Chapter 9 I Face My Sibling (and a fat lot of good it did me)
I wake up to the sound of yelling, not a good omen. Whatever happened to being awaken by the cheeping of birds or the ringing of church bells? Oh, right, they don't have churches in Hogwarts. I turn blearily, trying to shut out the voices, but they got to me anyway. Just floated right into my ear.
"I'm telling you it was real!" I snap out of my revere. Isn't that Harry?
"You do remember the last time you had disturbing dreams? Voldemort is just trying to get you all worked up. I mean, Hallia and Malfoy?" That has to be Hermione. I jump about a foot in the air, flinching at my ribs. He knows! He knows! What on earth am I going to do?
"You can ask her when she gets up," Ron says placating. "Meanwhile, lets go get some breakfast." I thank Ron silently for his appetite, gather my robes, put them on, and walk out slowly. I need to prepare myself. I need to use Occlumency! I also need some breakfast.
I bound out of the common room, and plunk myself into a seat near them in the Great Hall. I still have a little trouble establishing my whereabouts from time to time but for the most part, I have Harry's memories to guide me.
"Hey!" I pant. I never dressed so fast before. Maybe that's a skill I should learn.
"Hallia." Harry pounced on me at once. What happened to giving your siblings some space? "Tell me, what did you do when you were out yesterday?" Hermione looks a little uncomfortable and Ron starts to clamor with his knife and fork against his pancakes, making a very irritating and loud noise.
"Nothing," I say with pure innocence miraculously woven into my voice. "Why?" I smile sweetly. If I weren't such a good singer, I'd be a damn good actor. Oh, narcism, sorry. "Is something wrong?"
Harry looks as if he's having a mental battle in his head. My act was convincing, wasn't it? So there is no reason he should suspect anything. And to be completely honest, nothing did happen. Nothing apart from a bunch of asshole Slytherins trying to kill me, and one asshole Slytherin doing his best to confuse me, keep me up at night, and give me a splitting headache. Oh, nothing happened at all. Harry still looks unconvinced but doesn't say anything else.
All of a sudden, a myriad of owls floated into the Great Hall. I somehow bite back a gasp and Harry grins. "What?" he says blithely. "You never saw our mail being delivered before?" I sneer at him playfully.
"When are we going to see Dumbledore?" I ask. I want to be prepared in my campaign to persuade Harry to remain at Hogwarts. Just to maintain my sanity. This place is crazy!
"Ah, um, soon," Harry replies. Hrmph. I'm not about to take that as an answer. He's getting apprehensive. He probably promised himself he'll leave after that no matter what or something. That's ok. Breakfast ends in ten minutes and I have tons of nagging left in me.
"Are you sure?" I ask mildly, as if my mind wasn't really concentrating on what I was talking about. "I mean, how soon is soon?"
"Really soon," Harry says stonily. "Right after breakfast." Darn he was a hard nut to crack.
I decide to change tactics. "Have you made up your mind yet?" I say really quietly. "About staying or leaving?" He narrows his eyes at me. Oops. He's on to me.
"Hallia," he risks a warning growl. "I know what you're doing."
"Aw, am I busted then?" I ask impishly. "Because I really don't want you to go because then I'll either have to go with you and miss Hogwarts or stay, mad at myself for chickening out. I don't want to put so much pressure on myself." I smile cheerily.
Ron raises an eyebrow. "Man, she's good," he whispers. "I almost wanted to stay." Hermione giggles.
Harry frowns. "You ALL think I shouldn't go to Godric's Hollow?"
I pretend to look around and ponder the question. Two seconds go by. Ok, that's enough thinking. "Pretty much."
Harry gives one final glare. He has to give in. "Fine, I won't be leaving for Godric's Hollow. Or the orphanage. Or any other place I was planning to go." He sighs heavily, putting on an air of regret.
"Oh, cut the act," I retort. "We all know you never wanted to leave Hogwarts. Are you still planning on talking to Dumbledore's portrait? Because I don't think it'll help you very much. The picture was probably taken way before he found anything out."
"Then why'd you tell me it would be useful?" Harry furrowed his brows in puzzlement.
I roll my eyes. "Like you weren't going to flee to our parents' graves if I didn't? Besides, I've got his pensieve. Plus Minerva says we need to see her sometime for his will."
"Why can't I be that smart?" Harry whines, playacting. Hermione snorts. "We're suppose to get our schedules today."
"That's great," I mutter, none too enthusiastically.
"Why, what's wrong?" Harry asks. Damnit! Why do I have to have the brother who notices the fact that I don't want to get my schedules if there is going to be any house-intercourse whatever? Because after the stupid patched ragged old hat's lame old song, you can bet there is. Even though I don't think he knows about that. How do I get him off my case????
"Oh, nothing. It's just that I…uh, don't know how the curriculum's going to be like. I don't know what to expect." Harry frowns doubtfully but Hermione totally falls for it and treats me to a full lengthy talk about Hogwarts, A History: a modified and more detailed version. Life here is going to be tougher than I thought.
