Author's Notes: I AM ALIVE. I AM REPOSTING MY AUTHOR'S NOTE YESTERDAY WHEN I UPDATED 'BEYOND THE VEIL' ANOTHER DRAMIONE. I AM TRYING TO UPDATE ALL MY WORKS THIS WEEK SO HERE WILL BE MY A/N FROM YESTERDAY BEARING THE REASON WHY I WAS ON HIATUS FOR A VERY LONG TIME. i have not abandoned any works, life just keeps getting on the way. this is also a short post but bear that is is quite meaningful and where the story is weaving through together. I have so many excuses for missing out on all my stories for the past weeks, and months or so. I have been flooded with work and with a lot of other 'does not make sense' kind of thing in my life right now.
But most importantly and very recently, my father (godfather actually) passed away last October 5, 2018. He was supposed to turn 59 this November 1. He passed away due to some liver problem that was diagnosed of him two years ago. He was lucky to last for two more years after that diagnosis. He is my godfather but he literally raised me up as the family lived under the same house. His wife is my aunt (mom's sister) and other than my grandma, i was closest to him. He was an Impressionist Painter and he had a great impact and influence in my life. I always looked up to him and loved him dearly. I was the last to see him in the hospital and after my visit ,he passed away the following morning.
They say he might have been waiting for my visit. I couldn't visit him on the first days he was taken into the hospital because of my own health risk at the moment; but i fought my way into seeing him late Friday night. It saddens me gravely and the past two weeks is a struggle that I thought i would never endure again from the passing of my grandma last 2012.
The pain of loss after death is the most inevitable and horrifying experience one will ever have. His things are still all over our house, his studio still remained intact, untouched as he left everything.
And it makes me cry every now and then to realize that he wasn't coming home anymore from a late night with his friends, dinner and sketching with other artists and all that. That he wasn't coming back home for me to find him in his studio painting at the ungodly hours because that's the way he is.
It makes me cry at the thought that i wasn't going to receive a morning message from him at my coffee mornings at my favourite cafes. That there will be no weekend visits at home from me where i'll spend it with him and mom and aunt for a brunch or so. I will always miss him. I'm sorry i had to burst that all our here cause it makes me feel extremely depress lately. I had to miss so much into my writing and right now, my writing comforts me better than anything else in this world. Lots of love.
let me know how all of you are ding sending love and light
Chapter Eight
A Legend
"The woman of Judas Returns.. I return to my foes and to those I heed."
Harry and Ron stared up at Hermione as she explained to them later that night what had been written on the wall, in a bloody message.
"Foreign language?" Harry asked her recognizing the possible origin. "Muggle foreign language?"
"Not specifically, Muggle." Hermione said. "This is common language even in the Wizarding World. But why would anyone use it?"
"Well, if she's a foreigner, she's going to use it." Ron said staring back at her with a raised brow and mock over his face. "I've heard of this legend somewhere."
Hermione knew what he was thinking and it was obvious that she didn't agree with him.
"It does not mean that it's a her-"
"'Woman' of Judas?" Ron asked her back with a tone. "Can that get any clearer?"
Hermione opened her mouth to retort but Harry stopped her and turned to the two of them.
"I return to my foes and to those I heed.." he repeated loudly but slowly. "She has enemies here?"
"And friends apparently." Ron said repeating the last part of the message. "What do you think?"
"I think that you're both right." Hermione truthfully answered them both. "But I also think that this could all be a hoax, a made up thing."
"Oliver Wood is then a made up accident and is just lucky to be alive?" Ron commented snottily.
Hermione shot him a look.
"I didn't say-"
"How is Wood?" Harry interrupted her. "They were able to bring him to the hospital in time?"
"Yes." Ron replied. "Dad said that they were also able to take him to St. Mungo's just in time. But he needs rest and is still unconscious."
"Unconscious?" Hermione asked, recalling the incident and injuries he might have procured.
"He has wounds and all." Ron explained. "But dad said that he was out and unconscious which tells the Healers that before he was even tied down to the horse, he was already bloody taken out by some sort of spell or something."
"Whose horse was it?" Harry asked him.
"The Minister's himself." Hermione pointed out. "He's here in an official Ministry business as I know of. Just like Lucius Malfoy."
"But to bring his wife?" Ron pointed back out. "We can't be sure on that business. But what I know is that it may have something to do with Lupin and the others here for an official 'Order' business. Too much of a coincidence, right?"
Neither of the two spoke, thinking hard about the events that took place for that day.
It were all too fast, too much of a coincidence if anything else.
"Did you get to talk to Lupin?" Ron asked Harry. "Were you not meaning to talk to him?"
"I haven't really got the time to really speak to him." Harry sadly told the other two. "I mean, I've tried – I really did – but he seems too busy or occupied or that-"
"He's avoiding you." Ron simply pointed out. "That's a possibility, Harry."
"Why would professor Lupin avoid Harry?" Hermione asked him, looking perplexed at the idea of it. "I mean, there's no reason – you two are really good with one another and you're his favourite student. So why would something like that –"
"I actually do feel like he is avoiding me." Harry cut her short. "I mean, I have thought it over and at first I was thinking it can be a mistake but I don't think so. I think he's avoiding me."
"They're staying until two more days." Ron pointed out looking worried towards Harry. "You have two days to try and figure it out or if it's all just in your head."
Suddenly, the door opened and in came Dean and Neville who both looked exhausted.
"What happened?" Hermione was quick to ask seeing their faces.
"Detention with that woman." Neville said they both heavily retired over the opposite couches. "I'm extremely tired and hungry."
"Stupid Veregnicea woman." Dean said looking around the others. "If I didn't know any better she hates Gryffindors."
"She hates everyone." Neville said with a weak smile. "It's like she has some personal vendetta against the school."
The trio looked at one another and although Hermione didn't say anything, the other two felt that she was ready to defend her again.
But Hermione didn't say anything, in fact, she looked like if she had something to say, she kept not only her mouth shut but the thought inside her head as if contemplating something about it.
"Maybe she has." Ron suggested. "She does not only seem to hate the school but the staff. I don't think she's in good terms with Snape-"
"But Snape has never been in good terms with any of the previous DADA professors – I don't think that because she's a woman, his thought on the subject would have changed-"
"Dumbledore seems to defend her though." Harry pointed out staring at them and waiting for Hermione to actually say something. "We saw him on that incident – Snape was ready to put her in the gallows but the headmaster seemed-"
"Reluctant." Dean said. "He seemed doubtful and worried of her, even. I did notice that."
"Well, whatever it is, it's none of our business." another snotty voice said.
They turned and saw Ginny in her pajamas and looking slightly annoyed at all of them.
"We should all get some sleep." Ginny said. "Another practice match tomorrow and don't we all have quizzes this coming week?"
Her eyes turned around and when she caught Hermione's face, she relaxed and so did Hermione.
It felt like they had an understanding of some sort that only the girls knew of.
Ron felt annoyed about it but he shrugged it and turned to the others.
"She's right, we should get some sleep." Ron said. "Should something attack us, we had a good sleep and we'd be alert."
One by one, the other agreed and they all went off to sleep and the last to leave the Common Room were Harry and Hermione who stared at one another like they had something more to say but thought better of it.
When Monday morning came, new rules were implemented for the students and staff of the school. And just like that, the trio and whole school felt that they were transported back a few years into the time where the Chamber of Secrets have been opened.
"Are they mad?" Ron asked as they were given leaflets of the new rules where the curfew were earlier and they were to be accompanied by Prefects or Head Boy and Girls at the late hours or close to late hours and the people who had late detention was to be escorted to and from by a teacher and back to their dormitory area where they will be met by rounding Prefect or Head Boy to be returned.
The age did not make any difference, nobody was to be excempted from the rules that were given.
And as the sixteen year old batch, Harry and the rest felt that this wasn't only annoying and childish but close to ridiculous.
"So the Order is staying?" Harry asked Hermione when he reached them by the grounds after their afternoon practice match.
"I heard Lupin will stay and some other members will be visiting frequently." Hermione answered him as she told them the news she got earlier from Ginny who had receive a note from their mother about the plan. "But I don't understand why Lucius Malfoy has to be here."
"Probably trying to know what's the headmaster going to do about this incident and will try to put him off it." Ron suggested. "It's not like he was not the one who started the problem with the chamber before, right?"
The two other were thoughtful as they sat by the bleachers, staring around the grounds and the other students.
"We should visit Hagrid." Harry suggested them. "If it's true that this is a legend, he must know something about it."
"I doubt it." Hermione was quick to say. "I checked the library over the weekend about it and there's nothing about it in the records."
"Newspapers dating back? Like way back around her age?" Harry asked her skeptically.
Hermione only shook her head, slowly standing up as someone approached them.
"How old do you think she is?" Ron asked them turning around to see who was coming over towards them across the grounds.
"Give or take Snape's or Lupin's age." Harry suggested, eyes narrowed as Draco Malfoy approached. "What do you want?"
He looked at them, a half amused expression over his pointed face.
"Not you, definitely." Draco mocked him looking then at Hermione. "You forgot about today's detention. We're half an hour late."
He pulled out a small, old-looking but expensive looking pocket watch from his robes and jiggled it in front of her.
Hermione's eyes quickly widened and before the others could say anything, she was on her feet and had closely jumped right next to Draco.
The other two looked stricken but Draco only smiled at the two as if he had won something over, the gloat very evident from his face.
"Well, we'll see you around." Draco simply said giving Harry and Ron another long look before turning to Hermione. "I'll wait at the usual place."
And with that, he turned from the three of them and started walking way, playing with the pocket watch in his hand as he did so.
"Something's not right about that." Ron said turning to Hermione and giving her a suspicious look. "Did you two not just have detention?"
"We have another one with professor Veregnicea." Hermione simply answered turning back to their things and grabbing her bag. "I guess I'll see you two at dinner."
They both looked at her, eyes narrowed.
"Hermione, you'd tell us if Malfoy is doing something wrong, right?" Harry asked her, a deep and worried expression over his face.
"Yes, ofcourse." Hermione said in a heart beat as she drew her wand out to show them. "its not like he's going to try anything."
They gave her a weak smile, aware of what she would do to the once ferret if he does try something to her.
"Be careful." Ron said and his tone was serious giving Hermione the impression that they were more than worried about her and the detention served with Draco Malfoy. "We'll wait for you over dinner."
Before she could leave though, Harry reached for her.
"Where's 'the usual place' Hermione?" he asked, unable to stop his curiosity. "The one where you'll meet him?"
And for a split moment, a look of fear passed Hermione's eyes as if Harry had asked a forbidden question.
She blinked and took her a moment to answer them.
"The library." Hermione simply answered. "Just the library. I'll see you two around."
And with that, she turned from them without another word nor another look back at them and the others already that for the first time, she was lying right through her teeth to the two of them.
"Gryffindor, eh?" the voice was deep and yet sexy in a way. "Care to join us?"
She looked up from her books by her corner at the library and stared at the four handsome young lands in front of her.
There was one who was good-looking with dark hair and spotless spectacles, next to him was a little stout and short boy who looked as innocent as he could be and the one next to him looked handsome yet thin a sad look about his eyes but looked the most smart amongst the four lads and the last one with a gloat and bright gleam in his face that was contrast to his dark eyes and hair stood the boy who spoke.
The Marauders.
Or that was what she heard they were called.
She already made a friend and her name was Lily Evans – a nice girl with reddish hair and bright green eyes.
And she was also the one who told her about these four who were always noisy and about around the school.
The five of them were already in their third year and she was an irregular third year transferee.
"I'm Sirius Black." the most handsome boy from the lot said sitting over the table where she was studying and extending his hand to her. "And you are?"
She closed her book and smiled back at him.
He smiled wider at her.
"Not interested." she simpy said and the other two sniggered at Sirius as they watched her prepare her things to leave. "I'm sorry, I need to find a space to study and not really mingle right now. I have things to catch up on."
"I can help you with that." Sirius said blocking her way and looking over her bag and things. "I'm really one of the best in classes and-"
"I usually study alone." she replied with a kind smile. "If you'll excuse me, I do have to go."
The three were amused and Sirius looked red in the face as he tried to follow her with his friends right behind him.
"Not interested bro, let it go." she heard the boy named James whisper at his friend. "You better put this one down. Definitely not interested."
"You shut it orI'll tell Lily about that orange juice incident." Sirius threatened back at him.
James quickly shut up and recovered when Remus signaled them to keep quiet as he moved over gently to the girl and reached over the floor.
"You left." he said blocking her way and handing her a parchment she accidently left behind.
"Oh, thank you!" she was quick to say, eyes wide at the copy of class schedules she almost lost. "Thank you."
She looked grateful and for the first time they saw her smile genuinely and Remus looked lost in her smile.
"Latin America?" he asked her gently.
"Venezuela." she answered him keeping the schedule back in her bag. "Transferee. My mother is English, though."
"So Latin America?" Sirius said reaching them and smiling at her in an way where he was obviously trying to impress her.
"What do you think you dimwit?" James said nudging him over the stomach. "This is why you don't get the smart girls and Remus does."
They all laughed at him and the girl restrained herself further but she couldn't help but smile at the way they talked to one another.
By the looks of it, they were already very close friends and she was no longer wondering why Lily Evans talked to them the way she did to when they first met and she briefed her about the school.
"Remus Lupin." Remus said extending his hand to hers. "Both English parents. It's nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too." she answered and they were all in awe when she took his hand and shook it back.
Sirius looked jealous but he also looked ready to mock Remus Lupin for getting to the girl the first time before he did.
"I'll see you around, Remus." she said giving him a smile, a blush evident over her face.
As she turned, she heard them mock and woo their friend at the way she had responded.
She started walking away but she heard the other boy still going after her.
"Hey!" Sirius had yelled at her. "Do you play Quidditch?"
And she turned, and before she knew it, something glistening and fast was pelting right at her face.
"NO!" she heard the other boys scream too stop Sirius but it was too late and he threw the Golden Snitch right at her face.
Her eyes were wide, face red in surprise and before they all knew it, she had raised her hand and caught the snitch right at it before it hits her face, effortlessly.
The boys quick ran towards her, gathered and staring afraid and apologetic back at her.
One game might have gone too far.
The four of them looked afraid of her as she stood, expressionless with the snitch struggling inside the palm of her hand.
"I'm sorry." Sirius was quick to say and he did indeed looked very sorry. "I didn't. I'm sorry – I-"
"If you ever do that again, I'm going to slit your throat." she slowly whispered enough for them to hear as she gently handed it back to his hand, eyes not leaving him. "Please don't ever do that again."
If it was a real threat, they weren't sure.
But Peter looked close to wetting himself already and Sirius looked both embarrassed and afraid for what he did.
"He didn't mean it." Remus was quick as he walked forward to protect his friends. "Let me apologize for them, please."
He reached over gently, eyes not leaving her.
Her eyes moved from Sirius and then back at Remus.
And without warning, she suddenly burst out into a loud and friendly smile at them.
She was an insane as they were as James concluded.
"Is this how you greet people at Gryffindor?" she said with a smile to assure them she was alright and everything was good. "It's all cool. That was pretty cool."
"You play?" James asked her as they all relaed again, smiling back at her.
He had observed how fast her eyes and her reaction had changed milli-second into realizing what was going to happen and what was going to hit her.
Her reflexes were natural and she was sporty enough to look like she was into the sport.
"A little of this and that." she simply answered him. "I'll see you guys around."
And she smile and them and turned away leaving the four of them scared and impressed as hell all at the same time.
And as they walked back to their classes, James and Sirius noticed one detail that was missed by Peter and Remus himself.
The girl was interested and for the first time, not with Sirius Black but with their smartest friends and probably one of the smartest arse the Gryffindor House would ever have.
"AZKABAN OUT OF CONTROL: Confirmed today by the Ministry of Magic that there have been another break out."
The Daily Prophet read over breakfast and people were talking about the contents that following morning.
The Gryffindor table was ofcourse most worried and the Slytherin didn't even looked bothered by the news of it.
"I have to go, I have class." Hermione said as she began leaving the table earlier than the other two. "I'll meet you at nine."
"I thought you have no 8am class on Tuesdays?" Ron said skeptically looking back at her.
They were becoming too suspicious over her latest agendas and different schedules that what they know of.
"I have." Hermione said quickly packing her things away. "I'll see you at Hagrid's."
And before they could do anything, she already left them.
They were going to discus and argue about it when Harry's eyes caught something.
Draco Malfoy was leaving the Slytherin table, earlier than his friends and went off to the back door direction without anyone else with him.
"I'll be back." Harry quickly said tapping Ron at the back. "I'll see you 9 at Hagrid's."
"Wait – what?" Ron called back at him, perplexed at being left behind by his two friends.
Harry was quick.
He quickly went off towards the direction that Hermione did and to his surprise, Hermione was no longer within sight by he could swear he had seen the last bit of view of Draco's blonde head disappear to the direction she possibly could have.
"Malfoy?" Harry whispered, quick to hide himself and follow the two of them down a corridor that didn't exactly lead to any classroom or the library.
It led straight to the corridor that would lead towards the staircase that led to the kitchens.
He followed through, not seeing either of them from the long walk he was making.
And then he heard it.
The humming melody again.
Harry stopped, eyes quick around him as he realized how far he'd gone down the corridor and he was alone again.
He had just realized that this one corridor turned and connected to the other pathway and if he was correct, to his right was the place where the writing on the wall had been.
And Harry walked forward, knowing in his head he was fuck as hell if thee was another attack.
He walked and turned to the corridor.
The humming melody had vanished and there was no body on the floor.
He almost relaxed, almost.
He hated this corridor.
Because at the other end of the corridor where the glistening writing of blood on the wall had been, was the same dark-haired man and he was standing and staring right at him, arms extended to a direction he had been egging him to from the first day that he had been seeing his man.