ARISE and the Snake Society
Chapter Four: The Scene and the Seen
Albus's hand froze. He gulped noisily, and Ever seemed to be holding her breath.
Then he snatched up the journal. He just stared at the picture, trying to decide if what he'd seen was correct. Then, slowly, he looked at Ever.
He could tell by her expression that she was waiting for his inevitable outburst. She was waiting for him to shout about that she should've told him, and how could she keep this secret.
He surprised them both by sweeping her into his arms. She was so shocked that it took a moment for her to wrap her arms around him in return. "I'm so sorry you had to see that." He said. Then he pulled back and looked her right in the eyes. "I need you to tell me what you see from now on, okay?"
She remained silent.
"Please?"
After a minute of silent eye-contact, she said, "Fine."
"We need to tell someone. McGonagall, maybe."
"No." It came out hoarse but firm. Their eyes locked once again. "We tell no one."
"What?" He was confused. "Why not? These Snake People are killers! Don't you think people deserve to know?"
Ever sighed. "I'm just not ready for people to know yet, alright?"
He grabbed her hand. "I know this has affected you, but people's lives are at stake."
"How do I even know if it was real?" Tears began to fall from her eyes. "They've found out, Albus. That's why they sent me that message. They've been sending fake visions! How do I know anything's real? God, Albus, I'm scared."
She was sobbing. Albus had never seen her even cry. He clutched her close to him, letting her cry into his shoulder. "Shh, it'll be fine, Ever. We don't have to tell anyone, not until we know for sure."
When the sobs turned into silent tears, and then stopped altogether, he asked, "How long have you been having these visions?"
Pause. "Three months."
"When do you think they caught on?"
She shook her head. "I can't be sure. I figured out they were sending me fake ones only two weeks ago, but they could've been doing it the whole time. Then they started making the visions hurt."
Albus didn't know what to say. He could tell this was hard for her to talk about. He grabbed her hand.
"They don't like me eavesdropping. They wouldn't like anyone, I guess. But I'm much worse then any wizard. A filthy Mudblood?"
He gave her fingers an encouraging squeeze.
"The leader's the worst." A shiver ran up her spine. "He never shows any emotion, not even hate."
Then she blurted, "You'll be late."
"I know."
His first class was Defense Against the Dark Arts, which was taught by another professor who visited his family sometimes, Professor Lovegood. She helped his father out a great deal in the War at Hogwarts, and before that.
They sat in silence, and Ever leaned her head on his shoulder.
"You make me stronger." She told him softly.
He smiled at her. "You don't need me for that. You're the strongest person I know."
"That's true."
He laughed.
She moved away form him and said, "Get to class, slacker."
"You sure?" He asked, afraid she wouldn't like being alone, not with the picture of a dead man floating in her mind.
"Positive."
She wasn't going to take no for answer.
He nodded and left without a word.
He was only seven minutes late, but Professor Lovegood was talking about the Forbidden Curses.
"Oh, Albus," she said, her voice hauntingly soft and wispy, as it always seemed to be. "You're late." She frowned. "I'm afraid I have to take five points off of Gryffindor. You can't think it's okay to be late. I've got to lay down the law."
Albus smiled at her. She was one of his favorite teachers. He took his seat between Indigo and Scorpius. Rose sat on the other side of Indigo. Ever usually sat on the other side of Scorpius.
When Professor Lovegood continued her rant, Indigo whispered, "I told you you'd be late."
"You were right," he whispered back.
She grinned. "Get used to it."
"Mr. Applegate," Professor Lovegood called on a blonde girl who'd been talking to the girl next to her. "Can you tell me the defense against dementors?"
"No," the girl responded.
Professor Lovegood looked at the girl with disappointment on her face. Then she looked at the class. "Anyone else?"
When no one spoke up, Albus slowly put his hand in the air.
"Yes, Albus?"
"The Patronus Charm," he said.
Her face lit up, and clapped her hands. "Yes!"
Then she went on about counter curses.
Rose was scribbling notes onto her parchment so fixedly it made Albus chuckle softly.
When it was over, all four of them walked to Herbology together.
"So, why'd Ever want you to stay back with her?" Indigo asked, her voice even, as if she was just trying to make conversation. She probably was, Albus thought.
He didn't know whether or not to tell them the truth. How would they take it? And, he couldn't tell them about Ever's visions. That wasn't his secret to share. "She just wanted to thank me for bringing her to the infirmary."
"You're lying," Indigo snapped. Her eyes flashed.
"What?" He asked, surprised. How could she know?
"You shift your weight when you're lying."
Had he been doing that?
"If you don't want to tell me, fine." Behind her cold anger, he could see that she was hurt. It made his gut twist that he'd hurt her, but he didn't apologize. She walked ahead of him, zooming to take her own route to Herbology.
"See you guys," Rose said, shuffling after her friend.
Scorpius and Albus didn't say anything to each other for a while. Scorpius broke the silence by saying, "Why did she want you to stay?"
"I already told Indigo."
"You did lie, though, mate." Scorpius argued. He didn't bring it up again, though.
In Herbology, they were covering bubotubers. Today they were just learning about the plants, but the next day they would be handling them. No one seemed to notice the empty desk but Albus.
He was worried about her.
Then they headed to History of Magic, which had Albus and Scorpius nearly asleep. By the way Indigo's face was all pinched, Albus could tell she was still mad.
Albus never paid attention in this class. He let his mind wander.
When it was over, Rose said a quick goodbye, and headed off to Ancient Runes.
Scorpius and Albus went to Divination with Firenze, as did Indigo. She didn't walk with them, though.
"When do y'think she'll get over it?" Scorpius asked.
Albus shrugged. "I don't know."
Firenze talked to them about the stars, and about how making predictions was easier for centaurs, and about how not even they could be certain. Last year, Albus had Trelawney, but he knew that Firenze talked about this every year.
Rose joined them once again for Care of Magical Creatures. Hagrid was very happy to see them, but made it clear he was sad to be missing Ever.
"Grea' person, she is. Don't deserve what happen'd ter her." He shook his large head sadly, and Albus patted him on the arm, because he couldn't reach the shoulder.
"She'll be okay."
"I know, I know,"
Then he taught them about unicorns, and brought out a small foal. There was a chorus of "Aw" and "So cute".
"Unicorn's are the purest, most innocen' creatures in th' universe." Hagrid said. "We'll be workin' with 'em for the next two weeks er so."
Then came Transfiguration with Professor Kiley, or, as the students called him, Professor Killjoy. He gave brief instructions and told them to try changing the birds in front of them into goblets. By the end of it, only Rose had completely succeeded.
Lastly, they had Potions with Professor Adams. Adams was a stern man with a kind face and a good heart. He was one of Albus's favorite teachers. His black hair was slicked back, his thing mouth in a broad smile.
"Welcome back, students!" He called, which got a half-hearted response from the class.
"Well, you guys are a lively bunch today." This got a laugh. "Now, pull out your books and turn to page one-hundred-and-twelve, please."
They were working on the Draught of Peace, which was supposed to take a few classes to finish. Albus and Scorpius worked together, and neither were very good at it.
When the classes were finally over, they all decided to visit Ever again. Even Indigo, who did it almost begrudgingly.
Ever was happy to see them. She groaned when Rose placed the History of Magic homework in her lap. "Homework on the first day?" Ever complained. "Killjoy must be stopped."
Then she looked at Rose. "Did you take notes, perchance?"
Rose rolled her eyes, but smiled and handed Ever a written-on piece of parchment.
"We've been worried about you," said Indigo.
Ever grinned, even though she didn't glance up from her homework. "I'll be okay. I'm leaving here tonight, thank God."
"Don't say that," Scorpius warned, and everyone glanced at him, confused. "She'll jinx it," he explained.
"Did anyone talk about the . . . incident?" Ever asked.
"No," Rose responded. "I didn't hear anyone."
"Me either," Albus told them.
"None of us did," Indigo alleged.
"Curious," Ever thought out loud, and turned back to her homework.
They all did their homework in the Hospital Wing. Rose and Indigo sat on the bed next to Ever, and Scorpius and Albus sat on chairs. They didn't speak.
Rose was the first done, then Ever, then Indigo, then Albus, and Scorpius was last.
Madam Pomfrey approached them and shooed them out. "Get to the Dining Hall," she commanded.
So they did.
McGonagall said a few words again. And then they ate. Scorpius started taking smaller bites, but ended up with his mouth full once again. They talked and laughed with the rest of their classmates.
Then the double doors opened, and a girl with multi-colored pixie-like brown hair, and grey-blue eyes marched in.
Everyone looked at Ever, every trace of conversation dying on the students' lips. There wasn't one pair of eyes that weren't trained on the girl.
Albus, wanting to rescue her, jumped up and went to her.
"Hi," he said.
"What's happening?" she asked. "Is there something on my face?"
"No," he assured her. "Just come sit with us."
Then Rose, Indigo, and Scorpius were there. Rose and Indigo hooked an arm through either of Ever's, and the five of them walked to their table, heads turning to follow their movement.