Allen POV
Harry and I were searching through the sixth floor's classrooms when I heard Lavi talking to someone, "They should have gone back to Gryfindor Tower's common room by now. That was our meeting place."
"Yeah, you're right. I just hope they didn't worry themselves too much. I feel bad because they missed class…" trailed off a worried Shayla. I felt like a weight had been lifted off my chest.
"Come on Harry! Follow me!" I cried at the slightly younger boy, a wide smile pulling at my lips. He looked confused. Due to Neah being in my head I had enhanced hearing even though I had not yet become a full Noah.
"Where are we going?" questioned Harry, but following my lead anyway. We reached the staircase and we saw Lavi and Shayla heading down toward the Gryfindor Tower. Harry visibly relaxed when he saw Shayla. "Shayla! Lavi!"
The two turned around and smiled brightly at us. "Yo!" Lavi cried, waving at us. "We were just heading to the tower, but you probably already knew that, right Moyashi?"
I glared playfully at him while Harry and Shayla giggled. "Let's just go," Shayla chuckled out.
Now, I might not be as observant as Lavi and Bookman, but I can't help but notice the bandages wrapped around Shayla's thighs as she moved to scratch her leg before heading back down the stairs. My eyes narrowed slightly but continued following the others.
-/-/
We made it back to Gryfindor tower and in the common room were an anxious Hermione and a pacing Ron. Hermione happened to look up and saw us. She had tears and worry in her eyes. "Shayla!" the girl shouted, running over to wrap her arms tightly around the taller girl. "Where have you been? We've been worried sick! Why did you run out of the Great Hall?" She released her hold on the older girl and looked at her with expectancy.
"I-I honestly don't want to talk about it right now. I promise I will, soon," pleaded the girl shyly with a blush on her face.
Hermione sighed. "Okay, but you can always talk to us about anything. You know that, right?"
"I know, thanks Hermione. I'm so sorry you had to miss class because of me. I hope I didn't ruin your perfect attendance…"
"What perfect attendance? Since I became friends with you lot I've never had perfect attendance. Nice try, trying to guilt yourself. We were just worried something might have happened. We're just glad you're back and safe."
"Mate, we were real worried about you. Where did you go?" inquired Ron, a worried look on his face.
"I'm sorry, Ron… I think I was in the Room of Requirement. Hermione, do you remember reading about it?" Shayla asked Hermione.
Said girls eyes widened, quickly running over to a bookshelf that was leaning against the wall. She quickly scanned over the books and pulled out a book with an "Aha!" She rushed back over to us. ""The Room of Requirement: it is a room that a person can only enter when they have real need of it. Sometimes it is there, and sometimes it is not, but when it appears, it is always equipped with the seekers needs." Shayla, you are so lucky you found it. Where was it?"
I saw Lavi's eye fill with sadness, but then quickly becomes filled with nothingness. I narrow my eyes at him. I glance at Shayla when she starts stuttering out a response, "I-It was o-on the seventh floor. I don't- I don't exactly remember how many times I went passed it, but I passed by it a couple times. I was… I was thinking the same thing pretty much the… the whole time." She started pulling at the sleeve of her sweater.
"You'll have to show us some time!" cried Hermione, her eyes lighting up with curiosity.
"But of course, Hermione," laughed Shayla, relaxing slightly.
"Well, it should be about dinner time, so how about we head down to the Great Hall?" questioned Harry with his stomach making itself known.
"Yes, let's," agrees Ron, following Harry's lead out of the portrait, Hermione not far behind.
Shayla hesitated and told the group, "I'm actually going to go to the Library to catch up on some reading I didn't get to over the summer, and study some Muggle defensives. I'll catch up with you at detention, all right Harry?" The three at the portrait shared a look and nodded before heading out, Shayla following them out, but heading in a different direction.
It was just Lavi and I standing in the Gryfindor Tower. I hone in on every little noise that was in the Tower and we seemed to be the only people here. I turned to face Lavi, studying him. He gives me a weak smile. "Oh, come on Moyashi! Don't give me that face. It looks like you think I'm hiding something…" he trails off, giving a slight chuckle. His nose twitches, almost undetectable to the untrained eye.
"Lavi, whenever you are hiding something or you lie your nose twitches. What happened?" I demanded of the older male, causing him to sigh.
"I don't know if it's my place to tell you, Allen. It's something Shayla should tell you guys herself. But by her reaction, I don't think she's even told the other three."
"Let me ask you one thing: is Shayla hurting herself?" Lavi sadly smiles at me and exits through the painting, leaving me to interoperate what was not said.
-/-/-/-/ Time Skip to After Dinner with Cross in his office -/-/-/-/-/
"So, Idiot Apprentice, what all have you learned so far?" questioned Master Cross, propping his feet up on the desk while taking out a bottle of expensive wine. He poured himself a glass, because he's a classy man.
"I've learned some good defensive charms-" I started but was cut off by Master's hand slamming on his desk.
"God! You're even more of an idiot than I thought. I meant about possible locations of where the Innocence could be!" he yelled at me, making me shrink away in fear.
"U-um, well there are several different places that it could be. The one that will give us the most trouble is the Forbidden Forest. Dumbledore said that it could take us months or even years to canvas the area, and that there are very dangerous creatures lurking in it," I stuttered out, inching as far away from the older man as I could get.
"Tonight, you are going to start looking through the forest. If you get lost and it's an hour after sunrise, you may use the Ark to get back here. You and Lavi will switch off shifts so you don't wear yourself out and pass out during class. Because then your teachers will come after ME. Don't whine about it, or else I'm going to have you do chores."
"Y-yes, Master."
"Good. Have you been keeping an eye out on the Divinations professor and that Shayla girl you and those other brats hang around?"
"They all seem to get themselves in to trouble each year. By accident or on purpose they've caused a lot of chaos over the last four years. Harry has seen this Voldemort character multiple times, but has survived. They seem to uncover secrets that should be too hard for someone of their age.
"So far, all I've gathered about the Divinations professor is that they met over the summer through family connections. Since that day they have been engaged. From what Shayla has told me it was an arranged marriage with her family from France. They seem to be happy together. Apparently they were seen kissing in the hallway last night," I relayed. I took in a deep breath. "I think Lavi would know more, Master. He found her this afternoon after an incident at lunch. He didn't tell me the details, but I did notice something…"
"Well, what was it boy? Spit it out!" ordered Cross, narrowing his eye at me.
"She had bandages wrapped around her thighs…" I could see the cold eyes softening a little bit in understanding.
"Who all knows?"
"I believe only Lavi, Shayla, and I know. And you do now," I replied, tracing the stone floors with my eyes.
"Bring in that idiot rabbit in. I want to talk with him," demanded Cross, taking a swig of the wine.
"Yes, Master. I'll be right back," I respond, turning to the door and opening it.
Before I leave, Cross asks one more thing, "By the way, Idiot Apprentice, where were you and Shayla last night?"
"I passed out suddenly in the hall last night, so I was in the Hospital Wing until breakfast. Shayla, I'm not quite sure. She might have been with me. She was there when I woke up. Why?" I inquire, while I left out the part of the weird dream I had.
"It's nothing. Go."
I leave immediately, knowing that questioning him would lead to trouble.
-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
I go to meet up with Harry and Shayla after their detention. They're cradling their respected hand once more, which makes me a little mad. Lavi was still talking with Master Cross, but I would assume they would be finishing soon.
"It doesn't hurt as bad the second time around," mumbled Harry, his fingers dancing over the wounds.
"I guess that's one positive. We should hurry to the Tower before Hermione starts to worry too much," I suggest as we start to slowly make our way to the Gryfindor Tower. Shayla nods in agreement, a false smile gracing her lips. I frown a little bit, but the other two don't seem to notice. Of course I would notice, being a master of masks myself.
"Shayla, does your hand hurt much?" questioned a concerned Harry.
"No, no. It doesn't hurt. I just hope we don't have to write lines tomorrow…" she trailed off, looking at the paintings that she passed by. Harry gives me a worried look, and I frown even more.
-/-/-/-/-/
Lavi was walking Shayla and I back to the Slytherin dungeons. We were planning on talking after we dropped Shayla off and talking about what our night shift duties would be. She kept fidgeting with the sleeve of her robe nervously. It was after curfew so we were trying to keep to the shadows.
"You three! Where do you think you are going? It's past curfew," demanded a masculine voice. If I'm not mistaken it should be…
"Adam!" Shayla smiled wide, a true smile. She ran up to the older man and gave him a hug and kiss on the cheek. "We're sorry, we were on our way to the Dungeons to turn in for the night."
"What about you, Mr. Bookman? I do believe you are a Gryfindor, correct? Where are you off too?" asked Professor Smith, gazing at Lavi curiously.
"I-I-I was just walking them to their dorm be-because I needed to talk to Allen here," Lavi stuttered out, nervous by the energy produced by the Professor.
"Oh really? I believe that could be discussed in the morning. I don't want to catch you out of bed again. But, since I need to borrow Shayla, I'll let you discuss whatever you need to. Shayla, do you have a moment?"
"Oh, yeah I do. I'll talk to you guys tomorrow," reported Shayla, leaving with Adam leading the way.
"I wonder what that was about…" I trailed off, confusion was written on our faces. "Anyway, what did you and Master talk about?" We continue forward, looking for a more private room to talk. We didn't want to be caught by the staff again. We spot an abandoned classroom. We walk in to the room, and inhale dust by accident. It causes us to cough slightly, but it settles down after we close the door. I take a seat on the empty floor, Lavi sitting adjacent from me.
"I told him about what happened today with Shayla. He looked concerned. He told me, "I thought boarding school brats were supposed to be happy and wizards were accepting of one another"," relayed Lavi, scratching his head. "But, we should discuss our night duties. Do you want to start or should I?
"I can start. I'm used to staying up many nights from my training with Master Cross," I offer the red haired boy with a smile adorning my face.
"Ne, Moyahsi, why did you have to stay up while training with Cross?" questioned Lavi, his curiosity peaking.
"The name's ALLEN! And, well someone had to get his drunkard ass from the taverns, make sure he didn't choke on his own vomit, make sure we weren't followed by loan sharks, and make money. Also, I had to make sure we didn't die," I bluntly stated, making Lavi's sweat drop.
"R-right."
"I better get started. You go to bed Lavi. I'll talk to you in the morning."
"Night, Allen."
-/-/-/-/-/-/
Ok! Sooo. Well. This is where I will leave you for now. If anyone is confused or wants to ask any questions please feel free to PM me. I do not own –man or Harry Potter. Sorry if this is a little slow…
