A/N: I'm getting really insecure guys- please review?
Why's It Gotta Be A Snake
Ch 7
The next morning is a blizzard and I wake up shivering in my fluffy pajamas.
I change quickly, putting on my warmest robes and ascend thee stairs from the dungeons with a lucky Astrid curled up warmly in my shirt.
The dining hall is less crowded than usual due to a few classes being canceled, and the lucky pricks get to sleep in- including Harry, Ron and Hermione.
But to my confusion, Ginny is not at the table like usual, so I begrudgingly sit down with my house that I know almost none of the names of. It's kind of ironic that I know pretty much all the Gryffindors'.
There is a fluttering of wings as the owl post comes flying into the great hall. I'm surprised through, when a brown speckled barn owl lands in my eggs, carrying a note addressed to me.
I hadn't ever gotten a letter aside from the acceptance one months ago.
I unfold the parchment curiously to find one word scrawled shakily across it.
Help
I stand suddenly from my chair, snatching up my indulging kitten, and rush out of the Great Hall to the seventh floor.
I pace the floor three times and barge through the door as soon as it shimmers into existence.
There she stands, covered in colorful feathers and about ready to cry.
"It happened again." She says brushing a few off. "I remember going to bed, but I woke up by the lake. I sent you an owl and came straight up here."
"Um," I say tossing Astrid into the bed and start dusting her off. "This doesn't mean anything, they're just feathers, completely innocent." My voice is higher than normal.
"Alex... What's happening to me?"
My chest aches at her helplessness.
"I don't know but just know that whatever happens, I'm on your side. I won't let anything happen to you." I tell her honestly.
"Why? You've only known me for a few months."
I shrug. "You're the first friend I've ever had."
She smiles slightly and I feel like this would be one of those 'awe!' moments I always saw in those muggle television shows.
She hugs me and I stand stunned, uncertain of what to do. I have never been hugged by my dad so the action is foreign. I slowly loop my arms around her waist, unsure if I was placing my hands right.
"You do know we are currently missing first bell?" I say pulling back awkwardly.
She shrugs. "That's okay, I'm supposed to be in Defense Against the Dark Arts."
I grin, glad that at least one other girl isn't fawning all over him.
"ATTACK! ATTACK! ANOTHER ATTACK! NO MORTAL OR GHOST IS SAFE! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! ATTAAAACK!" The faint yell reaches us and I spin around, jerk the door open, and rush down the steps with Ginny on my heels until we reach the large mass of students and teaches all gathered in a fit up uproar.
Peeves the poltergeist floats happily over everyone's heads singing gleefully,
"Oh, Potter, you rotter, oh, what have you done, you're killing off students, you think it's good fun-"
"That's enough, Peeves!" Professor McGonagall barks.
I push my way forward until the space in front of me opens up and I see Harry standing there, with Justin Finch-Fletchley at his feet and a black, smoky, Nearly-Headless Nick, the Griffendor ghost, floating slightly beside him.
This is really not looking good for Harry.
I watched, gaping, as Justin and Nearly Headless Nick were taken away to the hospital wing.
"This way, Potter." McGonagall says.
"Professor," Harry says quickly and panicky, "I swear I didn't-"
"This is out of my hands, Potter." She says shortly and leads him away.
Through the muttering and chaos that goes on long after they disappear, I meet Ginny's wide green eyes.
...
After the double attack on Justin and Nearly Headless Nick, there was a rush to book seats on the Hogwarts Express for Christmas, even from the Slytherins who were all pureblood.
I would have the whole first year dorm to myself over break and I was dreading being alone, even if there wouldn't be much changed in the social aspect of things.
I do feel bad for Harry though, having to deal with all the skirting around the halls, the hissing and jeering, but I couldn't help but snort that one time Fred and George were with him and announcing it to the world that he was going to tea with his fanged servant in the Chamber of Secrets.
Christmas morning has me waking up to a cold, empty, and dark room and the familiar feeling of loneliness grips my chest.
I sigh and slip out of bed, nearly having a heart attach when something falls off the bed to the stone floor.
I hurriedly light the torches in the room with my wand to see wrapped parcels had fallen the ground.
I had gotten Christmas presents.
I grin and jump back into the bed, startling Astrid in the process, with the fallen gifts clutched in my arms.
The first one is from Hagrid; he had gotten me a container of truffles and, remembering the last time I tried to bite into one, I make a mentally note to soften it in the fire before eating any.
Ron, Harry, and Hermione had all gotten me gifts as well. From Harry a box of chocolate frogs, from Ron a new wizard chess set, and Hermione got me a book of pranking curses.
Even Ginny got me something and I grin in excitement at seeing what it is- a bunch of muggle toys and candies.
She had guessed my fascination with muggle things.
I pick Astrid up and hold her in front of my face smiling broadly.
"I have friends, Astrid. Real friends."
She yawns in response so I leave her curled up in the bed as I race down to the banquet hall in my fluffy socks and sleep clothes.
I have no classes so I have no need to be in my wizarding robes.
When I see my small group of friends, I fling myself into them without thinking, smiling brightly.
"Thank you!" I say and they laugh at me. "I didn't think you guys would get me anything!"
"Of course." Hermione says as I release her last. "And thank you so much for that Wizarding Real Species and Not Folklore book; I wasn't sure if some of the monsters I heard about were real."
"I wasn't sure if you didn't already know all that stuff so I wasn't certain you would like it." I say blushing.
"I love it." She says reassuringly.
Just then Ginny walks it to breakfast and I hug her to.
"Thank you!" I say.
"You're welcome." She giggles trying to stay standing under my weight. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas." I say and follow her back over to the table.
We eat in peace and I easily ignore Malfoy's glares from the Slytherin table.
By now, the teachers have grown used to me not eating at my house table and they don't even glance at me oddly anymore, but Snape does scowl at my clothing choice.
Christmas dinner blurs by in a furry of excitement and joy in my chest and all too soon, it's over.
"I've got to go thank Hagrid for the truffles." I say standing up when I see him stumble out the door after the feast."
"Okay." Ginny says smiles at me with a new sparkle in her eye.
The others give distracted goodbyes as they snicker at Percy's 'Pinhead' badge.
I walk out the great oak doors and rush down the snowed path, soaking my socks through in the first two steps.
Hagrid is already halfway to the lake when I stupidly go out in the cold.
"Hagrid!" I call charging forward, doing my best to ignore the numbing chill in my toes. "Hagrid!"
He turns and watches as I struggle forward.
"Wha' are ye doin out here in the snow?" He says when I get close enough.
"I wanted to say thank you for my gift." I pant shaking terribly from the cold.
"Well ye said it, now get back inside b'fore you catch somethin'."
He herds be back toward the castle, smiling, and waits until I get through the doors before he waves and once again departs.
I wander the halls in my dripping socks, shivering from head to toe, not wanting to head back to the Slytherin common room just yet.
Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle are the only ones that stayed over Christmas and they are surly sitting around the fire right now, talking about all the people they've bullied today.
But when I grow board of looking at the celebrating pictures and I am shivering so badly that I miss a step, I figure it would be best for me to change into something warm.
My descending steps into the dungeon echo around the walls and I soon arrive at the hidden door.
"Pure-blood." I sigh and it springs open.
"-of Secrets was opened, a Mudblood died. So I bet it's a matter of time before one of them is killed this time... I hope it's Granger." A familiar voice says in relish.
"You pompous freak." I hiss angrily, fists clenching.
The sound of shifting chairs and Malfoy stands from the fire along with Crabbe and Goyle looking stupid faced as ever.
I stalk forward, ignoring how much bigger he is than me, as I always do.
"You're despicable! The worst kind of thing that can still call themselves human can be! Hermione is a ten times better wizard than you'll ever be-!"
Pain sprouts from my nose and blood gushes into my mouth.
I cough it onto the green and silver rug and look up into the tree furious faces above me. But for some reason Crabbe and Goyle are looking at Draco.
"Careful blonde, you'll leave a visible mark and everyone will know that you've been beating up a little, first year, girl. You would lose the little respect that you have."
His face twists in fury and his foot snaps out to kick me hard in the stomach.
The air leaves me gasping and unwilling tears sting behind my eyes.
When I get enough breath back, I stager to my feet, fixing a watery glare on the taller boys.
"Well, come on then, you too! Nothing's stopped you before!" I shout at them.
Weird expressions cloud their face as they just stare at me.
"You're just a little brat that gets in the way of where I walk." Malfoy spits, shoving his foot into my stomach and repeatedly kicking me when I fall. "You should have never become a Slytherin."
"Is that… the best... you got?" I gasp.
"Well what are you waiting for?" Malfoy asks his too friends, who are angrily clenching their fists.
"Stomach ache." Crabbe grunts. "I'm going to go get medicine." He says as something strange happens.
It might just be my blurry eyes but it almost looks like his hair is turning red.
They both turn and walk out through the wall door.
Malfoy rolls his eyes. "They are so strange." He says, ignoring me as he walks past to sit back in front of the fire.
I pull myself to my feet with much struggling and slouch off to my empty room.
I curl up on my bed cursing myself for urging the Malfoy boy on as I clutch my aching ribs. Astrid pads over and curls up comfortingly under my chin.
I sigh as I slip into an uneasy sleep, forgetting all about changing out of my wet and cold clothes.
...
At breakfast, Harry and Ron stalk right up to me and ask what happened to my face. My nose hadn't been broken, but I have two good black eyes.
I smile wearily because they seem to know somehow, but I hadn't told them what those three do when no one is around, and Malfoy would never admit to beating up a first year girl.
"I tripped on the way down the stairs." I say taking a seat next to Ginny who looks at me with wide eyes and starts lightly touching my face to make sure nothing is broken.
"Fell down two flights."
They purse their lips and Ron looks like he's going to say something but Harry elbows him in the ribs.
"You have to be more careful." Ginny frets. "You're going to end up tripping off a cliff one day." She sighs and I smile sheepishly.
"Hey, where's Hermione?" I ask looking up and down the table.
"She's in the hospital wing." Ron says grinning and I frown in concern.
"Is she alright?" I say, my mind immediately jumping to the Chamber, but judging from his not so well concealed snickers, it's nothing near that bad.
"Oh she's fine but she won't want anyone seeing her for a while."
...
My curiosity peeks the more days that pass that Hermione is in the hospital and several rumors fly around that her disappearance is due to another attack once students start arriving back to school.
I got so impatient waiting to hear what was wrong, that one day during break, I just sneak right in.
I gasp when I pull back the curtain to see Hermione sitting there looking over a few books.
"Alex!" She says covering her face but that does little.
"What did you do, try to transfigure yourself into a cat?" I say pulling her hands away to reveal yellow eyes.
"That is none of your concern." She huffs crossing her arms. "How did you get in here?"
"I snuck in." I shrug.
"Alex, you can't just go around breaking ru- you know what, never mind that," she says changing direction completely. "How are you?" She asks with real concern dripping from her harry face as if she knows something.
"I'm fine." I say. "Haven't fallen out any windows or come across Slytherin's heir's monster if that's what you're asking."
She smiles slightly. "That's always a plus I suppose." She says.
"I-"
"What are you doing in here?" Madam Pomfrey asks sharply and I whip around to face her. "You're not supposed to be here; out, out!" She shoos me and slams the door once I'm in the other side.
I sigh and walk back to the common room.
...
Hermione is let out of the hospital, de-cat-ified, in the beginning of February. And on the fourteenth, Lockhart has done something horrific.
The walls of the great hall are covered with large, lurid pink flowers and hearts-shaped confetti falls from the pale blue ceiling.
Somehow, Hermione sits giggling as both Ron and Harry look like someone put Bubotuber pus in their drinks.
My face forms into one of disgust as I see a dozen surly-looking dwarfs march into the great hall wearing diapers, golden wings, and carrying little harps.
"They will be roving around the school today delivering your valentines!" He goes on to explain.
I almost smile though when he suggest asking Snape to show us how to whip up a Love Potion. Snape looks like the first person that asks him for a Love Potion would be force-fed poison.
I found myself actually enjoying the day some, watching the little cupids run around delivering things and embarrassing people.
I even sent one particularly embarrassing musical message to Fred and George in revenge for giving me a piece of candy that made my voice turn into a chipmunk's.
Lesson learned; don't eat food given to you by tall annoying faced redheads.
Sadly, I didn't get to see the show.
I do get to see, however, as a grim-looking dwarf shoulders through the crowd to Harry.
"I've got a musical message to deliver to 'Arry Potter in person." He says twinning his harp in a threatening sort of way.
"Oh, you didn't." I whisper to Ginny who is blushing beside me.
"Not here." Harry hisses trying to get away.
I watch in half amusement, half horror, as the dwarf grabs onto him, ripping his bag in the proses, and they shuffle around until the Cupid sits down on Harry's ankles.
His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad,
His hair is as dark as a blackboard.
I wish he was mine, he's really divine,
The hero who conquered the Dark Lord.
I felt bad for my friend I really did, for both Ginny and Harry, as Percy started shooing some of the onlookers away.
My attention is drawn to Malfoy as he stoops down and snatches something up.
"Give that back," Harry says quietly.
"Wonder what Potter's written in this?" Malfoy say holding up a familiar black diary.
"Isn't that...?" I turn I look at Ginny and she's pale and staring at it in horror. "Ginny?"
Why would Harry have Tom Riddles diary; did she give it to him?
"Hand it over, Malfoy." Percy says sternly.
"When I've had a look," Malfoy taunts waving inflatable it at Harry.
Harry doesn't wait for Percy to try again as her points his wand.
"Expelliarmus!"
Ron grins and catches the diary as it shoots out of Draco's hand and into the air.
"Harry!" Percy says loudly. "No magic in the corridors. I'll have to report this, you know!"
Malfoy look furious so when Ginny and I pass him to enter a lesson we have together, he looks spitefully at her.
"I don't think Potter liked your valentine very much!"
Ginny covers her face and I watch helplessly as she runs into class.
While he's distracted by Ron pulling out his wand (luckily Harry stops him before he could make himself belch slugs all though Charms), I pull my silver wand from my boot and whisper a jinx at Malfoy's shoes.
I watch satisfied as they tie themselves together before slipping into the room after my red haired friend.
I slip silently into the seat next to her and pretend not to see the tears in the corners of her eyes.
"How did Harry get Riddle's diary?" I ask her in a whisper.
"I-I tried to get rid of it."
My eyes widen in surprise. "Why, that thing is so cool."
She lowers her voice even more and I have to duck closer to hear.
"I think that it's the reason I can't remember doing things. Why I wake up in different places I never went."
My breath catches. "Why didn't you tell me?" I hiss lowly. She shrugs. "Well if that's the case, you have to get it back from Harry."
She nods glumly.
...
I walk slowly through the halls with Ginny on our way out to the Quidditch pitch.
"I got it." She says. "It caused quite a commotion in Gryffindor tower."
"Don't use it, okay?" I ask. "Hide it away until we can find a sure way of destroying it; magical objects tend to be hard to-" I freeze as that cold voice, the one from so long ago that I was beginning to think never happened, washes over me, almost like a whispering echo.
"Kill this time...let me rip...tear..."
I feel my face drain of any color.
"Alex?" Ginny asks worriedly. "Are you okay?"
"Y-you didn't hear that?" I ask shakily.
"Hear what?"
I swallow thickly and force my feet to carry me forward.
"It's probably nothing." I say as the oak doors come into view.
I numbly find a seat high in the bleachers next to Ron and a feeling of dread fills me when I see no Hermione in sight.
That feeling only grows when Professor McGonagall comes marching across the field right before they start the match.
"This match has been canceled." She calls through the microphone. "All students are to make their way back to the House common rooms, where their Heads of House will give them further information. As quickly as you can please!"
I stand numbly and follow Ron down into the pitch as she gestures to Harry. "Yes, perhaps you three better come too."
My stomach does horrible summersaults as we draw closer to the infirmary, cotton seemingly blocking out all noise.
McGonagall pushes the door open and my stomach drops to my feet.
Hermione.