Lieve was really really tired, and yet she hadn't done nearly as much of the work load as she thought she would have done by now.
Charms essay laid beside her halfly done, abandoned midway as she hoped distancing from it for a bit would clear her mind, Defence she had by mistake crumbled, though it was only on five lines so far as it laid not far from her, and she tried, she really really tried to write her potions essay probably, but again she was simply in a feeze in her mind, not knowing what to write.
Rawenclaw! Why the hell was she in Rawenclaw?
She knew that she had to look at mess, and that she probably had dark shadows under her eyes, her bright hair covered her vision. And this was supposed to be done till tomorrow! She could not afford another detention because of not prober made homework, and Slughorn was even one of the more lenient teachers, he simply did not care that much as he could see she would never be one of the ones to go far in life, though he was always encouraging everyone, searching for any potential he had might overlooked, but of cause he hadn't seen any specific in her to point out, more importantly, she had to pass her O.W.L.S.. what would her parents say if she didn't? if she was told, oh sorry, you can never perform magic legally ever again! determined she looked up in her book, swearing to get the essay done but was left starring blankly at the complicated diagram understanding nothing of it.
She groaned from the floor, she was so stupid and useless that it was a joke.
And so she ended up smacking her head down in the parchment getting the feeling she would have ink all over her face not to.
"miss O'Hara?"
Startled Lieve jumped from her position to stare wide eyed at the little man, for once having to look up as she was on the floor and he stood up looking down on her. "Professor Flitwick!" she exclaimed. What was he doing in their common room?
Flitwick sighed. "If you don't mind, please follow me to my office."
Lieve gaped at him.. she was not going to be reprimanded was she? Or had they finally decided to throw her out. "I am doing the best I can with me homework!" she assured "I promise it will be done on time!"
"Miss O'Hara." Flitwick hesistated. "That is not what I wish to discuss, you are not in trouble, please just pack up and follow me wouldn't you?"
"Eh?… Aye of cause sir" Lieve stammered, and tried to get all of her papers, spread out everywhere, and she noticed how Flitwick lifted an eyebrow at her as she hurriedly threw them in the bag, creating a bigger mess.
"miss O'Hara." Flitwick commented in a defeated soft tone. "You would do yourself a favour if you kept more order in your things, it would only take that little effort and I am sure you would fell the change instantaneously."
"Thank ye sir." Lieve blushed deeply. "Not very Rawenclaw to be such a mess is it?"
Flitwick raised an eyebrow. "Since when was one of the virtues of being a Rawenclaw orderliness?"
"Ye know.." Lieve furrowed her brows. "I dinnae know actually."
Flitwick gave a soft chuckle before he turned silent. "Come on miss O'Hara." He gestured at the exit.
Nervously Lieve followed him out.. he did say that she was not in trouble.. so what was the matter? Had they finally decided to assign her extra classes? Honestly Lieve didn't know if she would be able to handle any more school hours, though, getting help would be nice, she was just about ready to do anything to be assigned a tutor for help..
God she hoped it was not about that alone thing again, she knew Flitwick only meant it well, but dammit she hated being accused for being picked on, no such thing had ever happened and it was ridicules the adults kept asking. She just didn't hit it well off with her class mates, and that was all there was to it, it was no ones fault.
At last she entered the office, it was really homely and nice, neat and bookish. It was not the first time Lieve had been in here, in the past it was mostly as she had been called in to talk about her less than ideal grades, and her situation. But he said it wasn't what it was about.. only one new addition had happened to the room since last time, a beautiful silver weight were standing on the desk, gleaming in the light… the place where Flitwick for some reason just always loved to place new objects between her visits, and he would always asked if she liked it.
"You like my new weight?" Flitwick asked.
"It's goblin made!" Lieve realised. "I mean, just look at how they worked tha magic into the metal, and tha construction, like the delicate arms, and the flow that goes from here to here, it's the design they would have preferred back in early18 century." She pointed out. "Then it went out of fashion its around a hundred years now since they would use that tehcning, but still only a gobbling could made that, and tha metal! It's goblin enchanted silver is it not?" she observeed.
Flitwick smiled, as he always did when she could tell exactly what it was and went on her usual rambling spree as she so often did when she got excited. "And you question why you are a Rawenclaw?" he frowned. "Miss O'Hara. Please have a seat."
Lieve swallowed as she did as she was told, and sat down in front of the desk, looking at her professor, who still stood up, taking a seat would probably make little difference to him, and he looked sad. "bonbon?" he asked, pushing ford a little bowl with red and white striped candies.
Lieve shook her head as she looked at him and swallowed, something was very wrong, she could fell it.
Flitwick sighed. "I am truly, truly sorry to be the bearer of such news." Flitwick sighed. "Miss O'Hara, merely hours ago your father." He took a deep breath. "was killed by death-eaters in your home town."
"Wha?" Lieve looked blankly at him. "I Dinnae understand sir."
"Derrick O'Hara." Flitwick said slowly in a soft voice. "passed away three hours ago, killed in fight in the middle of the street at Aghamore village."
Lieve just looked blankly at him still.
Flitwick sighed. "I don't know much, but if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask." He looked concerned at her. "Why don't you sit here for a while before returning to the common room?" he asked. "I make you some tea, in the morning you will have packed for a couple of days and go see your mother all right? I am sure that she wants to see you."
Lieve didn't answered.. just looked blankly out in the air, furrowing her brows, just trying to comprehend what she had just been told, it had to be some kind of a joke! There was no way her father was dead, and my god it was a cruel form of pranking then, really below the belt!
Flitwick just sighed as he shook his head, snapping his finger to have an house elf appear. "Bring us some tea would you be a good friend?" he asked the house elf, which nodded in return to disappear for a little while.
Still next morning Lieve had not comprehended a thing at all, she had automatically packed her suitcase, just thrown what ever down there without even looking, and had so met up in the office after breakfast as she had been told. "I am ready to go." She had told.
Both Flitwick and Lieves favourite professor, Professor Kettleburn was now in the office, looking at her. "Miss O'Hare." Flitwick sighed. "I am truly sorry." He said the same words as last night, though Lieve didn't really understand them. "You are not going home." He said. "We don't know if she's dead, but we don't know where she is either." He said. "Your mother came into a fight, and she disappeared."
Lieve furrowed her eyebrows. "Excuse me?" she asked.
Kettleburn, a more rought sort of wizard took over. "She swore so it stood according to the towns people, at the Dementors, and she had to flee from them."
"What are ye saying?" Lieve asked.
Flitwick took a breath. "She's gone to no one knows where miss O'Hara."
Lieve just looked confused, she looked at Flitwick and then to the left, and back at the two professors. "I got to go." She suddenly said out of the blue. "got to catch classes."
"Miss O'Hara" Flitwick cut in. "You don't have to, you are excused for today if you wish."
"Nay, I cannae miss classes." Lieve said. "Awfully behind, always awfully behind." And she turned around. "I need to pay attention more I do."
"Miss O'Hara wait!" Flitwick tried to say, but she was already gone.
"Carlos I am worried." Flitwick turned to Kettleburn. "I was never able to get really through to her, but now I think it's important."
"Filius I wish I could help you, she is my best student." He told. "But I never attempted such thing at all, she seemed fine to me, always enjoyed herself in my classes."
"Would it be begging for a miracle to let somebody get through to her?" Flitwick asked. "I know she comes across as a open person, but she just isn't, so far anyway."
"I don't know." Kettleburn shrugged. "I promise to keep an extra eye on her if I can, but I can't promise anything more than that, you know her better than me."
Penelope felt so happy, she had done it.. she had actually done it! She had kissed Reg! oh god she couldn't believe it, and now they were walking together, hand in hand. Not even caring for all the staring people they met in the hall way. Penelope had to admit, she hadn't even realised that she had fallen in love with Regulus doing these months, with Zach she knew she had been in love, but with Reg.. it had been a surprise yet had felt so right as it happened. they had just left Severus and Lily, who had been so busy kissing each other that they had seemingly forgotten her and Regulus, as Regulus had discovered it he had become incredible unsure and the two of them had darted outside of the room. Penelope laughing of his discomfort.
"Not funny." Regulus murmered.
Penelope rolled her eyes. "As if you didn't know that's what they are doing, come on Severus adores Lily and Lily have been running around sighing by the mention of his name."
"Of cause I knew." Regulus stated. "I'm not that dump, if it was supposed to be a secret that they are.. erh.. "
"And Item?" Penelope suggested.
"Yeas that!" Regulus injected. "It's the worst kept secret on school."
"Totally." Penelope agreed as she snickered down in her hand. "You know i'm sort of jalouse, they are just made for each other." Penelope told.
"Don't tell me your into Severus." Regulus wrinkled his nose.
"No of cause not." Penelope told. "He is.. what do you call it? a mentor I guess, it's just wrong, can't picture it." she explained. "But you know, it's every girls dream to have a boy who adores them, not everyone admits it, but it sort of is. And your right, Zach was a twat, some day, I just hope.." she trailed of and lifted her head to look at Regulus's face.. and suddenly she halted.. it was indescribable what she saw, the badly hidden anguish in his face, his eyes looked pleadingly at her. Penelopes mouth dropped open. "You?" she asked. "you.. fell that way?"
ashamed Regulus looked away. "No.." he muttered, a red blush crawling up his neck.
suddenly Penelopes heart was hammering incredible fast, and she could fell the warmth going to his cheek. "Your the best friend I ever had." Penelope told.
"I thought I was a stiff." Regulus murmered.
"Well you are." Penelope told.
Regulus smirked ligthly. "No one ever called me such a thing, it's always all about my name and how important my family is."
"About time someone did then." Penelope cheated.
"I don't know, I don't know what i'm saying!" Regulus told, looking very awkward while saying it.
Penelope blushed deeply as she looked down in the ground.. and then searched for his hand, which she took and felt a bolt going through her body as her little hand dissapeared into his bigger one. "I like you for you." Penelope told. "Come on, lets go." she started walking, holding Regulus's hand.
And here they were a week after, Regulus unashamedly and even proudly holding her hand as he escorted her to potions.
The Rawenclaws coming out from potions looked disgusted at them, Penelope just smiled sheepishly in return, all starred sourly.. but one.. the orange haired messy looking one.. she just looked blankly out in the air.. it looked like she had potions all over herself and ingredients, but hadn't even noticed or took care, and neither did the other rawenclaws seemed to. Penelope furrowed an eyebrow. Something was off.. no one poking fun of even though she had what looked like half a slubberworm in her hair, no one even noticing or snapped fingers in front of her blank looking eyes.. which were indeed, just blank. No one looking worried if it was anything more than a exploding cauldron. the orange haired one just looked all tiny and alone despite standing in the middle of the groupe, as if she was not really included, and no one worried.
Regulus looked at her. "what are you thinking?" he asked.
"That girl." She pointed at the Rawenclaw. "She does not look okay."
"Really?" Regulus furrowed her brows. "I admit it looks like the cauldrun exploded on her, but that doesn't mean anything." He shrugged. "Probably put her into a bit of shell shock if you ask me, she'll be fine."
"Your such a guy some times." Penelope smirked. "Well I better be going to my own class, see you later." She sqeezed his hand to let go.
The girl remained in Penelopes head for the rest of the day, the more Penelope examined the picture the more did she think something was wrong, the girl was differently alone despite being surrounded by her class mates, at dinner she was scouting the rawenclaw table for bright orange hair, but found none.. where is she.. suddenly she saw her, standing in the doorway, looking in with a blank face expression, and then walked away. At once Penelope stood up and darted in the direction.. "Hey Pen where are you going?" Regulus asked as she rushed past him. "Sorry, meet you at the fighters kay?" she hurried said as she rushed past him, and towards the door leading out in the front hall.. where did she go? The girl was gone.. there! Up the stairs was a movement, Penelope rushed up, and entered a hallway, she was forced to keep down her pace as she was in a narrower hallway after a while.. "Hallo." She called out. "Some ones there?" no sound was to be heard.. oh, she had missed the girl.. she passed another hallway, and suddenly heard a scramble.. slowly Penelope took a step back and turned her head to look down the hall way. "Hallo?" she called.
Again no answer, and no sound at all. Well, she might as well, Penelope took a deep breath as she stepped inside.. "Hallo?" she asked.. this hallway was dark, not lithe up. She kept walking though. She had to sqiuint her eyes and be careful to be sure not to ram into anything, she even held up her hands as a blind person.. okay this was ridiculous, there was obviously no one in here.. except.
Penelope stopped up, she drew her wand to whisper a soft. "lumos." And a pale light shone from her wand and lithe up the corner where the bright haired girl looked shocked at her.
"hey there you are." Penelope greeted. "Sorry if I startled you, I just couldn't help notice that you seemed somewhat distressed."
The girl just kept looking at her with very blue eyes.
"hey are you all right?" Penelope asked.. no answer. Penelope sat down in front of the girl holding her wand in between them. "I am not going to hurt you honestly! And I am not going to laugh." Was this girl even capable of speaking? Or showing emotion for that matter. Apparently not, she was just starring blankly out in the air. "Are you a ghost or something?" Penelope at last asked.. to no reaction what so ever. "Girl, honestly I am afraid to leave you like this, I just have this weird feeling you really would be a ghost the next time I saw you.. you know.. died of starvation.." still zero reaction. "okay that was a dump joke sorry." Penelope tried to wave her hand in front of the girls eyes. "some one home?" and the girl looked down. "Look I really mean it, I am not going to leave you here." And Penelope sat down. "Your stuck on me."
And she just sat there, on her knees in front of the girl holding her wand in between them.. left to wonder what the hell was up with this girl.
Penelope could recognise the sign of loneliness, having that been what she was used to, those people who were in real trouble were always the ones trying to hide it, and this girl really tried hard to hide what ever was wrong.. well.. at least the uniform was clean, so that had to have been changed since potions. "OH GOD!" Penelope suddenly exclaimed, actually making the other girl jump from her position and stare wide eyed at her. "The club!" Penelope almost screamed. "I'm really really late! But.." she looked at the girl. "Naha, no way you are being left here!" and with sheer forced she raised up to pull the girl with her. "Your coming with me!" she said. "Don't worry, no one is going to hurt you." She said surely. "Here!" she guided the girls arm around her shoulder. "And now we walk! You just follow my lead!" and she dragged girl the best she could, all the long way up till first floor, dragging was the only prober word at all, cause this girl was differently not supporting herself, and she was bigger than Penelope to so did this not help. Finally as they reached the door people felt exhausted, and relieved she opened it, only to become pretty annoyed as everyone was starring at her and the rawenclaw, and she could fell how the Rawenclaw tensed, and then grew more numb retrieving more into her shell. "Just found her hanging around the castle." Penelope muttered to all of the starring eyes, hoping they would just look away. "thought she might wanted to join." Penelope said a little defeated.
And of cause people kept on starring and questioning, what kind of idiots were they. Penelope simply let the girl down on one of the benches as she rolled her sore shoulders, though stayed with the girl.. that's when she discovered Remus had gotten down on his knees and taken the girls hand, his first sentence was. "What's your name?"
And.. the girl looked up at him! Jesus he got through.
"My name is Remus Lupin, you can just call me Remus what may I call you."
The girl showed more emotion than ever as she just looked disbelieving at him. And she responded again to him as he asked if she wanted to be alone and she shook her head, Penelope was so relieved when the shabby Gryffindor choose to simply sit with her
"Thank goodness." Penelope sighed.
Lily lifted an eyebrow.
"He had her react more than me." Penelope said.
"Really?" Lily asked. "but you're the exspert in these things."
"Since when?"
"Urh." Lily looked at her. "Always I guess.. "
"Thanks for the compliment, honestly I am just glad Remus seems to be knowing what he is doing"
Regulus was by her side again, looking worried at her. "You really didn't manage to make her respond?"
"nope." Penelope shook her head. "Well, these robes unfortunately tends to throw people a little off." She gestured at her green uniform. "all though.." Penelope snapped her figners. "I knew it! I've seen her before! She helped me with my papers last year." She looked smuckly at Regulus. "When you pushed me down the stairs so all the papers fell out."
"erh…" Regulus was blushing deep red. "Sorry.."
"Apology accepted." Penelope shrugged. "Being a prat is what happens when you don't loosen up once in a while, mr Stiff."
"Your calling me a prat?" Regulus asked.
Penelope just smiled as she shook her had. "She didn't seem to be bothered back then though." Penelope furrowed her brows. "Though she also seemed pretty busy just to get moving."
Regulus sighed. "If it really matters this much to you, I am sure your going to figure it all out." He said surely. And then looked a little defeated. "It's not like anything is going to stop you if it matters to you."
Penelope felt so warm inside as she had gotten his support. "Thanks Regulus." She smiled of him. "What are we doing?" she then asked, looking at Severus who had busied himself showing off some spells.. as mastery as usual, with all the youngest starring as enchanted and wide eyed as usual swallowing everything just being completely mesmerized by his abilities, and Severus as usually didn't even seem to notice or brag about it, as if it was nothing to speak off, which just made it all that more mesmerizing for the young ones, and everyone else to.
Who the hell would want Malfoys approval when we have that guy? Was a subconscious question among all of them. And as she looked at the Rawenclaw from the corner of the eye, Penelope was happy to see the Rawenclaw making indecisive movements, as if she if she were deciding whether or not to lean towards Remus and take his support, it was differently a step in the right direction.