Disclaimer: I own Illaera and most of the ideals surrounding her, the magnificent Joanne Kathleen Rowling owns everything else (oh yeah, I know theres something about warner brothers and bloomsbury, but *shrugs* they don't count...)
A/n: This chapter, as all other chapters, is dedicated to my friends Admiral Albia, Kiki, Tkaa and my very own Kaera and my muse Maize. And of course, my best friend Zara.
Also, I very nearly didn't post this as I'm having a little writers block in the chapter I'm writing at the moment. From chapter 8 it will get a bit darker I guess, but that's only a prediction based on what I've written so far of said chapter. Another reason I almost didn't post this is everytime I look at my reviews I get depressed...there aren't enough my dears!! If you are reading this and don't plan on reviewing that's fine, it IS your right, but I'd much rather you reviewed.
***
Hermione yawned and reached back to stroke Crookshanks. Her hand met thin air and then blankets. She rolled and found that Crookshanks had gone. A glance out the window told her it was not long until dawn and Hermione knew she would not be able to go back to sleep now. Hermione swung her legs over the bed and padded past the beds occupied by Lavender and Parvati, down the spiral staircase and into the common room.
"Illaera..." she whispered. "Illaera?"
She shrugged and sank into a squashy red armchair. Other than the many cushions, the chair was empty and Hermione wondered which of the remaining chairs Illaera was sleeping in. Her question was answered moments later, when Crookshanks came through the portrait hole with an air of importance. He paraded over to the chair opposite Hermione and mewed. A hand slipped out from the covers and stroked him affectionately and Hermione realized Illaera had not been sleeping, she had been in a trance while using the mindvoice to communicate with Crookshanks. The hand jerked and reached up to pull of the cloak.
"Hermione, I didn't realize you were here."
"I came looking for my cat."
At this, Crookshanks turned away from Illaera and leapt into Hermione's lap.
"You are still his mistress, never fear. He does this for you. He knows you would be sad if Harry was hurt, so he patrols to make sure Wormtail is nowhere near, among other things."
Crookshanks stared at Illaera and her eyes glazed over for a moment.
"He also does this to protect you. He feels that you have been endangered enough over the last four years and wishes to protect you from harm."
Hermione opened her mouth to respond but suddenly the charm outside the door was activated and Illaera threw the cloak over herself. Moments later, Professor McGonagall stepped into the room, looking slightly puzzled.
"Ah, Hermione, there you are. I was afraid I would have to wake you. Professor Dumbledore wishes to see you, Harry and Ron in his office right now."
"Are...are you alright Professor?" Hermione asked tentatively, noting the perplexed look on her face.
"Oh, it's just Professor Dumbledore was a bit confused...he has so much on his mind...I'm worried about him...never thought I'd see the day that Albus Dumbledore made a mistake about his students..."
"What mistake?"
"Oh...just...he said to fetch you, Ron and Harry and to lead the four of you to his office..."
"Oh! Uh...yes, I'm sure he just has a lot on his mind Professor...shall I get Crookshanks to wake the boys Professor?"
"You can get him to do that?"
"Oh yes...whenever I need to speak to them I tell him to wake them...he's a very clever cat...Crookshanks! Crookshanks, time to play Cannonball!"
At these words, Crookshanks was up the spiral staircase in a blur of orange and soon muffled sounds were coming from the boys' dorm room.
"Amazing," Professor McGonagall commented as the two bleary-eyed boys followed Crookshanks down the stairs.
"Mione, what do you want this early- oh hi Professor McGonagall..."
The boys paused in their descent, embarrassed to be seen in their pajamas.
"I'll give you all five minutes to get dressed, then you are to follow me to Professor Dumbledore's office."
Ten minutes later, Harry, Ron, Hermione and an invisible Illaera followed Professor McGonagall through the Gargoyle statue into Professor Dumbledore's office.
"Thank you Minerva. Do you know she's named after the Roman goddess of wisdom? The Greek version is Athena, and rather more well known. Athena even had a city named after her...I am fascinated by Mythology...although in fact, most of it isn't mythology at all, but history."
After Professor McGonagall had left, Illaera slipped off the cloak.
"Ah, Professor? Why did you want to see us this early in the morning?"
"I have a present for you all, especially Illaera..." Here he began to rummage around in his desk drawer and soon produced four sparkling crystals. He handed the Rose Quartz to Hermione, the Amethyst to Illaera, the Clear Quartz to Ron and a green stone to Harry that he knew he should recognize...it wasn't emerald or jade...Harry racked his brains, trying to remember the name of the stone...Aquamarine? No...Am...Am...Amazonite!
"Tap the stone three times with your wand and say 'Alohomora Secretia Ruma'. Provided nobody who doesn't know about the room is watching, you with be transported to a secret room somewhere in the castle where Illaera may escape the confines of the cloak. I will not have this privilege abused, mind you...you may not sleep there, as you will be missed, If you miss any classes, the room will be confiscated...but you may spend your spare time there. I hope you find it satisfactory...I daresay you will want to add your own touches...Dobby will take care of the fire and food..."
"Th...thank you Professor..." Harry stammered.
"Umm...Professor? Illaera doesn't have a wand..."
"She doesn't need one. Would you care to demonstrate, Illaera?"
Illaera smiled and picked up the cloak and the Amethyst crystal. The next moment she was gone.
"Alohomora Secretia Ruma," Hermione cried tapping her stone three times. The boys followed suit and found themselves in a large circular room. A fire was blazing across the room and a small alcove of squashy, comfortable chairs and sofas surrounded it. The room also contained a few tables where they could do their homework and a bookshelf containing books with titles such as: A Qudditch Lover's Guide to Broomsticks, Advanced Transfiguration, Great Wizarding events of the Twentieth Century and World's Greatest Chess Maneuvers. The room was draped with purple cloths, in keeping with the room's colour schemes and a few paintings decorated the walls. Illaera was seated, one leg crossed over the other, in front of the fireplace. She grinned up at them as they entered.
"What took you guys so long?" She bounded to her feet and flashed a charming smile their way. "It's so wonderful to be free of that cloak! I can move without worrying whether people can see me! Oh, the freedom!"
Harry stared at Illaera. It was the first time she had acted like...well...a teenager! It suddenly occurred to Harry that he didn't actually know how old Illaera was.
"Illaera, how old are you?"
"Seventeen."
Harry's heart sank a little. He'd never actually thought Illaera could be interested in him, but the fact that she was two years older than he was just confirmed it. He dismissed the thought from his mind and gazed around the room once more. It wasn't like he'd even been seriously interested in Illaera...she was just very pretty, that was all...
"Wow...I can't believe Professor Dumbledore did all this...I mean he must be very busy..." Hermione whispered in awe.
"He even left a spare chess set here! And exploding snap! And...a box for Illaera..." Ron held the box out to the Shifter. It was intricately carved and Illaera smiled the moment she saw it. There was a card attached bearing her name.
"It's from my father."
Harry, Ron and Hermione exchanged glances. Of course Illaera would have family...but why had she not mentioned them earlier? Illaera saw the looks on their faces and explained.
"We consider the entire clan as our family...even though we are not blood related. My father, my blood father, is the current leader of the Lunar clan. He is the father to us all, but I am his biological daughter. It hardly makes a difference...it just means that when my father passes on I will be the clan leader...apart from that he is as much of a friend as the rest of my clan."
Harry felt a lump in his throat. He had never known his family and here was Illaera, talking as if they did not matter! He knew it was different for her, as she was a Shifter...but to have a father and not acknowledge him as such...it was unthinkable to him. His thoughts were interrupted by the appearance of Professor Dumbledore.
"I have so much on my mind I almost forgot to tell you how to leave. Tap your wand on your stone three times and say, Exitus and you will find yourselves as close to Gryffindor Tower as it is possible to get without being seen."
And with that he was gone again.
"This is so unbelievably cool," Ron grinned, a mischievous look lurking behind his eyes.
***
Okay, so that's hardly likely. So sue me! I mean, imagine living in an invisibility cloak for a few months...just consider the psychological effects! She had to get out SOMEHOW!
A/n: This chapter, as all other chapters, is dedicated to my friends Admiral Albia, Kiki, Tkaa and my very own Kaera and my muse Maize. And of course, my best friend Zara.
Also, I very nearly didn't post this as I'm having a little writers block in the chapter I'm writing at the moment. From chapter 8 it will get a bit darker I guess, but that's only a prediction based on what I've written so far of said chapter. Another reason I almost didn't post this is everytime I look at my reviews I get depressed...there aren't enough my dears!! If you are reading this and don't plan on reviewing that's fine, it IS your right, but I'd much rather you reviewed.
***
Hermione yawned and reached back to stroke Crookshanks. Her hand met thin air and then blankets. She rolled and found that Crookshanks had gone. A glance out the window told her it was not long until dawn and Hermione knew she would not be able to go back to sleep now. Hermione swung her legs over the bed and padded past the beds occupied by Lavender and Parvati, down the spiral staircase and into the common room.
"Illaera..." she whispered. "Illaera?"
She shrugged and sank into a squashy red armchair. Other than the many cushions, the chair was empty and Hermione wondered which of the remaining chairs Illaera was sleeping in. Her question was answered moments later, when Crookshanks came through the portrait hole with an air of importance. He paraded over to the chair opposite Hermione and mewed. A hand slipped out from the covers and stroked him affectionately and Hermione realized Illaera had not been sleeping, she had been in a trance while using the mindvoice to communicate with Crookshanks. The hand jerked and reached up to pull of the cloak.
"Hermione, I didn't realize you were here."
"I came looking for my cat."
At this, Crookshanks turned away from Illaera and leapt into Hermione's lap.
"You are still his mistress, never fear. He does this for you. He knows you would be sad if Harry was hurt, so he patrols to make sure Wormtail is nowhere near, among other things."
Crookshanks stared at Illaera and her eyes glazed over for a moment.
"He also does this to protect you. He feels that you have been endangered enough over the last four years and wishes to protect you from harm."
Hermione opened her mouth to respond but suddenly the charm outside the door was activated and Illaera threw the cloak over herself. Moments later, Professor McGonagall stepped into the room, looking slightly puzzled.
"Ah, Hermione, there you are. I was afraid I would have to wake you. Professor Dumbledore wishes to see you, Harry and Ron in his office right now."
"Are...are you alright Professor?" Hermione asked tentatively, noting the perplexed look on her face.
"Oh, it's just Professor Dumbledore was a bit confused...he has so much on his mind...I'm worried about him...never thought I'd see the day that Albus Dumbledore made a mistake about his students..."
"What mistake?"
"Oh...just...he said to fetch you, Ron and Harry and to lead the four of you to his office..."
"Oh! Uh...yes, I'm sure he just has a lot on his mind Professor...shall I get Crookshanks to wake the boys Professor?"
"You can get him to do that?"
"Oh yes...whenever I need to speak to them I tell him to wake them...he's a very clever cat...Crookshanks! Crookshanks, time to play Cannonball!"
At these words, Crookshanks was up the spiral staircase in a blur of orange and soon muffled sounds were coming from the boys' dorm room.
"Amazing," Professor McGonagall commented as the two bleary-eyed boys followed Crookshanks down the stairs.
"Mione, what do you want this early- oh hi Professor McGonagall..."
The boys paused in their descent, embarrassed to be seen in their pajamas.
"I'll give you all five minutes to get dressed, then you are to follow me to Professor Dumbledore's office."
Ten minutes later, Harry, Ron, Hermione and an invisible Illaera followed Professor McGonagall through the Gargoyle statue into Professor Dumbledore's office.
"Thank you Minerva. Do you know she's named after the Roman goddess of wisdom? The Greek version is Athena, and rather more well known. Athena even had a city named after her...I am fascinated by Mythology...although in fact, most of it isn't mythology at all, but history."
After Professor McGonagall had left, Illaera slipped off the cloak.
"Ah, Professor? Why did you want to see us this early in the morning?"
"I have a present for you all, especially Illaera..." Here he began to rummage around in his desk drawer and soon produced four sparkling crystals. He handed the Rose Quartz to Hermione, the Amethyst to Illaera, the Clear Quartz to Ron and a green stone to Harry that he knew he should recognize...it wasn't emerald or jade...Harry racked his brains, trying to remember the name of the stone...Aquamarine? No...Am...Am...Amazonite!
"Tap the stone three times with your wand and say 'Alohomora Secretia Ruma'. Provided nobody who doesn't know about the room is watching, you with be transported to a secret room somewhere in the castle where Illaera may escape the confines of the cloak. I will not have this privilege abused, mind you...you may not sleep there, as you will be missed, If you miss any classes, the room will be confiscated...but you may spend your spare time there. I hope you find it satisfactory...I daresay you will want to add your own touches...Dobby will take care of the fire and food..."
"Th...thank you Professor..." Harry stammered.
"Umm...Professor? Illaera doesn't have a wand..."
"She doesn't need one. Would you care to demonstrate, Illaera?"
Illaera smiled and picked up the cloak and the Amethyst crystal. The next moment she was gone.
"Alohomora Secretia Ruma," Hermione cried tapping her stone three times. The boys followed suit and found themselves in a large circular room. A fire was blazing across the room and a small alcove of squashy, comfortable chairs and sofas surrounded it. The room also contained a few tables where they could do their homework and a bookshelf containing books with titles such as: A Qudditch Lover's Guide to Broomsticks, Advanced Transfiguration, Great Wizarding events of the Twentieth Century and World's Greatest Chess Maneuvers. The room was draped with purple cloths, in keeping with the room's colour schemes and a few paintings decorated the walls. Illaera was seated, one leg crossed over the other, in front of the fireplace. She grinned up at them as they entered.
"What took you guys so long?" She bounded to her feet and flashed a charming smile their way. "It's so wonderful to be free of that cloak! I can move without worrying whether people can see me! Oh, the freedom!"
Harry stared at Illaera. It was the first time she had acted like...well...a teenager! It suddenly occurred to Harry that he didn't actually know how old Illaera was.
"Illaera, how old are you?"
"Seventeen."
Harry's heart sank a little. He'd never actually thought Illaera could be interested in him, but the fact that she was two years older than he was just confirmed it. He dismissed the thought from his mind and gazed around the room once more. It wasn't like he'd even been seriously interested in Illaera...she was just very pretty, that was all...
"Wow...I can't believe Professor Dumbledore did all this...I mean he must be very busy..." Hermione whispered in awe.
"He even left a spare chess set here! And exploding snap! And...a box for Illaera..." Ron held the box out to the Shifter. It was intricately carved and Illaera smiled the moment she saw it. There was a card attached bearing her name.
"It's from my father."
Harry, Ron and Hermione exchanged glances. Of course Illaera would have family...but why had she not mentioned them earlier? Illaera saw the looks on their faces and explained.
"We consider the entire clan as our family...even though we are not blood related. My father, my blood father, is the current leader of the Lunar clan. He is the father to us all, but I am his biological daughter. It hardly makes a difference...it just means that when my father passes on I will be the clan leader...apart from that he is as much of a friend as the rest of my clan."
Harry felt a lump in his throat. He had never known his family and here was Illaera, talking as if they did not matter! He knew it was different for her, as she was a Shifter...but to have a father and not acknowledge him as such...it was unthinkable to him. His thoughts were interrupted by the appearance of Professor Dumbledore.
"I have so much on my mind I almost forgot to tell you how to leave. Tap your wand on your stone three times and say, Exitus and you will find yourselves as close to Gryffindor Tower as it is possible to get without being seen."
And with that he was gone again.
"This is so unbelievably cool," Ron grinned, a mischievous look lurking behind his eyes.
***
Okay, so that's hardly likely. So sue me! I mean, imagine living in an invisibility cloak for a few months...just consider the psychological effects! She had to get out SOMEHOW!