I do not own Harry Potter.
...***...
"Oh Malfoy," Pansy ran a bony hand through his blond hair fawning over him, "does your arm still hurt?"
I made a gagging noise, disgusted by her shows of affection for Malfoy. It was uncanny how somebody could love that prat.
"Only a little. My father was furious though at that oaf, teaching us with such dangerous and out of control animals." Malfoy said as he cradled his 'injured arm'.
Prat. Egotistic, arrogant incredibly annoying prat.
Never can get enough of attention from his pug-faced girlfriend Pansy. She's constantly fawning over him, kissing him, hugging him. What could she see in him? I mean, yeah he's sort of cute but he's such a jerk that it couldn't possibly matter.
I clenched my jaw and balled my fists, trying to keep myself from having an outburst. It was only breakfast and I found myself just about ready to go over and murder one of those two.
Harry reached down and carefully unfurled my hands. I tried to smile up at him, but ended up focusing on my plate of eggs, stabbing them violently with my fork.
Over the past week Harry and I have gotten even closer to the point where people have begun calling us a couple.
We aren't yet, but hey, I can hope right?
The more Malfoy and Pansy spoke, or rather complained, about the topic the more my anger grew. I knew that I had to calm myself down. If my anger grows too large, it can cause bursts of magic. This is normal for most wizards but because of my gift it increases the possibility of it happening with me.
A huge problem with this is the fact that I have a notoriously crappy temper. When I came to Hogwarts I got a better grip on it but I still can lose control.
Don't blow anything up, don't blow anything up, don't blow anything up...
"I wouldn't be surprised if that blundering idiot got fired. It'd be an improvement in my opinion." I heard Malfoy snort from across the room and I couldn't hold it in any longer.
My glass containing juice suddenly shattered into hundreds of little pieces, each one flying in a different direction. I acted surprised so that nobody would suspect that it was me but everybody knew. Luckily people in Gryffindor understood, so they just gave me comforting and reassuring expressions before going about cleaning up the remains of my glass.
I noticed my closer friends all staring at me with worried expressions painted on their faces.
"I'm fine; I just hate having to hear Malfoy blaming Hagrid for everything." I sighed. Harry, Ron and Hermione all nodded and returned to their meals.
The entire Gryffindor table seemed unfazed by my slip-up, McGonagall having warned the entire house about my gift.
...***...
"Hello students," McGonagall started, clearing her throat to get the attention of the bustling students, "I've called you here today to talk about a rather important topic."
The Gryffindor students all turned their eyes over to her.
Everybody was talking about an incident that happened between another student and I in the common room. I accidentally sent them a rather large shock when they touched me.
My nerves had gotten the better of me and I was extremely anxious about an upcoming test and when she placed a hand on my arm as a show of reassurance, but I accidentally sent a shock through her. While it didn't kill her it did scare her and caused her nerves to spas slightly.
"As you all know, earlier today there was a small incident between two of our students." She said. The majority of the Gryffindors nodded, remembering. "Some of you may be wondering what exactly had happened."
"Where are you going with this?" A fourth year Gryffindor shouted.
McGonagall glanced at her, a frown of annoyance spreading across her face. She sighed but continued speaking, "I am getting there Miss Fall. As you know, Mia Denery survived a killing curse this summer. It is because of a certain gift she possesses. The name of this gift is not something I will tell you, so don't bother asking." She waited a minute, allowing the chatter to die down. "Her gift gives her more raw magical power than the average witch or wizard, as well as the power to speak to animals through a mental connection. The fact that she has more raw magical power than most means that she also has more trouble containing it."
"Is this why she shocked Tara?" A girl questioned.
Wanting to continue on McGonagall gave a small nod.
"Yes. Just like average witches and wizards she can have outbursts of magic when feeling strong emotions. For Mia, until she can learn to control her gift her outbursts are going to happen more often than most. It is not something she can help, and it does not make her more dangerous. All I ask from you is that you accept her with it and do not fear her. She's been going through a rather rough time lately and does not need ridicule at this moment." McGonagall finished.
I was hidden in the corner of the room under Harry's invisibility cloak, hoping that people nod. This 'gift' was becoming more and more like a curse every living second.
"Why would we be scared of her? She's a fellow Gryffindor!" One of the sixth year boys shouted.
Many yelled in agreement, almost as if outraged at her suggestion.
Relief flooded through me, my heart soaring.
I had been fretting all day over the events that occurred earlier. I didn't want to be feared!
McGonagall smiled softly and gave a slight nod before briskly stepping out of the room.
Harry, Ron and Hermione all surveyed the room in worry, searching for my head bobbing among the crowd. Ever since the incident I had been hiding in my room all day with Harry's invisibility cloak strewn over me with my one foot poking out the front and stay strands of my hear visible.
I ran through the crowd and up to my room, landing on my bed with a soft thud.
This acceptance, it felt so nice. My father never showed me this acceptance or love. I couldn't tell how long I had been crying before I felt two arms wrap around me.
I cried into her soft shoulder until there were no more tears left.
"Thanks Hermione." I said as I sat up on my bed.
"You're welcome. What are best friends for?" She said and smiled, holding me at arm's length.
...***...
I sighed and removed a small shard of glass from amongst my scrambled eggs, checking them through for any other stray fragments.
Malfoy's complaints still rang in my ears but I wouldn't let them get to me. I had become determined to get a better reign on my temper.
During the entire meal Harry kept his hand resting on mine. I smirked when it dawned upon me that he didn't even realize that he had left it there.
He noticed my smirk and glanced down. Blushing furiously he jerked his hand away, placing it on his own lap. I couldn't help but laugh, Hermione and Ron quickly joining in.
I shook my head as Harry busied himself with reading the paper, hiding his face.
"Harry, I have no clue how you can read the paper upsidown." I snorted, standing up and stretching before walking out of the Great Hall. Behind me I could hear the Gryffindor's surrounding Harry roaring with laughter as he hastily flipped his paper around.
Wandering the halls was nice. I could be by myself in peace and quiet, how I preferred it sometimes when I have to think. My mind often went to different topics of certain things I've been stressing over lately.
One of the things is Remus.
Lately something's seemed wrong with him. [A/N: yes I have her calling him Remus in her thoughts. ;D]
He's seemed ill, and it happens every month. I could tell that Hermione had noticed it as well, researching something that she wouldn't tell me, no matter how much I pried at her.
What was even weirder was this potion I saw Snape giving him one time before.
...***...
I approached the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, taking in a deep breath before walking over the threshold into the classroom.
He currently was sitting in his desk, grading the thick stack of papers sitting before him.
With a slight knock on the door he looked up and smiled. He motioned me over as he stood up from his seat.
"You're looking much better Mia. How are you dealing with what happened?" Remus asked, adopting a look of concern that filled his features.
"Much better thank you." I sat down in the seat in front of his desk.
His look of concern switched to a more thoughtful expression.
"Did you talk about it?"
"Yes. Harry and I talked about it." I replied with a slight sigh.
Remus smirked and raised an eyebrow in surprise. I blushed when I understood what he was implying and gave a mighty shake of my head.
"N-no! It's not l-like that!" I insisted but his smirk merely grew.
He gave a dismissive wave of his hand, brushing off my protests.
"Whatever you say." He said, his grin not faltering. Adults are so immature!
"You are so - " I began as Snape walked in, holding a goblet in his hand.
Wisps of smoke were rising from the goblet, the smoke the same colour as the potion inside.
Remus turned towards him and sighed before accepting the goblet that was thrusted at him.
"Thank you Severus. This is very helpful." He said.
"You're welcome." Snape drawled before stalking out of the room as his cape billowed behind him, not even acknowledging my presence.
I looked at the contents of the goblet, absolutely revolted at the way it bubbled and sloshed about.
"You're not really going to drink that are you?" I asked in disbelief.
"Yes, I am. It's a shame that sugar renders it completely useless." Remus sighed and downed the entire potion.
The smell of it lingered in my nose, reminding me immensely of dirty socks.
"How do you know that's not poison?" I inquired as he gagged and shuddered from the foul taste.
He chuckled and shook his head.
"Because he only brewed me a potion that is to help with my being a little under the weather at the moment." He said but I still was unconvinced.
Snape wasn't one that I placed my trust in. He held hatred for Harry even though he never did a thing.
I sighed and merely said, "well if you think you can trust him. I have to get back to the common room, I need to start on some homework."
...***...
Frowning I paused, that memory flashing before my mind. I wonder if those would be good for Hermione to know. This may help her...
I quickly decided for it, sprinting off in the direction of the large library.
It didn't take long to locate Hermione amongst her massive pile of books. She was reading furiously through the book in front of her, taking notes without even glancing at her parchment. As she ran out of room on the parchment she began writing on the table without even noticing.
Walking up behind her I cleared my throat to get her attention. She jumped slightly before turning around to look at me.
"Hermione, I may have some information that you may find useful with figuring out what's wrong with Rem- I mean Professor Lupin." I corrected myself, avoiding a curious glance from her.
"What?" I handed her a paper with all a description of the potion.
She raised an eyebrow at me after reading the list to herself.
"How did you come across this? Where did you see this potion?" She questioned me as I sat down beside her. I blinked, processing the questions before replying.
"Well, I was talking with Professor Lupin and Snape came in and gave him this potion that I described. I have no clue what it was though." I paused, thinking back. "Oh, and Professor Lupin also said that sugar makes it useless."
Hermione nodded, rushing up and snagging a book off one of the dozens of book-packed shelves. She dropped it on the table in front of us with a triumphant cheer before flipping it open.
After leafing through it for a minute she stopped on a page and read out the title.
Wolfsbane Potion
This is a newer potion, created to make life as a werewolf easier. The main thing this potion does is
make it so that when a werewolf changes they are conscious of what they are doing, even if it does
not actually stop the change itself. This is a very difficult potion to brew and takes a very skilled person
to make it properly. It is a little known fact, but things such as sugar, mint or chocolate make the potion
completely useless. This potion is taken once a month the night of the change. If taken any earlier it will
not work.
Hermione cut off there, looking up at me in shock.
"Professor Lupin's a werewolf."
...***...
"It makes complete sense!" I exclaimed to Hermione as we traveled through the empty corridors towards the Gryffindor Common Room.
She smiled and nodded.
"You know we can't go around telling people right?" She asked surprised.
"Of course. Why would I?" I scoffed as I grasped my book tighter to my chest.
I was getting a bad feeling that kept tugging at my chest. Something was off. Hermione turned to me looking slightly concerned.
"Hey, what's wrong?" She asked. I frowned, looking around the eerily empty corridors.
"I'm getting a bad feeling." I replied.
"How bad?" She stopped and placed a gentle hand on my arm in a comforting gesture.
From how bad my nerves were I knew I shocked her, and I noticed her wince, but she didn't remove her hand from my arm.
"Bad. We need to get to the common room. Now." I ran off in the direction of the common room, running at full speed.
Hermione was hot on my heels the entire time, trusting my feelings.
I stopped dead in my tracks as I approached the crowd in front of the common room.
My throat began to constrict and I felt an odd tingling sensation spread throughout my entire body.
The tingling was quickly replaced with a burning feeling. Almost as if I had been thrown into a fire.
I stared at the massive crowd as my vision became blurry and one image flashed before me. It was a man standing with a knife in his one hand slashing continuously at the Fat Lady. All I could see of him was a matted mane of greasy dark black hair and the back of rather tattered robes.
It felt like ages that I was forced to stare at the horrid reflection of what I assumed was the past. When I didn't have to look at it any longer my knees buckled, and I nearly hit the ground.
Before I could crash to the ground though a strong hand gripped my arm, holding me from falling. Looking up I found myself staring into a familiar pair of piercing green eyes.
"You alright?" He asked, worry lacing his words.
"Y-yeah." I murmured as I used the wall to support me. He placed a cool hand on my forehead, checking my temperature. He worries too much. Chuckling I gently pulled his hand away and placed it back at his side. "I'm fine. Really." I insisted.
Of course he didn't buy it.
"Mia," He warned, "what happened?" Damn.
How come I can never lie to him? It's like he freakin' sees right through me.
Defeated, I sighed and explained to him what I saw.
"I don't understand it at all really, but whoever I saw was the one that slashed the Fat Lady." I said, biting my bottom lip nervously.
"Move away! Make room! I'm Head Boy, let me through!" A rather familiar annoying voice said.
"Nobody cares!" George shouted back.
I looked over to him, seeing Percy elbow his way through the thick crowd. He sighed in exasperation and threw his hands in the air dramatically.
Same old Percy.
It was only seconds later before Dumbledore rushed over, staring in horror at the scene before him.
The painting had six large slashes in it, each one longer than the one before it.
Dumbledore turned to the painting beside the Fat Lady's and asked, "did you see what happened?"
It was a large painting of a woman clutching a baby to her chest. The woman shook her head.
"No. She ran off. She said something about a hippo." The woman answered in a monotone voice despite the frantic look on her face.
Dumbledore nodded before in turn facing Filch.
"Argus, I want you to search every painting that contains a hippo in it." He ordered. Filch nodded and instantly began waddling off into the dark hallways.
It didn't take long before he returned, relaying what the Fat Lady told him.
"S-she said that it was him!" He exclaimed.
"Who Argus. We need a name." Dumbledore said gently, his eyes portraying the seriousness of the overall situation.
"Him! Sirius Black!" He exclaimed.
The entire crowd broke out in a flurry of chatter and whispers. Some people were scared, while others were somehow excited.
I personally didn't feel excited at all. If anything I felt every ounce of colour drain from my face.
Harry held an identical expression as me, his grip on my arm tightening. I placed my hand over his. He looked over at me and loosed his grip on my arm but didn't let go entirely.
"It's alright." I whispered.
I know what you're thinking, but cut me some slack! I was scared too and I wanted to say something small so that he couldn't hear how scared I was.
"Students! Tonight you shall be sleeping in the Great Hall. In a buddy, walk over to there without shoving." He said and the entire house took off at once, running to the Great Hall.
Harry and I waited for Ron and Hermione to catch up before walking into the Great Hall. We walked in silence, the tension so thick you could cut it with a knife.
Stepping into the Great Hall we saw forty or fifty deep purple sleeping bags scattered around the hall. We dragged four bags together before crawling inside them.
I glanced over to my side to see Harry already staring at me, fear still evident in his eyes. I pulled my hand out and placed it on top of his, comforting him silently. Ron and Hermione were doing the same, Hermione just as scared as Harry.
This was going to be a long night.
...***...
I ran through a meadow, chasing a cute little black lab puppy. The puppy would bounce around, it's overly large floppy ears following it.
He bounded towards me making happy yipping noises and thudding it's small tail against the ground.
But when it got close it turned into a massive dog, growling and snarling at me.
I flinched and turned around and ran. The further away I got though, the fast and larger the dog grew.
Finally the dog caught up to me and began snapping furiously at my ankles.
When I could no longer walk it lunged at my neck and -
kick
I opened my eyes slightly and heard Dumbledore mid - sentence.
"... sure whether it was him or not." He sounded rather annoyed.
"Did the Fat Lady herself say it was him?" Another man asked. He was likely the one annoying Dumbledore. Quite an achievement.
"Yes, but her painting was the one being slashed!" Dumbledore exclaimed. I could hear his footsteps nearing mine as well as feel the vibrations deepening.
Turning my head to the side I glanced at Harry, noting that he too was wide awake. Guess he was the one that woke me up.
He was hanging on every word of the conversation.
"Dumbledore, it has to be him. How he managed to get past the dementors astounds me but it had to be him." The man said with a tone of finality in his voice.
"Until you can prove exactly how it was that Sirius black managed to get into this school, I shall not believe you." Dumbledore said with a tone of finality in his voice, walking out of the rom.
That was interesting.
I looked around, seeing that Ron and Hermione were also awake.
The four of us debated silently on whether to talk about it, but I knew we would just end up getting in trouble.
With a slight shake of my head I closed the topic.
When I fell back asleep, they could talk about it all they wanted.
…***…
A/N:
Okay, so this was a much shorter chapter than normal, but meh.
I have some STHUFF planned. And If you noticed I'm not actually doing all of the events in the exact same order as in the book.
I may be doing the Quidditch game in the next chapter but I don't know for sure if I will. I may actually end up moving the big game to after Christmas though to make it a bit easier. Who knows.
Stay with me!
Rose xx