a
decorative silver dove that had been enchanted to fly around
the invitee's head.
Along with the invitation, Harry found a letter
from Dr. Nelson explaining the procedure of the party.
Harry,
I don't really know what to say to you first.
There are so many things I want to say and ask you that
I don't know where to begin. I guess, for now, I
Should get on with what is needed to be said and wait
until later to figure out what I want to say when we
see each other in December.
By now, I don't know if Heather has told you
or not, but every year my husband, Roger and I hold
an annual Christmas party for our family and friends
at our home. Please accept our invitation to come stay
with us for the rest of Christmas break except the week
before when you and Heather will be staying with the Weasleys.
Molly Weasley and I have been keeping in close
contact since Heather told me about you, Ron, and Hermione
and I must confess I would like all of you, including the
Weasleys and the Grangers to come stay with us. Although,
the Grangers have already sent their condolences due to a
dental convention in France in which they already made
arrangements to attend.
Now, this is a formal event, so please bring your
dress robes from school and make sure to bring your invitation
and letter with you for the security measures on our gates will
not let you entrance other wise.
Magically,
Dr. Virginia Nelson M.M.D.
Later after lunch, Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione
reclined in the Gryffindor common room, responding
to their invitations. Harry pulled out the parchment
he intended to write his response on. He wrote his
response with the eagle feather quill Hermione had
bought them one year for Christmas.
To Mr. and Dr. Nelson,
I am writing you to accept your invitation
to attend your Christmas ball. I look forward to meeting
you again, since we only met briefly a couple of months
ago in Dumbledore's office.
-Harry James Potter.
When Ron, Harry, Hermione, and Heather went
down to dinner after the four of them had sent off Ron,
Harry, and Hermione's responses, they did not find the
house tables set up for dinner. Instead, they found the
tables set up for a banquet. The four of them were guided
over to a table where they were joined later by Mika Salena,
India Jade, Neville Longbottom, Ginny Weasley, Andrew Ambrose,
and Blair Blake.
"Does anyone know what this is all about?" Ginny
Weasley asked looking at Ron, Harry, Hermione, and Heather
since the four of them were prefects and head boy and head girl.
"Yeah, of all people, you guys should know." Mika tossed
toward the four of them.
"We have no clue what this is about." Heather admitted.
"We know just as much as you guys do about this." Harry shrugged.
"Well, it must be important if they are not using the
house tables and are using the fine linens." India took her cloth
napkin and placed it on to her lap.
Once all the tables were filled to their capacity,
Professors Gaddis and Dumbledore came to the head table
and waited for the rest of the Professors to arrive. Joining
them this evening was: McGonagall, Snape, Shift, Hagrid, Moon,
Wells, Flitwick, and Phillips. When all the professors were
seated, Professor Dumbledore stood and the room went silent.
"Good evening students. Most of you are probably wondering why
the house tables are not set up this evening. Professor Gaddis
has politely informed me there is a national holiday in America
today. Today is Thanksgiving Day in America and today we will
celebrate this day with our American brothers and sisters.
(AN: and for Heather and Harry, this is literal.) Today we
will celebrate this day of thanks, for what we have, and
remember those who have passed on."
Professor Gaddis stood up next to Dumbledore
and continued the Headmaster of Hogwarts thoughts.
"Tonight, while you eat, we will be reading the lists
of students who were killed in fight against Lord Voldermort."
After a few dozen shutters and a couple of screams, the
Professor continued. "The Chicago Institute of Witchcraft and
Wizardry would like to announce an open house during
Christmas break to dedicate a new monument to honor those
whose names we read tonight. Everyone will be able to go
into all the new buildings, and go into the dormitories
for refreshments."
"I hope most of you will attend this event. For now,
I will allow Professor Celestial Moon, deputy headmistress
of the Chicago Institute to read off the Memorial roll call
for her school." As Professor Dumbledore finished, he and
Professor Gaddis claimed their seats once more and a
traditional American feast appeared before them on the tables.
A full roasted turkey, green bean casserole, yeast rolls
with butter, cranberry salad, stuffing, mashed potatoes
and gravy, Relish and cheese trays, and for dessert: Sweet
Potato and Pumpkin pies with Whipped Cream.
Professor Celestial Moon stood up, where she
sat next to the headmaster of her school and walked over
to a podium in which Harry had not realized was there.
The Professor's robes glinted in the light as she pulled
a long roll of parchment out from her sleeve. Moaning and
groaning came from the direction of several tables in the
audience. She looked up and she noticed the students who
grew annoyed with the list being as long as it was. "Don't
worry; it is not as long as you think it is. I just made
it look organized and nice for a keepsake. It also has
anti-aging spells for it to look nice for ages to come
because we are going to be putting it on display in the
Student Union so none of our students will forget what
happened this year and why we are in the fight against
Lord Voldermort."
The Professor rolled her steel-blue eyes as
most of the students shuddered and or screamed once
more. Hannah Abbott fainted, but was quickly revived
once Terry Boot threw water on her face. Professor
Moon tossed her salty brown hair over her shoulder and
read the list starting with Sifto-Salt house. "Bo Sashi,
Thomas Chandler, David Dexter, Hector Grey, Nova Halona…"
Harry looked over at his sister and saw a tear roll
down her cheek. She either did not care or she did not notice
it because she did not make an attempt to wipe it away.
"…Andrea Jacqueline, Edenda Lana, Alexander Lesley,
Sandra Miner, Ninetta Nara, Opal Opera…"
Heather finally noticed she was crying and wiped
away the tear with her hand, but it was useless because
more took the place of the one she wiped away. She took
her napkin and dried them with it. Harry watched as she
tried to calm herself down, but it was no use.
"…Sima Peacock, Bruce Pentwater, Alexander Tora,
Rachel Wido, Kimberly Wyatt, and Nora Zita." Professor
Moon glanced over in the direction of Heather and took a
breath to move on to the other houses of the Chicago Institute.
Heather, Mika, and India wiped away their final tears
as much as they could. Andrew and Blair consoled them, or
at least tried to. It was impossible to bring them back, but
Harry had a gut feeling he wanted to learn how to if it meant
never seeing his sister crying again. As soon as the Chicago
Institute lists were finished being read, the American students
sang their school song in the tune of their national anthem.
For the hurt of men
We wizards stand
Against the dark arts
And the evils there of!
That's why we go to the
Chicago Institute.
To Learn and to change
From the darkest of ways!
For the hears are so pure
And each student is sure
To live with the muggles
Harmoniously!
With the Institute we stand
And our loyalties lie!
Over land of the free
And the home of the brave!
There was a short round of applause with tears in
the eyes of the Chicago Institute students. Professor Moon
took her seat and Professor McGonagall took the spot light,
placing her glasses on her nose. "There are not as many
students from Hogwarts as there was the Chicago Institute,
but here is the memorial roll call for Hogwarts…" Professor
McGonagall named a few names Harry was only briefly familiar
with and then she came to one in which he was very familiar
with: "Cedric Diggory".
Harry thought about Cho Chang and what she probably
would have done. "Probably cry and run out of the room." The
list carried on and Harry took the moment to look over at
Hermione. Her cinnamon eyes were filled with tears and one of
them betrayed her and fell down her cheek. Harry knew how she
felt; he hadn't gotten over Cedric's death but at least he was
able to carry on with life. Cho had not been for the rest of her
stay at Hogwarts, in fact, she transferred schools not too long
after. He smiled at her and wiped her tear away with a smile.
She smiled back at Harry and took his hand. He placed
it in hers and Harry took her hand, to kiss it sweetly. "I love
you." He whispered to her.
"I love you too, Harry James…"
"…James Potter, Lily Evans-Potter…" Professor McGonagall
took that moment to look over in the direction of the mentioned
son and daughter. She caught Harry's glance and she smiled at
him, reassuringly. He smiled back at her, telling her that he
would be alright, and she quickly went back to her list.
After the list ended, applause rang through out the
hall. Professor Dumbledore took her place and led the Hogwarts
students in their school song. "Everyone, pick your favorite
tune and sing along."
"Is he for real?" Heather asked her brother. Harry
paused from his singing to answer her question. He nodded and
together he and began to sing where he had left off. "You've
go to be joking!" She caught his glance and she smiled at him
reassuringly. He smiled back at her, telling her it was not
as crazy as it seemed and to join in.
"No, Heath. He is very serious." Harry finished his
version of the school song. "I've learned over the years;
no matter what is going on, take Professor Dumbledore very
seriously."
Dinner finished not much later with tired eyes and
full bellies; the students of Hogwarts began to disburse to
their respective common rooms.
"You ready to go?" Harry asked his sister.
"No, I think I am going to hang out here for a while.
You guys go ahead, I'll catch up."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I am sure. Go ahead and I'll catch up." Heather
watched as he left with Ron and Hermione. Heather sighed, once
they had left, and walked out of the room. She found herself
headed towards the lake like she had with Ron the night of
the Halloween ball.
"Ron, why do I have these feelings for you? I shouldn't
be having these feelings for you especially since we only just
met a short time ago." Heather asked out loud to herself as she
sat down under a tree next to lake. She had done this several
times before when she needed to clear her thoughts and maybe that
is why she felt so drawn to it now, but every time she had come to
this tree to think about Ron; she came back with more questions
than she had answers.
Heather looked out at the lake and it rippled in
the cool November breeze. "Why can't I just have someone
tell me what I should do? That would make life so much
easier!" She exclaimed to no one in particular.
She shivered, it would be dark soon and she would
no longer be kept warm by the sun's rays. She also knew she
should head inside the castle soon because the setting sun
meant the nocturnal beasts of the Forbidden Forrest could be
out; wanting to find them dinner. Heather collected herself to
head back up to the safety of the castle.
She did not get too far away from the tree once she
stopped at the sound of a voice from behind her. "Well, well,
well, if it isn't Ms. Scar head." A nasty feminine voice floated
into Heather's ears. Heather knew who it was before she even
turned around to face her.
"What do you want Danielle?"
"I'm here to finish what I started the other day
before that mangy professor got into the way." Danielle
had her wand readied and before Heather could utter a counter
curse; Danielle sent as spell at her and suddenly all Heather
saw was darkness.
*****
Ron paced the floor in worry. It was nearly midnight
and his "girl of his dreams" had not returned to the safety
of the common room and was pacing a whole in the floor of
the common room.
Hermione, being much more practical, reclined in an
armchair and read Harry's copy "Which Owl" for the thousandth
time. "I'm sure she just got side tracked, Ron. She's fine
and not to mention able to take care of herself."
"It's nearly midnight, Hermione. I am going to go
out looking for her." Harry disappeared into the head boy
and girl common room and came back with his invisibility
cloak and the Marauders' map. "Anyone want to come with?"
he asked, knowing full well what the two of them were
going to say.
"I'll go." Ron jumped at the thought.
"Well then I might as well go, too. Some one has
to keep the two of you out of trouble. I'll go, but I am
going to tell you that I am sure she is fine."
"You don't know that Hermione. You dropped
Divination in third year remember?" Ron seemed to think this
was a matter of extreme importance to find her.
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." Harry
tapped his wand on the Marauders' map and it opened up. They
looked at all the floors of the castle and did not find her
name and Ron to become frantic.
"Try outside by the lake. She goes there often to
think." Hermione rolled her eyes at Ron's hysterics. They
checked the map regarding the new information and again Hermione
had been correct.
"Come on! Let's go!" Ron grabbed the invisibility cloak
from the floor where Harry had dropped it a few minutes before
to get a better grip on the map. Ron placed it around the three
of them and guided them outside.
"I don't see her!" Ron was still frantic to find her,
even though Hermione knew where she was at. The trio made it
down the corridors of Hogwarts fairly easily, with not too many
problems with avoiding certain caretakers and his cat. Once they
had made it on to the grounds, they began their search for their
missing friend.
"Where is she?" Ron grew more frantic (if that were
possible) as his search for Heather became more and more important.
The three of them searched the school grounds until Ron found her
lying under their tree by the lake.
"See, Ron, she's just fine." Hermione said as the three of
them stood close enough to where they could see her, but not close
enough to disturb her. "She just fell asleep."
"We should go wake her up and bring her inside. She's going
to catch a cold out here." Harry commented.
"Guys, I don't think she's sleeping!" As Ron said this, he
bolted out from underneath the invisibility cloak to be by her side.
Harry and Hermione followed suite, and quickly found Ron's comment
had been accurate.
Harry checked for a pulse and heaved a sigh of relief once
he had found one. "Hermione, go inside and find Professor McGonagall.
I think Heather was attacked. Come on, Ron. We need to get her to
to the hospital wing." Harry pulled out his wand and muttered the spell.
"Locomotor mortis!"
Once Harry and Ron reached the hospital wing with Heather's
lifeless form, Madame Pomfrey rushed to revive the girl. A few more
minutes later Hermione finally arrived with not just Professor
McGonagall, but with Professors Gaddis, Shift, and Dumbledore as well.
The first one to speak was the Chicago Institute's headmaster. "What
happened? Who did this?"
"I am sure, Headmaster Gaddis, that once the child is revived
we will get the answers we seek." Professor Dumbledore spoke very calmly,
considering the situation. A trait that seemed annoying to both Harry and
Ron. Professor Dumbledore turned to the other three Professors. "It must
be late. The three of you must return to your quarters and rest. I will
stay with her."
"What about the children?" Madame Pomfrey asked as she
administered the cure for Heather's state.
"I don't think I will be able to sleep with my sister is here."
Harry found a spot next to Heather and took her hand. The other
three professors left without another word.
"Neither can I." Ron went over to her and took her other hand.
"Well, I'm not going back up there if the two of you are not."
Hermione stood by Harry and placed her hand upon his shoulder.
Madame Pomfrey rolled her eyes at the four extra people who would
be joining her this evening. She knew it was going to be a long night for
all the occupants in the room, especially for Heather.
*****
Two days later Ron laid his head against the wall, next to the
bed in which his best friend's sedated sister laid. His eyes were shut
to grab a nap while Heather continued not responding to the treatments.
He, Harry and Hermione had taken shifts to get some sleep and eat. Both of
which Ron had not received much of as of lately. Since it was the weekend,
they did not have to worry much about missing classes for the time
being. The three of the knew; however, if Heather did not wake up soon,
they would be needed to find out ways not missing too many of
their classes.
Suddenly, he felt someone shaking him and when Ron
opened his eyes to see who it was. He found it was Hermione
standing in front of him. "Hey, Ron. Why don't you go and get
some sleep." Hermione asked him.
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"Remember how you, Harry, and Heather were having those
nightmares?"
"We still are, but Madame Pomfrey is giving us something.
Why? You having them now, too?"
"Yeah."
"I'm sure Madame..." Hermione was interrupted by Ron who
of which continued with his thoughts.
"...but mine are different then what yours have been. Or
what at least is going on in them."
"What's going on in your dreams?"
"Harry and I in a different room than the ones you guys
suggested in the beginning of it. We're fighting death eaters and
we do a really good job of it, too. Once we took care of them, we
hear you and Heather scream. We run a room, the one in which you
describe in your dreams and not too much soon after, I wake up."
"Once Heather gets feeling better, we should probably talk
to Professor Dumbledore to see if he knows anymore on the
situation." Hermione took a moment to glance in Heather's
direction. There had not been much improvement with her condition
with in the past couple of days, ever since she had been brought
to the hospital wing. "Alright, if you won't go and take a nap,
then I will join you." Hermione grabbed a seat on Heather's bed
and gave Ron a good look-over. Ron's normally bright red hair
dulled in the sunlight. His eyes also did not have the same
sparkle as they normally did. He looked worn with his uniform,
of which it looked as if he had not bothered to change, was
wrinkled and his face, now turned downward, was full of worry.
Heather let out a moan, then gave a small sigh. Ron
looked at her, but it was not a spectacular sign. She had
emitted sounds before; she just did not wake from her going-on
three day nap. Ron placed his hand on her face to comfort her.
He caressed it lovingly and she calmed down. Ron smiled at her
response.
Suddenly, Heather's deep brown eyes opened and she moaned
again. She glanced at the two occupants of the room, but her
first words were of her brother. "Where's Harry?"
"He's getting something to eat." It was Hermione who
answered her question. "How are you doing?"
"I feel like I was ran over by a ragging Hippogriff."
Heather put her hand to head to try to make the pounding in her
head stop. "What day is it? How long have I been out for?"
"About two days." Ron answered. "And it scared me."
"It scared all of us." Harry's voice floated through their
ears. Upon turning toward Harry's voice, the three of them turned
to see not only Harry standing in the door way, but Professor
Dumbledore as well.
"I see you decided to join us once again, here in the
mortal world." the professor kept a light note to his voice, so
he did not sound upset or sarcastic. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I was telling Ron and Hermione; I feel like I was
ran over by a ragging Hippogriff." When she said this, she tried to
sit up in her bed, but Ron pushed her back down.
"You probably shouldn't be doing that so soon. Your body
has been through a lot in the past couple of days." Ron explained.
"Do you remember what happened? Who attacked you?"
Professor Dumbledore asked her, wanting to get the student who
attacked her the punishment they deserve.
"Yeah, I was sitting out by the lake and when I turned
to go back inside, Danielle attacked me."
"Danielle MacNeal?" Hermione asked, growing
uncharacteristically irritated. Heather nodded as she closed her
eyes and swallowed.
"Do you have any idea why Miss MacNeal would do something
like this?" Dumbledore asked Heather, but Ron answered for her.
"Danielle and Heather rival almost as bad as Harry and
Malfoy."
"Alright everyone. Get out! She needs her rest." Madame
Pomfrey ushered the visitors out of the room.
"I will discuss with Professor Gaddis the punishment in
which Danielle should receive." Professor Dumbledore told Harry as
he walked out of the Hospital wing with the two boys. "Whatever the
punishment, gentleman, I promise you she will be dealt with."
"Thank you, Professor. We appreciate it." Ron and
Harry stopped a little ways down the hallway with the headmaster.
"I'm sure the two of you need to get back to your
studies." Once Professor Dumbledore mentioned this, Harry
realized for the first time that Hermione was not with them.
"Where's Hermione?"
"She probably went to go do her homework or
tutor Dudley." Ron rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, Probably. Let's go find Dudley before
she gets to him. Who better than his own cousin to tutor
him in Defense Against the Dark Arts or flying?"
*****
It was not her boyfriend's cousin of who she
was after. No this one time she could not turn to her books
to quench her anger. All Hermione knew was the person who
put her new best female friend in a coma for the past two
days was going to pay and Hermione knew exactly where
Danielle MacNeal was at this time of day; sitting in the
bleachers on the Quidditch pitch with her gang, watching
the Salt and Gryffindor dance team practice.
Once on the field, she was greeted by her
fellow dance team members. "Hey, Hermione!" April Miller
called once India Jade stopped the music and Mika Salena
stopped the group. "How's Heather doing? Has she woken up
yet?"
Hermione ignored the group as she continued
toward Danielle MacNeal and her gang. Once Hermione reached
Danielle, Hermione balled her fist and punched Danielle
hard on her nose. Blood splattered all over her uniform.
Everyone who watch stood in shock as Danielle screamed.
Once the Salt and Gryffindor dance team overcame their shock
that Hermione ignored them; they raced over to see what was
going on.
Once Danielle got over the shock of the head girl
attacked her, she shouted. "You Bitch!" and punched Hermione
in the eye. Soon the two of them became involved in an all out
brawl.
When India and Mika saw what was truly going on,
the two of them went to go find help. They found Harry, Ron,
and Dudley coming down to the pitch from the school with
their broomsticks in hand. "Harry! Ron! You have to come quick!
Hermione has completely lost it!" India yelled as she and Mika
raced over to where they were.
"What do you mean she's gone crazy?" Harry asked them,
tying his Quidditch robes tighter on to his body.
"She just came out on to the field a couple of minutes
ago and punched Danielle on the nose." Mika yelled and the five of
them headed toward the field.
"Didn't I tell you she was mental?" Ron asked him as
they followed the two to the fight. By the time he, Dudley, Ron,
Mika, and India reached where Hermione and Danielle were fighting,
a rather large group had formed around them to watch. Harry made his
way through the crowd with Ron and broke up the fight by grabbing
Hermione and Ron taking a hold of Danielle. "If YOU EVER come near
ANY of my friends, again, I WILL KILL YOU!" Hermione screamed at
Danielle while trying to break Harry's hold.
"That's a threat? Not that it scares me." Danielle
yelled back and struggled, trying to do the same Hermione was
doing, but with Ron.
"No, it's a promise, MacNeal. Touch any of my friends
again and it will happen. You should be scared...VERY SCARED!"
Professor McGonagall raced over a few minutes later
with Professor Snape to investigate why all the students were
surrounding that particular section of the bleachers. "What's going
on here? What's the meaning of this?"
"Hermione attacked Danielle." A Western house sixth year
by the name of Dana Mist complained to the two professors.
"Danielle was just sitting around with us, watching
the dance team, when all of a sudden Hermione attacked Danielle
for no particular reason. "Dana's twin sister, Dawn, spoke up.
"She's crazy! She needs to be locked up somewhere."
Harry struggled with Hermione to restrain her from
doing anything too rash. Harry pleaded with Professor McGonagall.
"Professor, you know Hermione would never attack anyone with out
being provoked." He hoped Professor McGonagall would think logically
about the situation with Hermione still struggling a little against
him.
"Miss Granger, Miss MacNeal, please come with me to
the headmaster's office. Miss Granger, you should be ashamed of
yourself! You being head girl and all!" Professor McGonagall escorted
the two girls along with Professor Snape up to the Headmaster's
office.
"Alright, everyone. Party's over! Let's get back
to work!" Mika gathered the Salt and Gryffindor dance team to the
other side of the pitch.
*****
Rumors of what happened spread through the school
like wildfire. Only the people who where there knew exactly what
occurred on the pitch during the fight between Hermione and Danielle.
"Injuries could have been worse." Harry thought as he looked over
the table at Hermione who was able to come out of the fight with
only a black eye, a few scrapes, and a couple of broken ribs, of
which Madame Pomfrey was able to mend quickly. Danielle had not
been so lucky as she had a broken nose and jaw, plus the hundreds
of scratches from Hermione's nails. Harry never really knew Hermione
had it in her to inflict that much damage with out her wand. Harry
watched as Hermione dove into her homework. "How long do you have
to go to detention?"
"Until Christmas break." Hermione scribbled her
homework onto her parchment with her quill. They were in the
Great Hall for lunch and all Harry could do was pick at his lunch.
Harry was anxious because his sister was getting out of the Hospital
wing today for the first time in close to a week.
"You know what, Hermione?"
"What, Harry?" Hermione was trying to finish her
Potion's homework before that evening when she would have to
do her detention.
"I'm glad you did something about Danielle,
otherwise I would have."
Hermione looked up from her studies and smiled
at the complement. "But Harry, you're too much of a gentleman
to do something like that to a lady."
"But Hermione, she isn't a lady. No true lady
would have done something like that to my sister."
"Speaking of Heather, how is she?" Hermione
asked changing the subject.
"She's getting out of the hospital
wing right now. Ron is getting her as we speak so she can
have something solid to eat." The doors of the Great Hall
opened and Ron sauntered in with Heather hanging on his
arm for support. Heather greeted the pair with a smile,
but winced in pain as she took in a deep breath.
Ron guided Heather to the seat next to her
brother. "Hey, how are you doing?" Hermione asked as
Ron claimed the seat next to Heather.
"Way better than I was a couple of days ago.
Madame Pomfrey says I should take it easy for the next
couple of days because of the combination of the spells
used..." Heather looked at Hermione, who was banged up
and her black eye had turned a mighty shade of purple.
"What the hell happened to you, Hermione?! Are you okay?"
"She got into a fight." Ron blurted.
"A fight?!" Heather was surprised. Of all the
people she would figure would get into a fight, Hermione's
name never came up on to that particular list. "With who?"
"She got two weeks worth of detention for it, too."
Harry nodded.
"What happened?" Heather was more intent to find out
what made the head girl get into a fight and who with.
"She beat the crap out of..." Mika took the seat next
to Hermione and Hermione clamped her hand down on the girl's
mouth.
"I really don't want to talk about it." Hermione
informed her and Heather changed the subject.
"So are all of you coming out to my place for
Christmas then?"
"Wouldn't miss it for the world!" Mika smiled once
Hermione took her hand away from her mouth. "I am going to go
out and buy new dress robes for it even."
"How are you going? I did not see you get an
invitation?" Hermione asked casually.
"My mom and Dad got the invitation and it included
me on it. You see my dad is the head Shaman and takes orders
from Heather's dad." Mika turned and asked Heather. "So are we
going to try it again? Maybe if Harry comes along with us, it
would work better."
"What would work better?" Harry wondered why his name
came up in the conversation at all.
"Well, you see Heather and I every year "during the
boring snob-fest" as Heather puts it, we go and have a meeting
with the dead. Since my dad is the local Shaman, he supervises
it. Last time we tried to make contact with your parents. Your
mother cooperated, but for some reason your father didn't.
Something about him not being there. We didn't put much thought
into it, until we came here and found you. "
"What did she say?" Harry seemed to be interested with
anything his parents would say to anyone.
"Now that is rather personal." Heather blushed and
turned to Ron. "So, is all of your family coming?"
"Yep, all eight of us."
"I thought there was only seven of you."
"Eight if you include Bill's fiancée." and the
conversation continued on that topic until it was time for them
to go to class.
*****
Hermione pulled to door to the dungeon classroom open
and found Professor Shift sitting at the Professor's desk. "Hello,
Hermione. We were waiting for you." Hermione then noticed Danielle
MacNeal sitting at a near-by table, scrubbing cauldrons clean.
"What will I be doing, Professor?"
"You will be alphabetizing the potion ingredient
shelves." With a flick of her wand, the doors opened to admit
the mess inside. "When you are finished, you can help Danielle with
the caldrons."
A few minutes after Hermione finished taking out the
ingredients on the top shelf to be sorted, the door to the dungeon
classroom opened again to allow Heather Potter entrance. "Ready
for your detention, Heather?"
"Yeah."
"Professor Dumbledore told me what happened and
since you are recovering, I am only going to make you write
lines." With another flick of her wand, parchment, a quill,
and a bottle of ink appeared on the desk next to her. "You
know the phrase you are suppose to write, so please get
started."
Heather Potter smiled and sat down at the desk to
begin her detention. Hermione did not know what possibly could
make her smile in detention until she passed behind Heather,
while she was sorting out the potion bottles. The phrase
Heather wrote brought a smile to her face and Hermione knew
she would have to tell Harry and Ron about this particular
expression. Heather was destined to write the slogan: "My
Uncle Severus Snape is a slimy git" for the rest of the
detention.
*****
End of Chapter 12.
Sorry that took so long to post. I have been having problems with
stuff. I will try to get it out asap.
Oh, let me know how you felt about this, really. Constructive
Critism is always welcome by me. I am going to try to work on
my brittish culture, and dialect and stuff. I am an American, so
I can do that pretty well, but not that. Also, if you are having
problems with the fact Heather is "perfect" she's not...she's got
her faults. Hopefully, they will shine through in the next chapter
because when you are at home, you have a tendency to act like
yourself and not how you think people want you to be.
God bless,
S'Eleene Paris