AUTHORS NOTE!
Hey, so still not getting that much reviews, but here's the next chapter, so hope you like it, and I hope you all R&R!
-Rach ;)
Max's POV
Ron was belching large slugs every few seconds, and the closer we got to Hagrid's, the more I started to regret being the one supporting Ron. One slug actually landed on my boots, but I kicked it off with a cry of disgust. "Were nearly there, Ron. You'll be all sorted in a minute," Hermione kept saying, which was starting to become more annoying then all the slugs coming from Ron's mouth.
"Oh, no. Quickly, behind this tree!" Harry said and pushed us behind a large oak tree. "What do you think your-" I snapped, but Harry covered my mouth with his hand. When he touched me, I got butterflies in my stomach, and my face went fiery red. Harry blushed a bit too, but then he pointed at Hagrid's cabin, and I poked my head out to see what was bothering him so much.
Lockhart was standing at Hagrid's door. I noticed how Hermione seemed to fidget, as if all she wanted to do was to run out and jump into Lockhart's arms. I rolled my eyes and strained my ears to hear what they were saying.
"As I said, my dear man, its only the simple matter of actually knowing what your doing. If you ever need help, or to ask any questions, please feel free to see me. You know where I will be, ,and I can lend you a copy of my book. I must say I'm surprised you don't have it already," Lockhart was saying in a loud, clear voice as if he thought Hagrid couldn't understand him.
Hagrid looked highly irritated and said, "Yeh, thanks for yer help, Gilderoy!" But as Lockhart strutted away towards the castle, I heard Hagrid mutter, "Dung head." I snorted, and so did Fang and Iggy. The others seemed lost. When Lockahrt was out of sight, I lead the way to Hagrid's cabin, Fang and Harry dragging Ron behind.
I knocked on the door, and Hagrid opened it, looked very grumpy and annoyed. But when he saw us, his face brightened and he stepped aside, letting us in. "Been wonderin' when yeh lot were gonna come down an' see me," Hagrid said as he sat in his large armchair. Hagrid was bigger then any man I have ever met. He was well over six foot. He had a black beard, black hair, and shining black eyes that always seemed to be crinkled into a smile. Given his size, he was the kindest and most gentlest man you could ever meet.
"What's the matter with Ron?" Hagrid asked as another slug escaped Ron's mouth. Iggy explained everything that happened in the Quidditch pitch, and Hagrid raised himself from his chair took down a large bucket from a high shelf. Ron's head disappeared in the bucket, and you could hear each thump as a slug fell to the bottom. " Better out then in," Hagrid chuckled.
Hermione was watching Ron, concern etched on her face. Iggy left out the Mudblood part of the story, hoping to spare Hermione's feelings. Hagrid filled the copper kettle with water, and Harry asked, "Why was Lockhart here, Hagrid?" Hagrid's face went sour, and he said, "Givin' me advice on gettin' kelpies out of a well," he growled. "Then he was goin' on an' on abou' him banishing that banshee. I tell yeh, if one word was true, I'd eat me own kettle."
I was odd to see Hagrid talking about a Hogwarts teacher like this, and we all looked at him surprised, except for Ron, who had once again disappeared into the bucket. Hermione, of course, went to defend Lockhart. "But Hagrid, Dumbledore must of thought he was the best for the job if he hired him."
"He was the on'y man fer the job. No one else would take the job. People aren't to keen ter take the Darks Art job no more. Starting ter think its jinxed," Hagrid grunted. He threw his head in the direction of where Ron was sitting, and said, "Who was he tryin' ter curse?"
"Malfoy," I said. I glanced at Hermione, and she nodded. "He called Hermione a...Mudblood." I felt disgusted with myself by just saying it. Hagrid gasped and nearly dropped the kettle. He left it on the table and cried, "He didn't!"
Hermione looked up, tears in her eyes, and nodded. Harry looked around, frowning. Fang looked at Hagrid and asked, "But what is a Mudblood?" Hagrid was so outraged, that he couldn't speak, so he just started pouring everyones tea, even though he was shaking so much that most of the tea was falling onto the table. Ron emerged from the bucket, pale and sweaty.
"It was the most insulting thing he could think of," he gasped. "Mudbloods a really foul name for someone who came from a Muggle family. It means that the person has dirty blood, and has no right to do magic. There are some wizards, like the Malfoy's- who think they're better then everyone else because they're pure blood. All wizards in the family," he finished and burped out a single slug.
"But, your pure-blood, right Ron?" Iggy asked, and Ron nodded and said, "Yeah but my family are the biggest blood-traitors you'd ever meet, so to people like the Malfoy's, were the same as Muggle-borns in they're eyes." He disappeared into the bucket again.
I looked at everyone, and said, "But that makes no since! It doesn't make a difference what your blood-statues is! Hermione is much smarter then Malfoy, or any other pure-blood wizard!" Ron popped his head up and glared at me, and I smirked cheekily. "She's right though. Look at Neville. He's pure-blood and he can hardly tell one end of his wand to the other," Iggy chuckled.
Hagrid sighed and grabbed Hermione's hand. There were still tears in her eyes, and it hurt me to see her this upset. Malfoy would pay for this, mark my words.
"Don't you worry about it, Hermione. Not fer a minute! There isn't a spell out there you don't know how ter do! So don't you be sad abou' it, Hermione," he said, then wiped a tear away from Hermione's cheek as it leaked out of her eye. She gave him a watery smile, and then Hagrid looked at Ron, and said, "I don't blame yeh a bit fer tryin' ter curse him, Ron."
Ron smiled, then belched into the bucket. I smiled, and started drinking my tea. But the cup was barley to my mouth when I dropped the cup and fell to the ground, crying out in pain.
My head felt like it was going to explode. I couldn't think straight and all that crossed my mind was how much I wanted to die to get rid of this terrible pain. Then, images started flowing into my mind. There was a handsome boy with dark hair and dark eyes, wearing the Hogwarts uniform and he was smiling, but we were in a strange place. It was big, and it looked like everything was made of marble. Every few feet there was a statue of a snake, and at the end of the chamber was the face was a man. More images replaced this one, ones of a pale girl lying on the floor of a bathroom. She was dead.
Then, as sudden as the pain came, it was gone. I was lying on the ground, my hands over my head, as if I was holding it in place, and I was sweating.
"Max? Max! Are you alright?" Hermione's voice was calling me, but I sounded like she was shouting right in my ear. I winced, and opened my eyes. Everything was so bright, and it hurt my eyes. There were tears streaming down my cheeks. I blinked a few times, and sat up slowly. As soon as I sat up, I felt like I was going to get sick. I jumped up and ran to the door. I ran behind a tree and threw up.
I felt a hand on my shoulder and I turned around. Harry was staring into my eyes, concern all over his face. I wiped my mouth and said in a hoarse voice, "I'm fine. Really, I'm alright now." I tried a smile, but it ended up as a grimace. I felt weak and when I went to take a step, my knees buckled and I fell into unconsciousness.
I don't know how long I was unconscious for, but it wasn't that long. I was still on Hagrid's bed, and everyone was still there. No one noticed that I was awake.
"What do you reckon happened?" Iggy asked. "I don't know Iggy." Hermione mumbled, looking terrified. I hated seeing them all like this. "Maybe it was just a bad headache?" she suggested timidly.
"Hhermione, that was more then just a bad headache! You were screaming as if Donovan-" Iggy started and Fang smacked him on the head. No one ever spoke of Donovan. Ever. It was a silent rule in the flock that no one is to speak of that evil, sick, deluded man. I had nearly forgotten about him...nearly.
Hermione looked from Fang to Iggy, and asked, "Who's Donovan?" I glared at Iggy even though no one was looking at me and they thought I was asleep, and Fang did as well. Iggy looked really guilty, and looked at Fang. "Ask Fang!" he shouting, and I winced. Why did Iggy have to be so freaking loud?
Fang looked stricken. He knew if he ever told anyone about this, that I would hunt him down and make him wish he was never born.
"Donovan was a whitecoat at the school who like to experiment a lot. That's all there is to it," Fang muttered, looking down at his dirty shoes. There was silence, then Ron managed to say, "There's more then that. Something your not telling us. What is it Fang? You know she's our friend too." Fang glared at him, and mumbled, "Pushy English people..." He looked at everyone in the eyes, and he looked at me. He saw that I was awake, and raised his eyebrows in silent question. I thought for a minute, and eventually nodded. They were my friends, they deserve to know.
"Donovan was actually a whitecoat, and he did like to experiment a lot. But he only experimented on Max. He never touched us. He wanted to make someone who would be indestructible. It would go on for hours, and-" his voice wavered a bit, not wanting to say the next part. I had tears in my eyes, and I was regretting letting him say this.
"He would take her into the next room, and try to see how strong she is. He was torturing her to make Max stronger, and it went on for hours and hours. We could hear every single scream, but we were locked up in cages, so there was nothing we could do about it. He did it every day for six years. Every night, Max would come back with horrible bruises and cuts all over her body. I remember one time, she actually nearly bled to death. But amazingly, she was the one that kept telling us not to give up, and to keep fighting. I think that why Max is so tough and strong. On the night Jeb helped us escape, Max broke his nose and jaw. I think it was the best moment of her life," he said, giving a small grin. I smiled, but was the only one who did.
"That went on for six years?" Ron gasped. I nodded, and when he opened his mouth, a single slug fell into the bucket. Hermione was silently crying, and Harry looked torn between rage and sadness. Ron looked horrified and outraged. I was even surprised to see Hagrid crying into his spotted handkerchief.
"She's so brave!" he sobbed. Harry looked at me, and said, "Yeah, she's amazing." After realizing what he said and that I heard him, he went bright red, the same as me. I sat up and said, "Thank you Fang for revealing my biggest secret."
There were quiet laughs, then Hagrid thought he should change the subject. Bless that man.
"Harry, gotta bone ter pick with yeh," he said, and Harry raised his eyebrows, after helping himself to treacle fudge. "I've heard yer givin' out signed photos. Why don't I got one?" Harry furiously wrenched his teeth apart. Hagrid's cooking mostly means that your teeth will either get broken or stuck together.
"I have not been giving out signed photos, and I never will! If Lockhart is still spreading that stupid rumour around, I'll-" Harry stopped when he saw all of us laughing. I was laughing so much, I fell out of Hagrid's bed, onto the dusty floor. Fang the dog started running over to me, and I jumped up to hear Iggy saying, "What would you do to Lockahrt, Harry?" Harry smiled, and muttered something we couldn't hear.
"What was that, Harry?" I asked, sitting back down on the bed. "I said, I'd steal all the photos he has of himself, and everything he uses in his hair."
We roared with laughter again, and soon it was time to leave for lunch. We bid Hagrid goodbye, and made our way to the castle. "Are you alright now Max? You don't feel sick or anything?" Ron asked, happy that the slugs has stopped coming from him mouth. "Yeah I'm fine. Small headache, but I'm fine," I answered.
Ron stopped walking, and made me stop too. The others didn't notice. "Ron what are you doing?" I asked. Ron looked me seriously in the face and said, "Listen, that thing about Donovan was really bad. I just want you to know that if him, or any other whitecoats, come and try and get any of you- and I mean you, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gazzy or Angel- we will do anything to stop them. Your family, and we don't let family down like that." I smiled, and hugged Ron. He seemed surprised, but hugged me back. We walked into the Entrance Hall.
When we went in, and McGonagall was talking to Harry. She looked at us, and called, "Oh there you are Weasley! Come over here! Miss Ride, are you alright? Your very pale looking. Are you ill?" (AN:Everyone always asks me this! its so annoying! its not my fault I'm pale! Does this happen to anyone else? i know Max really is sick, but has someone thought you were sick just because your pale?)
"No Professor. I'm alright," I said, and I was starting to get annoyed at everyone asking me if I was alright. McGonagall nodded and looked back at Ron and Harry.
"Your both going to be doing your detentions , your going to meet Mr Filch in the trophy room. Once there, you will clean and polish all the trophy's. No magic allowed," she said, and Ron groaned beside me. "What am I doing, Professor?" Harry asked, looking frightful.
"Potter, your going to help Professor Lockhart answer his fan mail," she said rolling her eyes, and me,Fang and Iggy snorted. Hermione looked like she wanted to get detention just so she could be with Lockhart. "Er, Professor can't I go with Ron?" he asked. McGonagall shook her head and said, "Lockhart asked for you. Eight o' clock both of you. Good day to you." And with that, she strode up the marble staircase.
At eight o'clock that night, Ron and Harry both left for they're detentions. I did my homework with Hermione as Fang and Iggy played wizards chess. I went to bed at around ten o'clock, telling them that I felt sick. I was alone in the dormitory, and it was a good thing I was.
As I was changing out of my clothes into shorts and a tank top, I had another brain-attack as Iggy called them earlier. This time, I didn't scream out in pain. I bit down on my lip and felt the copper taste of blood flood my mouth. This time there was only one image, one of the same handsome boy as before in the same place. This time though, he was holding a small black diary that I recognized as the one I had now.
The brain-attack ended, and I found myself on the floor. There was blood running from my mouth down my chin onto my top. I stood up onn shaky legs, and I didn't fell like getting sick this time. That was a good sign, right?
I went over to my trunk, my breath ragged. I took out the diary, the one that was once Tom's. Was the boy in the visions Tom?
As soon as I touched the diary, a voice rang out in my mind. I couldn't tell whether the voice was young or old, male or female. All it said was,
You need to be careful, Maximum. You don't want the Chamber of Secrets to open, do you?
Hey, so what do you think? I brought in the voice! Did you like the chapter? please review with what you think!
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Question: If you could be one person from Harry Potter, who would it be?
I'd be Ginny! :)
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-Rach ;)
