Someday, I will own something of great importance. This will not be Harry Potter, as J K Rowling already owns it.
Calming Down
Ashley woke up the next day in a state of panic, making Ryua glad she'd slept in the same room. She was able to get in her line of vision and start talking before she blew up anything valuable. "Ashely, Ashley, calm down, you're safe…" Ryua moved forward cautiously but quickly as she spoke, putting a soothing hand on her shoulder.
"Wha… Where am I?" Ashley asked, dark eyes scanning the room for Death Eaters.
"The Black Manor… Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix." Ryua said calmly. "I'm afraid none of it was a dream,"
Ashley had just clutched at her arm, hissing in pain, tears springing to the corners of her eyes. "That hurts!" she gasped, cradling it to her chest.
"I know," Ryua said, pulling her arm firmly out to have a look. "I don't think it's quite as red as yesterday… you must be healing already. We'll have Mrs. Weasley have a look at it…"
"No!" she snapped, snatching her arm back. "I don't want anyone to…"
"She's already seen it," Ryua said. "Her, your uncle, Dumbledore, and myself. Lupin and Mad Eye might know, but I doubt Dumbledore would blab it about before talking to you."
"Oh," Ashley said quietly, staring at her knees. A spot of moisture dropped onto them, and Ryua was shocked to see the usually closed, withdrawn Ashley was crying. "I never meant to be caught… I didn't… didn't want…"
"I know," Ryua said softly. Wishing she were better at offering comfort, she sat down next to her, putting an arm carefully around her shoulders. They sat like that for a while, both of them completely silent, tears sliding down Ashley's long nose into her lap. Neither of them really noticed when Mrs. Weasley came in, just that there was suddenly someone motherly, and full of support and love just waiting to dish it out. Ryua withdrew to her own couch, relieved she didn't have to be the emotional support anymore, and hating herself for it.
After some period of time, it could have been two minutes, or two hours, Ashley stopped shaking and straightened up, scrubbing her face on a blanket and making sure her sleeve was fully down her arm. "That's better, dear. Now, why don't we go get some breakfast inside you? I've been baking up the most lovely little scones… and I have some fresh rhubarb-ginger jam I'd like to open…" The girls obediently followed her into the kitchen, where the first batch of scones was just ready to levitate out of the oven. Smeared with butter and jam, they were perfect, light and sweet.
Dumbledore came in, smiling widely as he helped himself to a handful of the little sweet biscuits. They all ate in silence for a while before Dumbledore looked up at the empty hallway and said, "Ashley… If you don't mind, I think we ought to talk before we decide what to do with you," Piling a plate full of scones and taking an entire jar of jam, he bowed, gesturing Ashley out of the room. Just as they turned the corner, Hermione and Ginny came in the other door, making Ryua wonder how on earth the man knew things. ESP?
Since she was usually up so early, they didn't even glance twice at her, just started in on the breakfast. The others trickled in after them, most of them fresh from bed, a handful of Aurors coming in from night watches. Ryua didn't hear from Dumbledore or Ashley until later that day. Mrs. Weasley announced that they'd all go school shopping that day, so Ryua eagerly went upstairs to find her best-fitting borrowed clothes and wand, her only possession.
Much to her surprise, Ginny was packing up her clothes, her bed already made. "Going somewhere?" Ryua asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh, yeah. Ashley and I are going to go stay at Fred and George's shop for the rest of summer. It makes her uncomfortable to be here, and Dumbledore said it was okay." Ginny said, neatly packing the last of her old school robes.
Ryua sat down on the bed, looking for Fleur's (she'd been the closest in foot size) old shoes. "When did you and Ashley become such good friends?" she asked, surprised.
"Since our first year. We've been in most of each other's classes, you know," Ginny said, looking up at her. "I guess Slytherins don't talk about Gryffindor friends any more than we do about you, eh?"
"Guess not…" Ryua said, still slightly surprised. She was happy though, Ashley deserved some good friends in her life.
The first stop Ryua made was Gringotts, to see what kind of financial shape she was in. Sure enough, she was finally locked out of the Malfoy vaults, although Lucius hadn't been able to drain her private accounts. She'd been saving most of her allowance since she was old enough to open an account, and so would be fine right through school, and a cushion in case she couldn't get a job quickly. She withdrew enough gold to replenish her wardrobe, and the schoolbooks she figured Lucius had burned in a fit of temper once he recovered. Card was working on her broom now, having finally got a hold of a piece of bloodwood the right size and feel.
She, Ginny, and Hermione dragged Ashley along on a clothes shopping trip, although the younger girl did enjoy herself a fair bit. Ryua winced at how few clothes she suddenly owned, just two summer shirts, one heavy cloak, a pair of pants, and one short skirt, along with her school robes, of course. And a Weasley jumper, done very thoughtfully by Mrs. Weasley in shades of green. A definite shock for a Malfoy… but not quite as bad as she'd expected, really.
The books hurt too, as she needed to pick up the ones used all her school career as well as her new ones. With an empty purse (a new, and unsettling feeling) Ryua packed up the last of her new Potions ingredients into her bag and sighed, staring longingly at the pet store. And she hadn't made it down Knockturn Alley at all…
But the stop at Fred and George's shop dispelled all lingering bad feelings. She stared in amusement at their rude, blatantly rebellious advertisements, wondering how difficult it would be to slip a batch of You-Know-Poo into Voldemort's food… And it was even better inside. They'd expanded their repertoire considerably, with trick wands, candies, quills, books, vials of love potions, hair growing and removing potions, skin color potions… and pygmypuffs. "I didn't know you were into animal breeding," Ryua said, poking the little fluffballs.
"Ginny's idea, actually," George said, fighting his way through the crowd. "They're a hit, we'll have to breed miniature Nifflers and Kneazles next…" He was called away then by a pair of girls drooling over their love potions, leaving Ryua to wend her way through the crowds on her own. Eventually, she came across Ashley, who had dropped off her own meager belongings in back and was trying to avoid getting trampled. "Settling in alright?" Ryua asked, worried about her friend. Ashley was the kind to bottle everything up, when a good cursing binge or yelling match would serve her much better.
"Yeah… I hate crowds," Ashley said, keeping her back right to the wall.
Ryua laughed. "I know… you send me an owl, or come visit if you need anything, okay?"
"I will," Ashley said, looking like she wished she could melt into the wall. She looked up suddenly, towards the front of the shop. "Hey, your Weasleys are heading out, I think…"
Ryua turned to look, and sure enough, they could see Ron's tall figure struggling through the crowds, Harry and Hermione already standing near the door. She smiled, feeling like a silly girl with a crush when Harry turned her way and grinned. "Yeah… keep yourself safe, okay?"
"You too…" she said, "And watch yourself with Harry. If any of us catch you…"
Ryua looked up, astonished. She thought she'd been good about keeping their relationship a secret… "How did you…"
"I know you," Ashley said, smiling faintly. "And I've never seen you so happy, or seen you smile at anyone quite like that. It's good…"
Ryua smiled again, trying hard not to blush. "Good… It's nice to know one of my friends or family approves, anyway…"
"I… I do, actually. I think you can trust him. Now go, before they come looking for you…" Ashley growled, shoving Ryua into the crowds. She hated emotional anythings, and goodbyes were the worst.
Back at Grimmauld place, Ryua changed happily into clothes that actually fit her, and stacked her books under her bed with a strange sense of accomplishment. It was good to own something again… She laid back happily on the bed, looking up at the ceiling. A screeching sound made her whip her head around, to see Hedwig screech again, battering at the window. Outside on the ledge lay a rather rumpled pile of brown feathers. Curiously, Ryua opened the window, and exclaimed happily to recognize her owl, exhausted, ruffled, and slightly scorched, but alive. Carefully scooping it up, she carried it down to Mrs. Weasley.
"Poor thing," Molly said, feeding it little bits of chicken. "It looks like he dodged a few spells on his way here…"
"I'm sure Lucius had a hissy fit, he's probably the only thing of mine left intact…" Ryua said, straightening feathers. Her owl seemed much improved now that it was safe, warm, and being fed.
"Well, I'll take good care of him now, don't worry," Molly said, just as mothering towards an owl as her own children. "You run along and have some fun, what this little fellow needs most is rest."
Obediently, Ryua skipped out, in an even more good mood than before. Clothes, books, school supplies, and her own owl back, life was good… and then she saw Harry, wandering down the hallways all by himself, and she got even happier. "Hey, you," she said, bounding up behind him to lean on his shoulder.
"Hey…" Harry said, turning around to face her. "You seem happy."
"I am!" Ryua said, giggling. She was momentarily annoyed with herself for giggling like a little girl, and then decided that giggling was fun. "My owl just came back, I have my books, clothes that fit me…"
"I noticed…" Harry said, then went slightly pink at his forwardness.
Smiling, Ryua stepped back, doing a full turn. "You like?" She knew very well that she looked good, in black jeans, and a red-and-black top cut just low enough to show some of her unscarred chest but not make Mrs. Weasley force a sweater over her head.
Harry tried very hard not to look like he was looking. And as all men are wont to do, failed miserably. Laughing, Ryua stepped back towards him, snaking an arm around his waist. It proved to be all the encouragement he needed.
Ryua found herself held tightly in his arms, Harry kissing hungrily along her cheek, and trickling down onto her neck. She gasped, tilting her head back, her skin tingling from his touch. His lips were cool from breathing the cold air of a stone manor, making a sharp contrast with her hot skin. One of his hands brushed a length of her gold hair behind her shoulder, and his fingers were warm and gentle.
She gasped again, shivering as she felt Harry lick her collarbone. Apparently, he liked the taste, because he did it again, moving to the hollow of her throat. For all she cared, he could keep doing whatever it was he was doing until the world ended, but suddenly, his mouth was on hers, hot and sweet and… and… Ryua gave up on finding any adjectives. It felt just so damned good…
He suddenly bit her lip, and her fingers dug reflexively into his back Oddly, the mild jolt of pain only intensified her feelings, an intriguing idea. She'd never enjoyed pain before… but it felt somehow different, a different sensation entirely… As soon as he released her, she pressed into him, her tongue stroking along his.
Taunting, he pulled back, lips just grazing hers, teasing along her jaw, onto her neck. It was driving her mad, just enough contact to set her skin afire, not enough to satisfy… her fingers clenched again, trying to force him against her. He just chuckled, continuing to tease her.
Without warning, his head cracked against her shoulder, causing them both to yelp. Ryua's head whipped around to see Snape glaring disgustedly at the two of them. "Would you please get a room?"
Stifling something between a laugh and a hiss of pain, Ryua pushed Harry down the hall, rubbing her shoulder. "That hurt!" she said. "How's your head?"
"I'll live," he said, smiling back at her. "I've been hit with worse than that… Wanna go find that room?"
"You are just the most … most… incorrigible…" Ryua started to say, laughing, before Harry did indeed find an empty room and pulled her in.
Author's Note: Aah… sorry for the wait… this chapter just wouldn't write… but then it just did. Go figure…
Thanks to those of you who put in requests for things. It helps a lot for giving me something to write. And I swear, I'm getting to Draco, and Lucius… but neither of those were happy enough to sit in this chapter.
And for anyone who cares, bloodwood is this incredibly beautiful, blood-red wood, very hard, expensive… a real luxury wood most people haven't even heard of.
