AN: I think I'm on roll here. A bit too long this one.
Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns HP.
So, much for my theory, it looks like it doesn't connect to the secret quarters. I do wonder if the Room of Requirements has some sort of legilimens, how it even know what you need when you're inside, has me wondering. Whoever made the room I can say is the greatest of all the founders to make such a room. The word magic just depicted it.
Potter followed me after I was finished with lunch and left the Great Hall.
"Are you free now?" He asked me.
"No. I have some spell work to do." I answered.
"Oh, can I join you?"
"No."
"Well, why not? You know that I'm not normal, and I know you're not. Why don't you want me around?"
"Potter, I know you have a brain, but you can be daft. How about the thought that I don't like you? We're not friends, we're just housemates and the only reason I'm speaking or around you is because of a deal. Now, will you leave me alone?" I told him. "Go visit Hedwig, Hagrid or even Lupin."
After telling Potter to leave me alone, I went up to the tower and grabbed my cloak and scarf. I didn't want to be in the tower right then.
Dumbledore together with Flitwick were walking around the castle. They had a meeting prior to have rounds around the castle to make sure there were no dementors in the castle. They were by the Transfiguration Courtyard then to find Kellina was in the middle of the courtyard with her back to them. She had her wand out and they could see red, blue, yellow and green lights around her. There was music playing in the background as she flicked and swished her wand around with the red light forming the coat of arms for Gryffindor, and the other colors followed, beside Gryffindor was Ravenclaw, followed by Slytherin and then Hufflepuff. Then, with another wave the lights burst out and formed into the Hogwarts school crest. After that, from the Hogwarts crest it turned into a dragon sleeping and a wizard or maybe a witch poked at the creature with their wands. Kellina laughed as she made the dragon to wake up, and blew flames at the wizard (witch). The dragon disappeared and so did the wizard. After that, Kellina went on with enchanting the snow making snow sculptures with her wand, and having them move. She made a rabbit, a fox, wolf, a peacock and a cat from the snow moving around as if they were real animals.
The two Professors were impressed of her wand work, and went on with their rounds leaving Kellina to herself. As the two Professors, disappeared at the corner, Midnight showed up. At his squeak, Kellina turned around to find him there. She smiled at the weasel, got to her knees and beckoned the weasel over onto her hands.
"Got away from Professor Lupin again?" I asked the weasel. "I find it hard to believe that you keep bugging Professor Lupin, when you're here."
Midnights' nose twitched then and his head tilted to the side. I shook my head, as I placed him on my shoulder and used the tracing charm. I followed the line it showed to me and I think he was also moving since the line didn't end until it was close to dinner and I was in front of the Defense classroom. I was about to push open the door when I heard a bark, I turned to see a black dog there and there was recognition in his eyes. Is it still a secret that he's an animagus or not?
The Defense classroom doors opened and Lupin came out.
"Kellina, I see Midnight is with you. I should have known he would come looking for you." Lupin said to me.
"Sir, there's a black dog in the corridor." I said, even though I knew it was Sirius Black.
Lupin peeked into the corridor. "Oh, yes."
"Another pet sir?" I asked.
"Erhm, no, he's my best friend." Lupin replied which caused the dog to bark in glee then Sirius bounded towards us.
"What's his name?"
"Padfoot" another bark came from the dog
"Has he been hiding in your office or somewhere?" I may as well go with the flow of things, not like something will happen if I do call Sirius out.
"Ah, Sirius takes care of him for me."
"I didn't see him at their house during the party." It's funny how you know someone's lying and you know the truth.
"He was—er…outside."
"And leaving him out while there was food inside? Isn't that unfair for Padfoot? He would have loved the food."
"He can be a bit messy when he eats." There was an indignant bark from the dog.
"You could have trained him to not make a mess."
"Yes, that hasn't occurred to me."
"How did he get here?" I asked petting the dog.
"Sirius must have arrived."
"Do you know where Sirius is?" I turned to the dog who is Sirius. There was a bark and a look towards Lupin. "It seems you know where he is sir."
"I have an idea." Lupin stared disdainfully at the dog.
"Should we go look for him, sir?"
"Erhm, no, he's probably looking for Padfoot. Sirius isn't lost. He did go to Hogwarts."
"Oh, I was thinking we could look for him using the tracing charm—"Lupins' shoulder looked stiffed then. "—but if you're sure, sir. Will he go to the Great Hall for dinner?"
"Erhm, I'm not sure." There was a huff I think from Sirius in his dog form. "I don't think Professor Snape would want him nearby. He's not much of a dog person."
Potter and Lupin wasn't present in the Great Hall for dinner and I didn't mind. Professor McGonagall asked me to go straight to the tower once I was done eating. I'm not sure if I would even meet a dementor, but just to be on the safe side I turned to my hawk form before I flew up the flight of stairs. I hear a bark when I had passed by the third floor corridor and ignored it as I went up to the room of requirement. There was no one around to see me transform, it was a bit liberating. When I returned to the girls' dorm via the connecting passage, I was surprised to find Potter there in the room seated on my bed, my bed! I stared at him in shock until he spoke up.
"Are you trying to catch flies?" He said.
"How did you get in here?" I scowled at him. "You're a boy!"
"That's obvious and I have my ways." He replied, I wondered if he used his broom but his nimbus was nowhere.
"Useless stairs" I grumbled "Well, what do you want?" I asked him entering the room and closing the door behind me.
"We should go down to Slytherins' secret quarters around six then we'll use this—"He said pulling out a time turner from underneath his clothes "—we'll go back for six hours and we'll stay there until ten."
A time-turner?! "What have you been using it for Potter?" I demanded.
"Studies, see you in the common room tomorrow."
He left the room and I could hear the stairs turning into a slide as he left the room. I can partly believe what he uses it for, because he has a secret room in his trunk. As for the trace for underage witches and wizards, does it even work for time travelers?
We were outside the entrance to the secret quarters by the two snake statues when Potter pulled out the time-turner he had placing the long chain around my neck. He turned the trinket six times and the chamber was still the dark. I lit the fireplace to warm up the room while he went and brought out the pensieve, pouring the memory in and then saying the keyword for it to project the memory. We practiced for four hours before taking a break. He transfigured a chair for himself from a quill on the work table and I went over to the bookshelf pulling out a random book and leafing through it. It was an old tome, and it was written in a different language. I pulled out another one, and it seemed they were written in the same language.
"They're in parseltongue." Potter said near my ear I could feel his warm breath on the lobe of my ear.
I took a step to the side to distance myself from him before I turned to him. "What are they about?"
"Potions, Rituals, or other spells Slytherin made. He has his journals kept in here under a preservation spell and permanence rune."
"Are any of them useful?"
"Most of them are treatments. Older versions of the ones we have, those were more addictive and caused some problems here." Potter tapped the side of his head.
"No spells on how he kept his belongings in here?"
"No."
While we weren't down in the secret quarters, Potter was off with Sirius in the snow playing, and I frequented the library, the Quidditch pitch or the room of requirement. There was a time, I felt something pass between my feet and Padfoot came crashing into me knocking the air out of me and causing me to fall to the hard floor. Padfoot had stopped his chase and whined as he sat down looking down at me.
"I'm fine." I replied looking at Padfoot as he nudged his nose to my face. I brought my hand up and gave his head a pat. "I should have been able to avoid you, my reflexes are turning sluggish."
With that thought, I went up to the room of requirement to find an obstacle course inside. It felt like I was in a military boot camp right then. There was a wall with a rope with knots, a monkey bar I had to cross and others… great what was I really thinking when I walked back and forth? Not like it mattered, I may as well use what the room gives me.
I didn't reach the Great Hall as I intended, I was seated on the steps off the stairs. My arms and legs were sore; they felt like lead, I couldn't move them. I was about to call for Ymir, when Midnight showed up.
"I'm starting to think you're following." I said to the weasel.
Midnight squeaked and tilted its head.
"Not like you understand what I say." She shook her head.
Another squeak.
"I don't suppose you can go and get Sirius or either Professor Lupin can you?"
Midnight tilted its head.
"It's a bit difficult for me to move. My arms and legs are a bit sore."
Midnight blinked before it scampered away. I sighed, figures, it probably didn't understand me and went off somewhere else. I didn't know how long I sat there, but I heard footfalls from the side corridor. The person got closer, and it was Potter.
"Oh, hey, have you seen Midnight?"
"How do you know about him?" I frowned.
"I went to visit Professor Lupin." He lifted an eyebrow. "What are you doing?"
"Sitting" I replied, why did it have to be Potter who showed up? I didn't want to ask help from him of all people! I don't want to ask him any favors.
"Okay, I should go. I still have to find Midnight." Potter said and I could hear his feet getting farther and farther away.
Oh, hell! Pride be damned! "Potter! Wait!"
Potter retraced his steps. "What?"
I looked away scowling, glad that it was a bit dark it was close to dinner time. I felt my face heat up. Why is it so hard to ask him for help?
"I can't move." I said.
"Do you need to go to Madam Pomfrey?"
"Yes." I replied.
Potter pulled out his wand thinking he was going to use the levitation charm on me, but instead he used the featherweight charm on me then he had his back on me while squatting. I stared at his back. He looked over his shoulder and at me.
"Well?"
A piggyback ride?!
"No, I am not going to get on your back." I huffed, and I wanted to fold my arms if they weren't sore. "I am not a child. You have your wand why not just use the levitation charm?"
"I'd rather not." He replied.
"And why not?" I said heatedly.
"Well, you do realize you're wearing a skirt." He said and I can imagine his face was turning red.
I looked down at myself, before looking back at him. "So? I'm wearing leggings, black even."
"Still…"
"Potter, get me up!" I demanded glaring at him.
He jumped and at least it got him to move, but I didn't like it. He was carrying me in his arms. I never liked being carried this way even in the life I had prior to this one. I was scowling the entire time he carried me to the Hospital Wing. Once we entered the Hospital Wing, I heard Sirius' booming voice, as Potter deposited me on one of the beds.
"Oh, Harry, Kellina, what are you two doing here?" Sirius said approaching us with Madam Pomfrey a step behind.
"My arms and legs are sore." I said. "I can't move."
Madam Pomfrey used a diagnosis spell on me, before she went to her stores of potions and handed me a vial with a brown murky color of liquid in it. She uncorked it, and pressed it to my lips. I sniffed, and just from the smell I wanted to vomit. I shook my head profusely. The medi-witch though wasn't going to have any of it and forced the vile tasting potion down my throat. I think I almost gagged if she hadn't rubbed my throat forcing me to swallow.
"Yuck!" I blanched and shuddered. "That tastes horrible."
"What do you expect Pumpkin fizz?" Madam Pomfrey said. "Try to raise your arms."
I did and the pain was gone, but I could still taste the potion. I grimaced at the taste. I wanted to wash away the taste.
"Come back if you feel sore."
I nodded, slowly getting to my feet. I left the Hospital Wing with Sirius and Potter.
"So, Kellina, how'd you end up with sore arms and legs?" Sirius asked.
"Exercise" I grumbled, I'm never going through that obstacle course again, I should ask for simple exercise equipment from the room.
"That must be some exercise that you end up feeling sore. Do you always exercise?"
"I used to run in the morning, but with the dementors I stopped."
"I heard that you duel."
"I do."
"Remus mentioned it had been your idea to make the dueling club?"
"That was last year, none of the Professors wished to handle it. Diggory had been the one to push through with the dueling club this year. Alistair helped him, and we had our own suggestions."
"Do you fly?"
"With my father collecting brooms, It would be impossible not to." I replied.
"Wonderful! Then, you have to join me and Harry tomorrow by the pitch. I'm not accepting no as an answer either. It has to be lonely for you to be by yourself." Sirius said his voice loud.
And so the next day, Christmas day, I found a pile of gifts at the bottom of my bed. There was a broom servicing kit—Alistair, a hair clamp enchanted to keep your hair in place—Sheila, a purse bag with a small book of spells for special occasions(more of a spell book for make-up or hair arrangements)—Sally, a necklace with the locket emblazed with our family crest—Deus, a bottle of green tea matcha—Hikaru with a tag saying 'For your health' and instructions on how to make it, seeds of a melon—Neville, a muggle novel titled Count of Monte Cristo—Hermione, and an unbreakable glass globe with a small cottage inside—Draco with a tag 'To light up the place without a wand'. I just came out of the bathroom when a knock came on the door. I opened it to find Sirius there smiling widely.
"Happy Christmas, Kellina!" Sirius said giving me a small red box with a gold ribbon.
"Oh" I took the box. "Ehrm, I wasn't expecting a gift from you Sirius." I said opening the box to find the bludger alarm I pointed out to Sirius to give Harry. Is this a gag gift?
"Thanks, I guess."
"You're not going to try it now?"
"If I did the bludgers going to whack me" I said giving Sirius a withering look.
"Just try it, you won't regret it." Sirius said.
I did as he asked and instead of a bludger coming out, music was played from it.
"Wow" I smiled at Sirius. "Thanks."
Sirius gave me a wink. "It was Harrys' idea, you should thank him. How about we head on down for breakfast?"
Placing the alarm on my bedside table, I left the tower with Sirius and Potter and stopping by the Hospital Wing before reaching the Great Hall. Breakfast was quick to pass and when we left the Great Hall, the main doors opened allowing Exxion to enter.
"Exxion!" I shouted running towards him and hugging him in the process.
He returned the hug and smiled down at me. He was still taller than me, but I didn't mind. He is a boy, er, man.
"A bit early aren't you?" I asked mirroring his smile.
"You can't beat Christmas with family." Exxion winked.
Someone cleared their throat behind us, and Sirius stood there smiling his teeth out for show.
"Ah, Lord Black" Exxion said stepping forward and shaking hands with him. "I didn't think you would be here, sir."
"Please, Sirius will do, and you are?"
"My apologies sir, I'm Exxion Fawley, Kellinas' brother." Exxion smiled before turning to Potter.
"Ah, yes, my ward." Sirius clapped his hand on Potters' shoulder beaming. "I assume you know him?"
"It's not difficult to tell who he is, Sirius, my sister has mentioned him to me in her letters. I understand, you, Mr. Potter—"
"Harry" Potter said.
"—Harry and Kellina have been in disagreements before."
"You know they're all settled." I said to him folding my arms.
"You don't always write." Exxion replied.
"And you somehow know things without me telling you." I shot back.
A grin came on his face. "One you won't be learning anytime soon sister."
I shook my head.
"So, Exxion, we were just headed to the Quidditch Pitch to play a game, would you like to come along?" Sirius asked.
Exxion easily agreed and we headed out to the pitch. While Potter went to the broomshed to grab his broom and borrow one for Sirius. It was a surprise to Potter and Sirius, when they saw me and Exxion summoning our respective firebolts.
"Is that your gift?" Potter asked me.
"No, it's my birthday present." I replied. "Exxions' was also gifted to him" by the development team, who knows how many businesses our family invested on
Sirius whistled. "Did your dad think of turning you two into Professional Quidditch players?"
"No." Me and Exxion chorused.
The three of us played Quidditch, well sort of Quidditch, there was more stealing the Quaffle than even scoring and every player for themselves. When Sirius would have the Quaffle, it was either me, Exxion or Potter stealing it away. It was like a game of who has the ball is the target. After flying and we were back on the ground, Sirius threw a snowball at Potters' back. Potter returned the favor. Eventually, Exxion threw one at me, I didn't see his snowball, but I did see the one Sirius threw at me as if in slow motion. I pulled out my wand and redirected the snowball back to him while multiplying the snowball into three. Sirius scowled at me.
"Hey! No magic allowed!" Sirius complained.
"I have to practice my spell work." I replied innocently.
"Even in a snowball fight, Ina?" Exxion asked amused.
"If you point it out that way" Sirius said thoughtfully before he whipped out his wand. "What do you say about a snowball duel?"
"And the rules?" I grinned holding up my wand.
"The first to get hit by five snowballs loses." Sirius replied. "It's going to be the three of us against each other. No holding back and no shield charms."
"Just shield charms?" I asked coolly.
"Yes."
I think my smile got wider as he said that, there are other spells to use to avoid getting hit. Sirius made the count to three to start. I instantly thought of blocking all of our sight as the word three came out from Sirius, I used the smokescreen charm before placing a notice me not charm on myself and the disillusionment charm just as the smoke was banished, and Sirius turned to Potter the two of them sending snowballs at each other. Potter jumped and rolled away, sometimes banishing the snowballs, using a body-bind and a jelly-leg curse at Sirius to have him immobile. Sirius used the tripping jinx to have Potter, and sending the snowballs at him, and then there was conjuring ropes at Potter. I watched them for a while standing at a good distance to avoid any stray snowballs from them.
"Suseverra" I said pointing my wand at Potter then Sirius.
I watched in amusement as they were forcefully pulled to each other. They gawked in surprise, and tried to push away from each other, which was useless. The spell had a good of fifteen minutes before it dissolved away. I then cast a silencing charm on them before sending ten or more snowballs at them. They tried to avoid it by jumping in opposing directions, and ducking out of the way, but it was easy to redirect the snowballs at them. Of course, after half-burying them under snow, snowballs came at me in all directions like a barrage. I realized too late, I forgot about Exxion. I resurfaced from the snow, and scowled at Exxion, who was doubled over in laughter.
"Well, that was fun." Exxion said once he had laughed everything out.
"That wasn't fair." Sirius said pouting at us.
"You only said no shield charms, then that meant all other spells can be used." I replied. "You said it was a snowball duel."
"And with duels, all the spells you have in your arsenal and your ideas coming into play." Exxion added.
"Quidditch then dueling" Sirius shook his head.
During lunch, Exxion spoke to Professor Dumbledore over staying in the castle, the headmaster I was sure was going to refuse him, but maybe I was wrong. He nodded, and said the guest quarters would be prepared for him. I didn't think Hogwarts even allowed guests to stay since Hogsmeade was nearby. Professor Trelawney joined us later on, and she looked around the table in wonder.
"Aren't we missing a bit more people this day?" The Divination Professor said.
The Professor McGonagall thought it was due to the absence of Professor Lupin.
"No. No. We are missing a few more people than what is supposed to be." Trelawney turned to Sirius. "Shouldn't you be somewhere in the forest or a cave?"
Sirius stared at Trelawney for a while. "No, the idea of camping or hiking didn't come into mind." Sirius said.
If that isn't an indication to a messed up timeline, the fates are a bunch of bored three hags. Sirius and Potter walked with us while I showed Exxion around the castle, only they were in front of us. Exxion was impressed with the library, and he even gave the restricted sections a look. Sirius and Potter suggested going to visit Hagrid and we did, the gamekeepers greeting was warmer with Sirius, Potter, and Exxion sans me. I don't blame him, if my words last year was still in his mind. It was amusing to see the surprised look on Exxion when he tried a rock cake.
Professor Dumbledore showed Exxion the guest quarters he would be using for his stay in Hogwarts. Sirius and Potter came with us to see the room on Exxions' invitation. There was a couch with a coffee table in front of the fireplace, a door into the bedroom with a private bathroom torches on the walls for lighting. We didn't stay too long as Exxion wanted to see Gryffindor tower.
"A bit red, but cozy." Exxion said looking around the common room before he went up the stairs after a moment there was a yelp and he had been a victim of the sliding stairs, then returning to the common room. "I believe that side was the girls' dorm?"
I smiled. "I wish Colin was here. He would have snapped a picture of you."
"Is Colin the one who fancies you?" Exxion teased.
"No, Colin is the picture snapping imp." I replied. "Garret Weasley is the one who has a crush on me."
"You know?" Potter said in the other armchair next to Sirius.
"It's obvious." I raised an eyebrow at him. "He's always blushing when I catch him looking at me."
"Popular already, Kellina?" Sirius wiggled his eyebrows.
"Not intentionally" I replied.
"Yeah, and punching me isn't intentional." Potter grumbled, but with only four of us there he was audible.
"That reminds me of Lily." Sirius laughed. "There was a time James got punched by Lily by the jaw. James always had a way to get under your mothers' skin."
Sirius then went on telling us about their group in Hogwarts, the Marauders. Playing pranks on the other houses, most especially the Slytherins, there were a lot of mentions of Snape being the target. It all sounded like fun and games, but when you think of Snape he was often humiliated.
During Exxions' stay, we went to Hogsmeade after asking Dumbledore for permission. I enjoyed showing him the shops from Zonkos' to Honeydukes even Madam Pudifoot's teashop to which I have been forced to enter due to his wish to see their wares. He got to meet Professor Lupin on one of our walks around the castle, wherein he was taking a walk with Midnight (on Sirius shoulder) and Sirius. They talked about the ongoing defense club; even suggesting a sort of skirmish with different years and houses grouped together accomplish a certain objective with whoever accomplishes the objective first wins a prize. Sirius found the idea to be great, because there were no dueling or defense club during their time.
By the end of the holidays, Exxion and Sirius left. Exxion handed me a box filled with ashes that he told me were ashes of a cherry blossom tree, it was sometimes incorporated for protection.
"What am I going to use this for?" I asked him.
"You'll figure it out. Oh, and Midnight, that black weasel….seems quite fond of you"
Me and Potter were good with the steps and the problem was how to have the others know the steps after minutes. The answer, of course was magic, but that meant manipulating their memories. I told Potter about that, he just gave me a smile and told me he found a way for that. I asked him how, but he didn't tell me.
The day after everyone returned, Potter had all of us meet at the Astronomy tower an hour before twelve. There in the middle of the tower was a bush, the type of bush I didn't know, but the wind was cold since there was still snow. All of us casted a warming charm on ourselves, except for Luna, she has yet to learn the spell. Potter casted one on her. Potter then handed Draco, Luna and Diggory each a phial of a potion.
"What's that?" I asked giving the phial a skeptical look.
"A potion that will infuse into your memories the steps of the dance" Potter replied.
I frowned. If there's such a potion, why did he have me learn the steps too?
"Any side-effects we should know?" Diggory asked.
"Just the taste, everything you eat or drink for three days will taste bland."
"Why don't you have one?" Draco turned to me.
"She knows the steps." Potter answered.
The three of them shared a look before they drank the potion.
"Taste minty" Luna said.
"Are you sure Lovegood?" Draco asked. "It tastes like melon."
Wonder if he got that taste because of me.
"Pineapple" Diggory said lifting an eyebrow at Potter.
"That's how the potion is the taste varies with each individual." Potter replied. "Sort of like Amortentia with the scent varying for each of us, but this is in regards to taste."
Potter then went on explaining the second phase, and the purpose of the potion. The effects of the potion will take half an hour, and by the time twelve strikes, all of us casted incendio on the bush then dancing around the burning bush. While dancing the smoke of the burning bushes remained near us, we were all glowing in our own house colors, and I looked at Draco to find black mingling with the green light around him, it was more defined at the end of the dance, and that was until the bush was nothing but ash. The smoke around us wasn't blown away by the wind, but it swirled and went towards the pile of ash disappearing. Potter gathered up all of the ashes into a wooden box, and we all descended the tower.
"Two Gryffindors, one Hufflepuff prefect, a Ravenclaw and…." Snape said stepping out of the shadows and looking at each of us in the face "Mr. Malfoy, to what activities have you five been doing at the very start of the New Year?"
No one replied, and most of us looked away from him, including me.
"Forty points from Gryffindor, ten from Ravenclaw, another ten from Hufflepuff and five from Slytherin for being out after curfew after the warning the headmaster issued. Four of you will have detention tomorrow evening with Mr. Filch. Mr. Malfoy, you're detention will be with me. Come along, Merlin forbid, a dementor taking your soul isn't enough to scare all of you from leaving your houses."
We first went to Ravenclaw tower, where Professor Snape astoundingly answered the riddle without a problem. Gryffindor tower followed, where the pink lady gave us a glowering look for waking her up from her beauty sleep. After giving the password, Snape left with Draco and Diggory with him. We were by the middle of the common room when I stopped.
"Why have me go down to the secret quarters with you if there's a potion I could have used like the others?" I asked.
"I'm not good at dancing. It was easier with you around."
"It didn't have to be me." I replied. "I told you, I'm not your friend."
"I know" He said before he went up to his dorm.
I left the bathroom, and made to grab my bag and wand, when a furry orange animal pounced at my face and scratching at me and hissing. I shrieked and pried the cat away from me, but it always tried to come at me hissing. The others woke up by my shrieking, and Hermione was distressed as she took Crookshanks from me.
"I'm so sorry, Kellina." Hermione pursed her lips.
"I'm fine" I said looking at my image in the mirror, my face was filled with scratches and blood was coming out. "I'll just head on over to Madam Pomfrey."
Right after dinner the following day, the four of us went to Filch. To his utter joy to have students having detention with him, we were ordered to clean every bathroom in the castle, without the help of magic. Diggory was with Luna, while I was stuck with Potter. They had Professor Sprout with them, we had Professor McGonagall. We were in the boys' lavatory I was mopping the floor, while he cleaned the cubicles. Thank sweet Hufflepuff for that I would have run myself into a wall. We were on the third floor bathroom, and Peeves decided to wreck havoc on us while cleaning. We didn't notice him at first, but when I got drenched by dirty water and shrieked out of surprise did the damn poltergeist start to cackle. I threw the scrub near me and the poltergeist which was a stupid move because it just went through him and hit the wall. He left soon enough having his fun. I was seething, while I don't mind getting wet, the water he dumped on us was dirty! I have to take a shower before sleeping.
"Erhm, Fawley?" Potter called my attention.
"What?" I turned to him.
He turned away, and I could see a faint blush on his cheeks. "Look down" He said.
I did, and immediately folded my arms in front of me while I felt my cheeks warm up. I hate that stupid Poltergeist! Professor McGonagall found us like that drenched with dirty water. Our white tops were almost transparent, and I was blocking my undergarments from sight. She had at least some mercy to end our detention then and escorted us to the tower.
After that detention, Potter tended to avoid looking at me, and when he did I would see a faint blush on him. Only making me recall what happened, it served to tick me off. While that annoyed me, Crookshanks continued to attack me or Potter when he was nearby. Hermione would always apologize to us. Draco mentioned about the Grindylows sometimes swimming right into the glass of their common room or the merfolk tapping on the glass when Draco stayed there. There was also Professor Lupins' mood towards our class seems more sullen. The red hats Lupin brought in for our class, thrashed around in its cage while growling in the direction me, Potter, and Draco were. Potter since he had Care of Magical Creatures got bitten by a gnome on the hand and got mobbed by four. Then there was the acromantula that jumped at me in the green house, and the plants trying to grab Potter by the neck, but got Neville instead by mistake. That lesson had been disastrous. Then there's the time we went to the lake, he almost got smashed by the giant squids tentacle.
"Didn't Potter say 'dark' creatures?" Draco hissed next to me on our way to Arithmancy.
"He did."
"Then, why does it feel like all magical creatures are out to get us?"
I didn't answer. While it wasn't a rhetorical question, this one we both had no answers to.
It was a Wednesday, where I should have been in the library with Neville and Hermione. I was in the common room reading a chapter of our Charms book, when a shadow covered my lighting I looked up to see Ron.
"Do you know where Harry is?"
"I think he's in a meeting for the club right now, Draco mentioned that they've been having a lot of meetings recently. Hasn't Potter said…" Ron shook his head "He's probably in the Defense Classroom then."
"Do you think a dementor will be waiting outside for me?" He asked.
Just that question and I find myself walking next to him to the Defense Classroom in a seemingly empty corridor. Ron had just rounded on a corner, when I felt the cold seep in. I rushed after Ron to find a dementor kissing him without a thought I pulled out my wand, thought of that time Sheila and Alistair looked for me when they heard I was hit by the mourners' jinx.
"Expecto Patronum!"
It still wasn't corporeal, but it was enough to have the dementor flee. Ron dropped to the floor unconscious, after re-enervating him and checking that his soul was in him. I dragged him with me to the hospital wing to have Madam Pomfrey look over him. Inside the hospital wing, Draco standing in between two beds where Zabini and Parkinson were on.
"Draco?" I placed my hand on his shoulder.
He turned to me and shocked me as he threw his arms around me then whispered. "She's gone."
I didn't know what he meant at first, but I looked at Zabini, he was unconscious, while Parkinson, her eyes were open, but they were blank, no light, no recognition. Her soul was gone. Dracos' embrace tightened, and I could feel the side of my neck was wet. I hugged him back and rubbed his back while I looked at Parkinson. Should I do what I'm thinking? Should I? Everything is already messed up anyway.
After asking Draco what happened or where he found them, I left in search for Potter to borrow his time-turner.
"I'm sorry, but I can't lend it to you."
"Why not?"
"It's part of a deal. The time-turner remains with me and only used by me. I can only use it for my benefit, saving someone isn't going to benefit me. Only to use it to learn or gather information, that's all this time-turner will let me do."
"Is it binding? You're deal?"
"It is."
Then, Hermione was my only option.
"How do you know I have a time-turner?" Hermione asked after I pulled her with me to an alcove where I placed the standard wards to prevent eavesdropping.
"That's not important, let me borrow it Hermione. Please. I promise to return it to you exactly the way I borrowed it."
"I…I don't know" She said biting her lower lip. "Professor McGonagall told me to keep it a secret."
"It is still your secret. You didn't tell me, I just saw you the other day disappearing. I won't tell anyone, please, I'm begging you Hermione."
Hermione still looked troubled. If I wasn't pressed for time, I would have thought of a better bargain.
"I'll think about giving Potter another chance."
"You will?" The look on Hermione did a quick turn. I don't know why she seems adamant for me to give Potter another chance.
"Yes. I'll think about it."
"Then, it's good enough for me." Hermione said pulling out the trinket from under her clothes and placing it on my hands. After instructing me how to use it, she left the alcove.
After using the trinket, I used the tracing charm in search of Parkinson. I found her in a corridor with Zabini next to her. I should have thought up of a plan before heading in without one. I trailed after them instead to make sure that they were fine. Maybe, nothing's going to happen, I thought to myself, that was until they separated Zabini went in the direction of the library and Parkinson to the moving stairs. Oh, bullocks! It was a tough decision to make it was either Parkinson or Zabini. I followed Parkinson, and it was by chance Luna showed up coming from the forgotten corridors going in the opposite direction of Parkinson. I felt cold when I took a step in the direction Parkinson is, I whirled around to find a dementor on Luna. I used the Patronus charm, and it fled right away. I heard a thud in the direction of the stairs to find Parkinson there on the floor while her soul went into the dementors' hood.
"Luna, go to the Hospital Wing, tell Madam Pomfrey a student was kissed." I told the Ravenclaw as the dementor approached us. "Expecto Patronum!"
Luna had rushed off I hope she doesn't come across a dementor on her way there. I stood there for a while before I recalled Zabini then and went back as fast as I could. A dementor was gliding towards Zabini as he pressed himself to the wall. He was frozen there frightened. After using the charm, Zabini fainted and I brought him with me to the Hospital Wing. Once, he was on the bed, I placed a disillusionment charm on myself just as Madam Pomfrey entered with Pansy and Luna right behind her. I stayed there for a while and followed Luna to make sure no dementors showed up to attack her. I stared at the trinket I borrowed, wondering if I should try again to save Parkinson, but then she would have been fine and glaring at me if she was. It wouldn't change anything.
I returned Hermiones' time-turner in our dorm room.
"Thanks for lending it to me." I told her trying to smile.
"It didn't work out?" Hermione asked.
"It worked out as it should." I replied.
It was a day later did Ron approach me saying he owes me a life-debt. I just told him I'll think on what he can do to repay me.
News of Parkinson went around the school causing panic to the whole student body. Draco and Zabini were both quiet and sullen when we go to our shared classes. Looking at their blank faces, I knew they were hiding their feelings.
There was another meeting in the defense club, on a Saturday from two in the afternoon to five, first years, third years and sixth years were to be present. That meeting we were to learn the Patronus Charm, Potter had been there to demonstrate the spell and his stag patronus coming out from his wand. Professor Lupin went on explaining how to conjure one. Everyone was excited to conjure a patronus, I tried, but it remained non-corporeal.
"Maybe another memory?" Potter said as he was passing by.
"I've tried that."
"Well, what do you feel when you think of the memory?"
"I feel good when I think of the memory I use."
"Nothing else?"
I shook my head.
"Well, have you tried recalling your emotions in that memory? What you felt during that memory? Or you can just think of something that makes you feel warm inside."
I tried and closed my eyes, I decided not to think of just Sheila and Alistair, but I tried thinking of Ymir as well, our house elf that has been helping me. I recalled during first year his words to me to live not by words foretold but to live for myself. I was shocked, but at the same time I felt better. He gave me a burn salve. He was there to remind me to head to the Hospital Wing. He looked out for me, our invisible watching house elf. He's still watching Potter until now. There's Skye, before I grew close to Alistair and Sheila, I had him. He knew when I felt down, giving me hugs, nuzzling me, and hurting Potter for me. Exxion my supposed younger brother has been helping me, although I hated those sealed rooms, he did that to help me and he gave me the mirror for the basilisk last year, and he helped me become an animagus. We've had duels that were just for fun.
I felt warm and light. I knew I was smiling then. I didn't say the incantation aloud, but it wasn't too soft for it not to be heard. I kept those thoughts in my mind, as silver wisps came out from my wand. I thought it was only going to be that, but I was thrilled for my patronus to take form. I watched it as it tried to chase its tail, then running above our heads just running for no reasons like it found something invisible to chase after. It disappeared when it ran towards the windows.
"That was great!" Potter was smiling at me widely. "What animal was it? It was a dog, but it didn't look familiar."
"It's a Shiba Inu." I replied the warmth in me spreading. "It's a dog breed you see in Japan."
Potter left and I tried conjuring my patronus again and again. I felt giddy when I see my Shiba Patronus. I always wanted to own one in that dream life or other reality I was in, but my mum was afraid of dogs. Potter was good at instructing the others on conjuring their patronus, even a number of firsties were able to produce one, it wasn't corporeal it was still something. Hermione managed to conjure her otter patronus. Draco was successful too his patronus was a firefox. Sheila, Alistair and Diggory had non-corporeal patronuses by the end of the meeting.
After the meeting to learn the patronus charm, most of the students still kept to groups when they move around the castle. Everyone had taken to learning the difficult charm with a bit of enthusiasm. While the patronus was neat, they wanted to know the form of their patronus charm. I passed by the Transfiguration Courtyard to see Garret, Luna and Colin trying the patronus charm. While silver wisps did come out, it didn't turn into a corporeal one. I went towards them and asked them the same question Potter asked me. It still didn't work, I tried a different approach. I had them close their eyes and think of their home or their loved ones. I had them think of the moments they had with them, small gestures they appreciated from them, a simple ruffling of the hair, warm hugs, a kiss on the cheek or the head, just simple shows of affection.
Luna was able to conjure her hare patronus. A little bit more ideas for Garret and Colin and they managed to conjure their own patronuses, Garret had a horse patronus. Colin had a floppy eared dog patronus.
"You've got it!" I said grinning. "Remember those feelings when you conjure your patronus again, and it will be easier for you. A strong memory and emotion gives your patronus the strength to push multiple dementors away."
"What about yours, Ina?" Luna said. "What does your patronus look like?"
After showing them my patronus I left them and hurried to the library, I was twenty minutes late for helping them and Draco might blow if I don't show up.
Parkinson was the only student who got kissed, but the incidents concerning me, Potter and Draco with creatures, dark or not was just escalating that we've become frequent visitors, and Madam Pomfrey was getting tired of seeing us there.
AN: That's it for now. Shame a bit late on the patronus part for the defense club, I'm not sorry in removing Pansy. Of course, Kellina didn't know how to approach Draco and Zabini about her.