Chapter 8
Disclaimer: We don't own Harry Potter.
The morning is one of those times of day that all things must either cease or just begin to make an appearance. There was a small sound as Dominique awoke to find someone knocking on the door to the 5th year girls dormitory. Heaving a large yawn and rubbing her eyes, Dominique stood and went to answer the door, it was the Head Girl, Jenna.
"Hi Jenna" Dominique said, stifling yet another yawn,
"Hi Dom" Jenna said wearily, "I just came to tell you all that all classes have been canceled until further notice and that students are not allowed outside of the castle"
Dominique smiled as Jenna left their dormitory, it was absolutely fantastic that they had no classes for the day. Rushing to awake Katarina, Dominique attempted to push the odd girl to wakefullness. Normally Katarina was awake before Dominique even reached her, but today- Katarina looked sound asleep. She poked her friend and began to whisper random things in her ear- but Katarina refused to stir- the shakes and whispering doing nothing but to push the girl on the bed into an even deeper slumber.
Beginning to take concern, Dominique took several more minutes in an attempt to wake her. Finally, however, she gave up and began to start completing her three foot paper concerning the topic on defending oneself against vampires. This activity, however, was to take place while sitting on Katarina's bed.
A few moment later, the fellow rommates began to awaken, one of them finally asking why Dominique why she wasn't getting ready for class,
"Well, it's obvious" Dominique answered, laughing, "Classes were canceled due to the whole murder rubbish"
The rest of the girls began to talk amongst themselves but Irene walked over to Dominique, eager to start up conversation now that Katarina was absent from their presence,
"So Dom" Irene said, "What do you think about the murders?" She sat on some girl's trunk and looked avidly at Dominique- as the Veela winced.
"It's all very interesting, I suppose" she said quickly before turning back to her essay and ignoring Irene as politely as she could. The rest of the girls in the room chatted among themselves and soon, all began to depart. Irene stood quickly and turned to Dominique,
"Gotta go" she said and ran to pretend and follow the other 5th year Gryffindor girls out, as if they had all been friends for the longest time.
Several hours later, Victoire burst into Dominique and Katarina' room,
"Dominique!" she yelled, "Do you have any idea of how worried I've been! I thought you were hurt- don't scare me like that"
Dominique gave Victoire a questioning look,
"What on earth are you talking about, Vic?" Dominique asked, "Why did you think I was hurt, and" she continued, "How did you get here?"
Victoire sat down on the floor near Dominique, obviously just pleased that her younger sister wasn't in any sort of danger.
Dominique's stomach growled and she flushed, but Victoire simply simled and handed her some leftover lunch she had taken from the Great Hall.
She gave Victoire a thankful look, and as she munched-began to talk,
"So what's been going on?" Victoire took a huge breath,
"Well, a lot of blood was found in the entrance hall and the professors are extremely worried about it" she fretted,
"What else?" Dominique asked, but her eyes were on Katarina- who slowly began to stir, finally- her eyes opened,
"Also- I think they are just worried about the Hogsmeade murder" Victoire stated,
"That's a stupid reason for missing class" Katarina commented, and Dominique sprang up to her,
"Kat" she cried, "I was so worried" Katarina shot her a look,
"I was fine, Dom" Dominique smiled knowingly but sat back to listen to Victoire,
"There's more to it then that" Victoire said thoughtfully, "There is something that only the head girls and boys know... I think someone used that blood to write a message that there are unwanted people at Hogwarts"
Katarina became alert, looking closely at Victoire,
"Did it say anything else?" she asked carefully, Victoire shrugged,
"The usual "Mudbloods be Aware""
Katarina sat up know, her concern immediately evident as she winced. Victoire eyes flashed to the clenched fist that Katarina had on her midsection. Dominique continued on,
"Well, I hope this blows over soon"
The girls spent the rest of the day discussing the aspects of the terrible events that were going on at Hogwarts, not to mention the deaths and messages on the chamber wall.
Before long, it was dinner time and the trio began to discuss how they were going to acquire dinner. The first consensus reached was luckily by Dominique,
"I'll bring up dinner for you lazy arseholes" Dominique said, smiling as Victoire and Katarina thanked her profusely.
The Veela stood and excited as Victoire and Katarina sat awkardly together,
"Are you in pain, Kat?" Victoire asked uncomfortably as the odd girl winced again as she sat up a little straighter.
"Of course not" the reply was slightly forced,
"Really, you look uncomfortable" Victoire said in concern,
"Honestly, Vic" Katarina attempted to smile, "I'm perfectly fine, there is nothing wrong with me"
Victoire narrowed her eyes,
"Oh really" and lurched forward but just as she grabbed onto the covers, Katarina jerked them to the side and Victoire's hands flew free in the confusion.
As both composed themselves, Dominique walked in with steaming plates of hearty Hogwarts meals.
"Hi mates" Dominique said cheerfully, oblivious to the tension evident in the room- "Classes are starting tommorrow"
The next morning, Dominique and Katarina headed down to their Defense against the Dark Arts lesson, each having their own opinions about the class. Dominique was very excited, she was prepared to learn more spells designed to enhance herself and impair others. On the other hand, Katarina was not looking forward to it at all. She couldn't use a wand.
As the class started, Professor Edmund smiled down at his favorite student, Dominique Weasley,
"Hi Dom" he said conversationally, "How is life?" Dominique smiled brightly back,
"Quite Excellent, Sir, quite excellent" she replied, and watched as he walked away, ignoring Katarina. She grimaced, she was most likely the worst student in the history of Hogwarts. The only reason that she was not kicked out was because of her extensive knowledge of dark creatures that was especially advantageous to the class because of her explanatory capabilities.
Dominique watched Professor Edmund, her eyes following him as he went to talk to the different students- but soon she realized that the Professor was not as cheery as he appeared at first glance. The laughter lines had begun to fade and deeply sunken bags under his eyes had begun to take their place.
Finally, the class began and as Katarina reached downwards to take parchment and the textbook out of her bookbag, she winced- catching the Professor's attention.
"Are you okay, Ms. Hakai?" he asked but without thought as he turned away before she could let out a "No" through her tightly clenched teeth.
Dominique shot Katarina a curious and worried look but turned back to the front of the room as the Professor began to speak,
"Students, I have been informed by the Headmistress that I am not allowed to cover certain dark creatures in our curriculum any longer"
The class response was almost immediate,
"You're kidding me"
"Aw man!"
"Professor"
"Why"
"But Professor" a whiny voice rose above the rest, "Why?"
Professor Edmund turned to the source of the sound, Irene Wilkins- the mousey-faced girl looked distressed,
"Class" he continued on, oblivious to the outbursts, "We are going to talk about a different type of spell today- ones that are more offensive than defensive"
"Like the ones used in battle?" Irene's voice piped out,
"Yes, Ms. Wilkins. If I could continue...?"
"Sorry" she squeaked out,
"These spells are called Ambustive spells and they are specialized in order for casters to cast many at a time and which can permeate a Protego ward from the inside, but not from the out. These include spells such as Cachexia, Tussis, Phelbiti, Mania a Potu, and Cirri. I realize that most of you have not heard of these spells- and granted, these are generally used in battle"
After a brief lecture on the different spells, Professor Edmund let the class pair up for practice. Obviously, Dominique and Katarina paired and Dominique began,
"Cachexia" Dominique cast, a gray fog pouring out of her wand, it surrounded Katarina and while Dominique could not see what was happening- she heard scratches and scrapes. Worrying, she quickly cast the counter-curse "Exia" and the fog receded, showing the huddled form of Katarina, and as she arose, there were scratches up and down her arms- but her face was impassive.
"Oh Katarina" Dominique said, "Are you alright?" Professor Edmund quickly appeared near the pair, quickly casting "Episkey" on her wounds- making the odd girl stare up at him nervously. As he lectured them on being careful, Katarina watched him carefully- making sure he had not cast some other spell entirely on her.
He walked away, seemingly satisfied that he had lectured them both enough, and Dominique turned to Katarina,
"Don't you want to practice, Kat?" the other girl laughed,
"I'd rather not, if that's all good and fine" she said,
"There's going to be an exam on it, you know" Dominique warned, but Katarina just shook her head,
"Theory is enough for me" she said cheerfully as she readied herself for another blow. As Dominique stood there, calmly tapping her wand against her thigh- she began to revisit her memories of Katarina's spellwork. After a few moments of contemplation, her eyes widened- she had never seen Katarina use a wand.
However, soon- the end of class arrived and the girls began to head to lunch. On their journey to the Great Hall, however, Dominique forced Katarina into an empty classroom near the Gryffindor common room.
"Okay, Kat, spill it" Dominique said aggressively,
"What?" Katarina responded innocently, "Have I done something wrong?"
Dominique ground her teeth,
"Why don't you want to use a wand?" she asked in a much calmer voice. Katarina offered a sad smile,
"My parents never wanted me to use magic, they thought it was destructive and destined to end all whom participated in it"
"Then" Dominique said thoughtfully, "Why are you at Hogwarts- if not for the stellar education"
"My sister" Katarina explained, "The one who is raising me, wanted me to have some exposure to it- not to use- for knowledge only"
Dominique examined Katarina for a moment, contemplating what to do next. There was something Katarina wasn't telling her and it wasn't about magic or her sister... in fact, Dominique was almost sure it had to do with Katarina's parents.
"Kat" she asked, "What are you not telling me?"
There was a silence as Katarina and Dominique looked at eachother.
A scream broke the moment, it seemed to echo around the school, as both girls snapped to attention and ran to see what all the commotion was about.
As they arrived near the Gryffindor Common Room, there was a large crowd of people covering the entrance,
"What is it?" Dominique asked loudly as she attempted to push through, ignoring the comments of "I think I'm going to be sick" that reverberated around the group.
On the wall near the Gryffindor Entrance was a message in blood. The blood was formed in simplistic runes that both Katarina and Dominique could recognize as they both stiffened immediately. It was quite easy to read, the runes being of a Western Germanic variety- and the message was clear.
Your sister has a nice smile.
But before the two girls had time to analyze what had happened, Professors and Prefects gathered everyone- herding them all to the Great Hall. As both stood silently, Katarina noticed as Filch watched them all- making sure that none left the Hall.
The discussions in the groups ranged from conspiracy to Sirius Black but the main idea was the same.
Holy Shit.
Soon, Victoire and Teddy approached the pair- Dominique flying into Victoire's arms,
"Thank god you're alright" she sighed, Victoire soothed her younger sister accordingly, while looking drawn at the rest of the group.
As Dominique stood, Victoire began to speak,
"They're everywhere" she said quietly, "Every House entrance except for Slytherin"
"What do you think they meant by the message?" Dominique said thoughtfully, "There can't be three separate sisters in three different houses related to this"
"Maybe..." Teddy began and drew Dominique to the side as Victoire and Katarina looked at eachother.
Victoire looked curiously at Katarina, her eyes widening in shock to find Katarina's face emotionless,
"Are you okay?" she attempted to say soothingly, putting her arm around Katarina,
"I'm fine" Katarina said quickly, the life coming back into her face as she shook her head slowly, "I just want to get out of here"
Victoire laughed,
"Good luck with that" she said in amusement, "Filch is guarding the doors like a maniac" Katarina looked penetratingly at the old man for a moment before slipping off past the door and escaping his notice. Her footsteps reverberated around the hallways as she silently made her way to the Gryffindor Common Room.
Quickly heading to her trunk, she pulled out a quick first aid kit in order to wrap herself up. Finally, taking a breathe- she pulled up her shirt, wincing as the fabric slid irritably along her gash and tearing what little healing had taken place, off. Taking anti-infection cream and gauze, she began the slow process of rubbing and wrapping.
But as she began, she heard the door slam open,
"Katarina, What on earth were you- Oh my gosh, you're bleeding" Dominique stood in the doorway, her face full of anger changed to concern as she dropped to her knees and began to rub the cream and wrap the cut as Katarina sat there motionless, saying nothing as the Veela quickly and efficiently fixed her wound.
Standing up and helping Katarina get her shirt back on, Dominique stared at her friend of a few months,
"Did you really think no one would notice the signs, Kat?" she said softly,
Katarina avoided her eyes, looking forward,
"It was some man in a mask" she said stiffly, looking straight ahead, "I was going upstairs last night when he jumped out of the shadows- we fought for a moment but he sliced my stomach open" she gestured at the wraps,
Dominique looked stricken,
"Kat, you have to tell me next time" she said, feeling dreadfully betrayed, "You could have contracted an infection and died"
Katarina finally looked at Dominique, the bright blue eyes covered in a filmy sheen that only was a precedent to tears. Sure enough, within seconds, Dominique had enclosed Katarina in a hug as she bawled.
The two sat there for that night, safe within the security of Katarina's bed as they lay- closer than ever.
