Chapter Nine
Kratos was unconscious for the next few days. It appeared he had traveled a good distance away, and then he had needed to travel that distance back with those injuries. Most people would have died on the spot from wounds like he had. The other members of the old party visited him often, as well as Harry, Hermione, Ron, Genis, Colette, Presea, and Lloyd. Especially Lloyd. Most of the time that he wasn't in class; he was in the hospital wing, except when it was closed off. While Colette, Genis and Presea knew why, it was still a mystery to the other three. Finally, Harry decided to ask him about it.
He approached Lloyd in the Commonroom, after classes, Hermione and Ron with him.
"Hey, Lloyd?" The teenager look over at Harry, curiously.
"Yeah?"
"Why is it you visit Professor Aurion so often? You visit him a lot more than the other students." Lloyd sighed and got up.
"I don't want to talk about it right now, ok?" He walked up to the boys dormitories, before Harry could get in another word. Ron looked at Harry.
"Well, that went well."
The next day, their DADA class was run by... The young, red haired, pink and red robed, Professor Wilder. Half the class was appalled by this appearance, the other half was trying their hardest not to laugh.
"Hello my little angels... oh, and the guy's too. I'm Professor Wilder, and I'm going to be your teacher today, while Professor Aurion is unable to, and Professor Yuan has more pressing matters." Today it was Gryffindor and Ravenclaw together, and Genis was burying his head in his hands. Zelos wrote his name up on the board.
"Anyways... we're going to be starting today's class with a brief explanation on wandless magic..." The class went surprisingly well for the most part. Or, it did, at least, until Lavender Brown raised her hand for a question. Zelos walked over to her desk, putting both elbows on it.
"Yes my little beauty?" Lavender blushed a deep crimson, for a reason unknown.
"I was just wondering if I could go for a quick drink Professor Wilder." Zelos smiled his award winning smile.
"Sure thing, in fact, why don't I escort you there?" He looked at the class. "Keep reading." Roughly thirty seconds after Zelos left the room; there was a shocked gasp from outside, a sound of something being slapped, and a cry of pain, that sounded exactly like the Professor. That was too much for the class, who burst into peals of laughter.
A few moments later Zelos walked back into the room, slightly put out, with a vivid red mark across his face. Lavender also walked into the room, seeming rather pleased with herself. Zelos cleared his throat, and tried to ignore the huge grins of the class as they contained his laughter.
"Alright, then, get back to work."
A good while later as they left the class. Genis was still grinning about Lavender slapping the Professor. Lloyd on the other hand, had already left for the hospital wing. Harry looked at Genis, and wondered if he could get any answers out of the short silver haired boy.
"Hey Genis?" The half elf turned to face Harry. His face showing that he acknowledged the question.
"Why is it that Lloyd is so concerned for Professor Aurion?" Genis looked a bit surprised. "You need to ask Lloyd that. It's sort of personal for him, and I don't have any place telling it in his place." Genis noticed a flash of pink hair farther down the hall. "Seeya Harry." He hurried off in the direction of the flash of pink, leaving a somewhat confused Harry.
Harry couldn't get a clear answer out of any of the other Symphonians about Lloyd's relationship with Kratos either. He decided finally to let it lie. For now.
The next day, they had potions, and although Snape had seemed unnerved by the amount of blood dripping from Kratos on the night of, he seemed to have gotten over it, as he was as vicious as ever. During the class, both Harry and Ron both received a spikey black 'D', while Hermione was the only Gryffindor who succeeded in getting a passing grade, while almost all of the Slytherins managed such grades. Harry angrily shoved the grade in his pack, noticing that Lloyd seemed to be having fun poking it with his wand and watching it slowly smoke at various points. Snape noticed this, however, and docked Gryffindor ten points. Once again, Lloyd didn't seem to care.
However, even Lloyd seemed to be having his patience tested during Divination as Professor Trelawny droned on for ten minutes of how she had been warning Professor Aurion of terrible shadows in his near future which he had carelessly unheeded. Lloyd was fully aware that she had done no such thing. Kratos barely knew that she even existed. It was a rather dull class overall, and Lloyd breathed out a sigh of relief when it was over. If the damn woman had made one more comment about either Lloyd or Harry's future being filled with peril, then he would have screamed. Of course his life was filled with peril! He had been living in a world where angels had been hunting him for Martel's sake! Mind, those angels had been gone for awhile now. Almost five months.
Finally they got to Defence against the Dark Arts. Umbridge was up at front waiting for them all. She seemed pleased that she was the one teaching this day, and not any of the others.
"Wands away." The class dutifully did as she asked. She smiled at the class with sickening sweetness. "Now, that we've all finished chapter One, I'd like us to move on to Chapter two: Common Defensive Theories and their Derivation." The class began to read... well most of them. As usual, Lloyd was actually doodling in his book, mostly involving large scribbles across the text, and highlighting words he found idiotic (and if it's idiotic to Lloyd...). Hermione had her hand in the air, and instead of ignoring her as usual, Umbridge actually walked over to her.
"What is it Miss Granger?" Her hand went down. "I've already read the Chapter Professor. Umbridge raised an eyebrow.
"Then continue to chapter three."
"I've already read it. I've read the whole book."
"Then you can tell me what Slinkard says in Chapter 15 regarding counter-jinxes."
"He says that counter-jinxes are improperly named. He says that counter-jinxes are names given to jinxes to make them seem more acceptable." Umbridge raised her eyebrows and Harry could tell that she was impressed against her will.
"But I disagree." Hermione continued. Umbridge's eyebrows rose higher and a cold look came over her. "You disagree?"
"Yes I do." Hermione was speaking in a loud clear voice that carried over the class. "Mr. Slinkard doesn't like jinxes does he? But I think they can be very useful when used defensively."
"Oh you do, do you?" Umbridge's tone was disapproving. "Well I'm afraid it's Mr. Slinkards idea that matters here, not yours." Hermione began to protest, and Umbridge took five points from Gryffindor. Lloyd got up.
"Hey! Isn't it your job to listen to the students!? Even Professor Zelos is better at his job than you!" Lloyd had hit a nerve. Umbridge's eye twitched slightly. "I think a weeks worth of detentions will do you some good Mr. Irving." She began droning on about the teachers that Dumbledore had hired, but as she began to praise Quirrel...
"Yeah, Professor Quirrel was great. Aside from having Lord Voldemort living on the back of his head." Harry was also assigned a week of detentions.
Lloyd and Harry both sat in Umbridge's office. They were both given a quill that Umbridge claimed was unique. They both discovered why shortly. Harry gasped as his hand was cut. Lloyd's eye barely twitched, in fact he went on to comment to Umbridge. "What a neat way to write, it looks like the Ministry of Magic does come up with useful things! In fact, can I borrow this?" Umbridge glared at Lloyd, irritated that her 'prisoner' didn't seem to mind having his hand cut open. Of course, Lloyd had been through far worse.
It was an hour later when they finally left her office, Lloyd seemed simply put out at the cut on his hand, though Harry was clearly more effected. As they walked back to the Commonroom, they ran into Professor Flitwik.
"Ah, Mr. Irving, just the person I wanted to see. Professor Aurion is coming to. I think you might want to go and visit him now." Lloyd looked shocked at first, and then ran off eagerly towards the hospital wing. Harry watched Lloyd, and then hurried up to the Commonroom. He dashed past Ron and Hermione, and rummaged through his trunk. He finally found what he was looking for. His invisibility cloak. He hurried back downstairs, noticing Ron and Hermione looking at him curiously. "Come on, and put this on. Professor Aurion is waking up, and Lloyd's gone off to see him." Within a few moments, the portrait hole opened, and three invisible students moved out into the castle.
And... another chapter done! I'm going to try and update much faster, though school will probably interfere. But I'll see if I can get another chapter done soon!
