CHAPTER THREE:
DIVERGENCE
As usual, Harry Potter missed the Sorting ceremony for the first years. The news of his getting bitten by a vampire the first time had already spread like wildfire. There wasn't a wizarding household anywhere that didn't know. Rumor about the second attack, via the Hogwarts Express no less, had spread through the train even faster. Of course, the first thing Shantiel and her friends had done after getting to Hogwarts was to go immediately to the hospital wing in search of Harry and his condition. They hadn't been told hardly anything and quite frankly, since Harry never returned after being taken from the train, they were worried sick.
The first thing Adonna did was assure them that he would survive, and that no, he wasn't a vampire. Just how many vampiric tendencies he had now remained to be seen. However, he had yet to regain consciousness.
The second attack on Harry had cast a pall over the otherwise giddy welcoming feast. It was as if some people were trying to cover for the fact that despite Voldemort's being gone, very dangerous creatures still existed and could attack at any moment.
Shantiel and company didn't feel much like eating, knowing their friend was suffering from another attack in the hospital wing. Everybody except Ron, of course, who was busy piling potatoes high on his plate.
"It seems there were a lot more Slytherins this year," observed Hermione, who had half-heartedly watched the ceremony.
"Oh, lovely, and in seven years, they'll have taken over this bloody school and then the whole wizarding world will—"
Hermione shooshed him before he could go further. "Hush, Ron! There's no need to be rude about an observation!"
The conversation was, of course, largely a farce. It just seemed everybody at the Gryffindor table was more affected than the others, and especially Harry's friends. They were simply avoiding the subject foremost in their minds.
Dumbledore had tried his best to dispel their gloom with a particularly upbeat welcoming speech. He also announced that Snape was no longer the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher since Slughorn had retired again. The old potions professor turned over the job to his colleague. At the head table, Severus didn't seem too happy about it. But when did Snape seem happy about anything?
For the first time since the feast began, Shantiel said something. "Isn't it odd that despite Voldemort being gone, it's as if the curse over the DADA teacher position is continuing?"
"What do you mean, Shan?" asked Ginny.
"Well, you told me last year about how the school couldn't seem to keep a Dark Arts Defense teacher for more than a year at a time. That happened again this year."
"True," said Hermione, "but it wasn't because of anything drastic. Professors quit and are hired all the time. Or in Slughorn's case, rehired. He was pretty old."
"You're right," Shantiel answered. "I don't know what I was thinking."
"I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm glad that Madam Adonna is the new DADA teacher." Ginny smiled and the rest of them were at least able to mirror the emotion to some extent.
"It's just a shame Harry wasn't here to help us welcome her to her new teaching position," said Shantiel.
The next day, Shantiel went to her first class of the day with Ginny. They were both rather excited as it was Defense Against the Dark Arts.
"I wonder what we'll learn today," said Ginny, "do you have any ideas?"
"None whatsoever. I spent the last week of summer holiday with you, not Adonna, remember?" Shan replied.
The rest of the students filed into the classroom, curious as to what they were going to learn. Most of them hoped that since it was the first day of classes, they could get out of doing a lesson. Madam Adonna afforded them no such luck, however.
"Since this is boarding school and you already know each other, and all of you know who I am, there is no need to play "getting to know you" activities. Therefore, we shall begin immediately with the lesson."
"Is Harry Potter a vampire now?"
The question was shouted out from the back row, and everybody in the room tensed with nervousness. A boy named Trent McKay was shooshed by several of his classmates, but they looked up at Adonna with curiosity. They knew she worked in the hospital wing with Madam Pomfrey as well as being a teacher. How would the professor answer?
"I can see we need to dispense with the lesson I've prepared in order to make room for an impromptu one. Indeed, vampires are dark creatures so teaching you about them fits right in with the curriculum. To answer your question, Trent, Harry Potter is not a vampire. It requires at least three bites in quick succession in order to transfigure a human. Harry has not been bitten that many times."
"Not yet, anyway," mumbled another student.
"Hogwarts is one of the most well-protected fortresses ever built. Harry is safer here than just about anywhere else. As long as he doesn't do anything foolish, he'll be fine—and so will you," Adonna added pointedly, trying to dispel the fear felt by many of the students.
"So he's okay, then, right?" Shantiel asked shyly.
"Yes, Shantiel," answered Adonna, "he'll be just fine." Shantiel could sense there was more to be said about Harry's condition, but the healer's look let her know that in the middle of class was not the place to discuss it.
"Do vampires go it alone, or are they in groups?" asked one girl.
"Some of them do hunt alone," explained Adonna, "but many of them hunt in groups of two to five. These groups are what makes up the clan, or coven, of vampires."
"How big is a coven?" Ginny asked.
"Most of them aren't larger than about thirty or forty."
"I heard a rumor," began one boy, "that there's a coven in the Dark Forest that has more than 200 vampires."
An ominous feeling swept through the classroom. Two hundred? That was a lot of vampires.
"Rumors about all sorts of things exist," said Adonna, "and many of them aren't true. Just be careful about which ones you choose to believe."
During lunchtime that day, Shantiel went to go visit Harry in the hospital wing. She could see from one end of the ward that he was awake. Before she and her friends could take more than a few steps into the ward, they were whisked into a room by Madam Pomfrey. She said, "Madam Adonna will be here to speak with you shortly."
The healer walked into her office a couple of minutes later and greeted them. "Hello, everybody. I trust you're wondering why you were led into this room?" They all nodded.
"The reason why is this: Harry is somewhat different now. I have no doubt in my mind it is due to the amount of the vampiric virus that now runs through is system. As far as I'm aware, there aren't any drastic changes that he's undergone, but he's a bit edgier than we're used to him being. He'll have to stay covered when in direct sunlight. I'm telling you all these things not to worry you but so you're prepared. Pomfrey and I would also like you to observe Harry and tell us of any changes you notice about his habits and behavior. A lot of rumors have been flying around about him, and I figured it was fair that you four, at least, knew the full truth."
"Well, it's not as if we haven't dealt with nasty rumors about Harry in the past," Hermione answered dryly.
Adonna smiled, "That's a fair point. Would you like to go and visit him now? He's still a bit weak, but he'll be able to start going to classes tomorrow. At least for a half day."
They followed her out of her office and each greeted Harry.
"How's it going, mate?" Ron asked.
"Dull and boring," Harry answered gloomily.
"Don't tell me you'd rather be in class?" asked Hermione dryly.
"Oh no, not that!" Harry exclaimed in mock-horror, as everybody giggled.
"Are you feeling okay?" Shantiel inquired.
"Yeah, a bit on the weak side," said Harry as he felt the bandage on his neck. "Plus it looks like I'll have a couple of new scars to match the old one. Just what I needed."
Shantiel smiled, "I don't know, I think they'd look rather dashing."
"Do you?"
"Yes…they tell a story that you've survived yet another ordeal."
"You know, I never thought of it that way. Thanks, Shan," he said as she leaned down and kissed him.
Ron rolled his eyes, "Oi, there's an audience present. Do we have to watch?"
"If you don't like it," Ginny replied, "then all you have to do is turn away."
"Fine," he said, sticking out his tongue like a primary schooler. He folded his arms and whipped around.
Hermione sighed, "It's time for us to go back to class anyway. See you later, Harry." They all bade him goodbye and left the hospital wing.
The Great Hall was full for breakfast when Harry arrived. He had Hermione configure his glasses into tinted ones since his eyes had become so sensitive to light. People stared at him and whispered since he walked by with his hood up. He sat next to Ron once at the Gryffindor table.
"Good morning, guys," Harry said, helping himself to some biscuits and sausages. "Morning, Shan," he said as he leaned over and kissed Shantiel's cheek.
"Morning, Harry," Shan said, smiling and looking over her book. She was happy to see him, yet went right back to her studying.
"I see that Hermione has finally cloned herself," Ron said, helping himself to the sausages. Hermione sat across from Shantiel, mirroring her position. "I never thought it would be possible."
"What's even more impossible is the fact that she is your girlfriend," Seamus joked, causing Ron to turn Weasley red before joining in with the laughter.
"Now don't be too hard on him, he was going to get it eventually," Ginny said as she tried to suppress a laugh.
"That's nothing," Shantiel said, setting her book down next to her, "It took Harry so long that I was beginning to wonder if he was ever going to get the point. I would have gone with someone else to Slughorn's party, if a certain someone would have gotten up the nerve to ask me," she said in a singsong voice. Harry then took her hand and stared deeply into her eyes.
"Shan, darling?" Harry said in a mockingly sweet tone.
"Yes, Harry, dear?" She smiled and replied in the same sweet tone.
"It would be an honor if you would pass me the potatoes," he said. Shantiel laughed.
"Harry, it would be my pleasure to pass you the potatoes," she said as she handed him the bowl sitting next to her.
"Thank you so much," he said as he took the bowl from her.
"You are so welcome," Shantiel said.
"At least both of you boys aren't as dense as Pansy Parkinson is," Ginny said.
"It's true," Shantiel said. "I heard Draco had to ask Pansy Parkinson three times to go to that Yule Ball with him."
Ron laughed, "I could just see it," he said. "Do-you-want-to-go-to-the-ball-with-me?" he said in a mockingly slow voice. The entire Gryffindor table burst out with laughter.
"What, Draco? Did you say something, I didn't quite hear you," Seamus said in a mockingly shrill voice. Apparently, Draco had heard them because he was heading in their direction. Harry's lips curled as Draco approached closer to the table.
"What's he doing back at this school?" Harry asked angrily. "I suppose it doesn't matter now. Looks like somebody wants to come over and play," he said.
Harry stood up and Ron started to join him. Harry looked at him and shook his head. He wanted to deal with Malfoy on his own this time. Ron slowly sat back down. Everyone turned to watch the two boys. Malfoy stopped inches in front of Harry.
"What's so funny, Potty?" he said, his gray eyes flickering. "Did Weasel actually do something slightly intelligible?" he said, sneering. Harry moved close enough to Malfoy that their noses were inches away.
"You think that just because your daddy's rich and can buy you anything you want, that it gives you a right to be a deplorable prat to everyone. Well, let me remind you, your daddy went to Azkaban!" Harry said coldly. Immediately, a hush fell over the entire Great Hall. Harry had evidently had enough of putting up with Draco Malfoy, six years of memories of taunting and trouble boiled beneath the surface. Draco's hand moved for his wand.
"How dare you talk about my father that way, Potter," Malfoy said in a deadly voice.
Shantiel sensed the level of danger the situation had come to and she walked up behind Harry, touching his arm.
"Harry don't…" she said softly pleading with him.
"Don't talk to me," Harry said coldly as he continued his staring contest with the Slytherin blonde.
"Maybe you should listen to your filthy little half-blooded girlfriend," Malfoy said icily. That was what broke Harry's façade. As he went for his wand he heard Dumbledore's voice speaking from behind him.
"Boys, what seems to be the problem here?" he asked calmly.
"Nothing," Harry said shortly, still glaring at Malfoy, his ears pounding.
"Nothing," Malfoy said through gritted teeth.
"It doesn't seem like nothing," Dumbledore said, still very calm, peering down at the boys over his half-moon spectacles. "I suggest that both of you gentlemen shake hands and leave it at that."
Both boys continued to glare coldly at one another before slowly taking the other's hand. Everyone in the hall watched the two in a tense silence holding their breath. Neville watched through his fingers.
Each appeared to be trying to break the other's hand. Time seemed to freeze. After half a minute had passed Harry and Draco quickly let go as though they had touched something burning or had gotten shocked. A sigh of relief erupted through the hall and people resumed talking, gossiping, and eating.
Dumbledore still watched the boys, "Next time you have a disagreement keep it outside of the Great Hall. Do I make myself clear?"
Still glaring at Draco, Harry said, "Crystal."
"Perfectly," Draco said coldly.
Happy to get away from Draco, Harry walked back to the Gryffindor table but he felt horrible for snapping at Shantiel. After all, she was only trying to help him. She hugged him and smiled in her usual understanding way. As they pulled away he took her hands in his.
"I'm sorry for snapping at you," Harry said apologetically. "It wasn't right of me to do that. You were just trying to calm me down."
"It's okay," Shantiel said. "I understand Draco made you mad. I know you didn't mean to."
"Thanks for understanding," he said, giving her another hug. "It wasn't me talking, it was the mad talking," he added jokingly. She laughed.
"You know, without me, you'd be a lot angrier," Shantiel said sternly. Harry laughed and held her tighter.
"Yes, I know," he said.
"If you two don't mind, I am trying to eat here," Seamus said. Harry turned and sarcastically stuck his tongue out at Seamus and continued kissing Shantiel.
"Seamus, are you jealous?" Ginny inquired, smiling.
Seamus blushed before answering, "Jealous! Of what?"
"Jealous of my sweet, beautiful, loving, brilliant, wonderful, Shan," Harry said, smiling as Shantiel blushed crimson. "You look even cuter when you do that," he said.
"Well, Seamus is right. I think you two broke the record of most snogs in one meal," Ron said sarcastically.
"You should talk, Weasley," Harry said, Ron glanced at Hermione before blushing the color of his roots. Shantiel giggled while the others laughed.
"We'd better be going to class," Ginny said, grabbing her books and standing. The blonde girl followed suit.
"Care of Magical Creatures," she said evenly.
Ron smirked, "Have fun with whatever dangerous freaky creature Hagrid has this time," he said. Hermione smacked the back of his head. Rubbing his head, Ron said, "Ow! I was kidding! Great, now there's a lump," he complained.
Hermione glared at him, "Maybe you'll think before you speak next time, Ronald."
"Bye, guys," Shantiel said before following Ginny out of the hall.
Hermione looked at their schedules, "Time for Advance Transfigurations," she reported solemnly.
Ron groaned, "As if I didn't have enough of a headache already," he complained, rubbing the spot where Hermione had smacked him.
Two nights later, Shantiel was abruptly awakened by a repetitive tapping on the window her dormitory. Wondering if it had been a stranded owl as she grabbed her wand and made her way to the window. She was surprised to see Harry on his broom smiling at her slightly mischievously.
"Harry, what in the name of Godric are you doing here?" Shantiel said, half worried and half curious. His smile grew wider as he flew closer.
"I came to ask if you would like to fly with me," Harry said, tossing her his Invisibility Cloak. "I'm sick of being cooped up in the school. The hospital wing was particularly dreadful." Shantiel laughed incredulously as she caught the cloak and rolled her eyes at him.
"At this time of the night? I swear that the twins have rubbed off on you this summer," Shantiel said as she failed to sound stern. She smiled, looking at her sleeping roommates and whispered back, "Meet me by the lake."
Harry nodded and flew away while Shantiel quickly closed the window. As quietly as possible, she got dressed and threw the cloak over herself. The blonde girl made her way out into the seventh floor corridors. Upon exiting the portrait hole, she had confused the Fat Lady immensely by being invisible. She looked around to made sure the coast was clear before continuing on out to the grounds. Once outside she removed the cloak. She saw Harry standing next to the lake with his broom in his hand. Shantiel ran up to him and he smiled as he kissed her.
"Are you ready?" he asked her with excitement which caused her to laugh as she nodded. He mounted his broom first then Shantiel climbed on behind him and wrapped her slender arms around his waist. Harry kicked off the ground and flew sky bound. Shantiel laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes, letting the cool September breeze rush passed her. She missed the feeling that being in the air brought along with the freedom. Time between them disappeared leaving a feeling of pure contentment. If anything this was her, idea of heaven.
They flew a bit passed Hogsmeade before making a sharp turn. Harry swooped around the castle and then over the Quidditch pitch. He made a banking turn and he and Shan traveled across the lake. She dipped her feet in the water and skimmed across the lake and felt almost like she was skiing! Her shoes got wet but she didn't care—they could be dried off magically. They landed just as the sky began to turn royal purple with faded hints of pink. The pair walked back into the castle hand-in-hand, at peace and just so calm. When they entered back into the Gryffindor common room, Harry kissed her one last time before they returned to their dorms.
Little did they know, a pair of twinkling bespectacled eyes had watched them on their flight.
