Hey everyone! I can't believe we're already at Chapter 9! Like wow! 59 Views so far too, always makes my day. Now this chapter is technically 9 pages long in my typed file, so it'll be a long one. But I've made it interesting as much as I could. I also forgot to mention that there will be major coarse language from here on out. Please let me know if the swearings a little too much or if it's too little. Thanks. And now without further adieu. Here's Chapter 9: Howls, Full Moons and Healing.
Chapter 9
Howls, Full Moons and Healing
January 11th, 1990
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry - the Great Hall
Anna found Jamie looking extremely ill that January morning in the Great Hall, she poured his morning pumpkin juice and he made her, her breakfast and poured her some tea adding sugar and a little milk before he passed it to her. "Morning love."
She gave him a concerned look as he winced slightly. "Jamie!" She exclaimed silently. "Are you alright?"
'I'm fine,' he said quietly. "Nothing to worry about, love. Just a little sick is all." He lied, he hated lying to his friend's faces, but whenever he wanted to tell them the truth; his thoughts always went to what their reactions would be and that terrified him the most.
"Alright." She unsurely said with a shy smile as she toyed with the diamond ringed halo surrounding a beautiful citrine gem at her throat.
"You're wearing the necklace I gave you for Christmas," he smiled, trying to change the subject to something other than his health, it was one of her sore spots. In response she beamed and reached across the table taking his hand. He returned her beautiful smile and he blushed slightly making her smile grow as she blushed to the tips of her toes.
He grinned when he succeeded in changing the subject. "I never take it off, thank you Jamie, it truly is beautiful." She said, her ocean blue eyes turning a light violet, her eyes never turned any other colour, only violet, it seemed. Her eyes would go from the prettiest shade of blue he'd ever seen, to the deepest violet any eye could be blessed to look upon.
From the brightest amethyst when she was in a mischievous mood, a pretty violet when she was praised, a dark purple when she was furious, a deep amethyst after being kissed—twice that he'd seen—, or a light violet when she was being thoughtful.
"I've always wondered why your eyes change colour, do you know the actual reason why, or have they always done that?"
"They've done it since I was born, I don't really know why, and it doesn't seem like they turn any other colour." She mused. Jamie mumbled something. "Pardon?"
"It suits you." He whispered and her eyes turned a pretty plum colour as she blushed like mad.
"Thanks Jamie." She blushed.
oOoOoOo
Library
Anna was sitting in the library, Spirit laying on the table in front of her while the witch poured over a few books before her first Defence class of the semester.
"Hey Spi?" Anna asked her kitten, whom had grown to an almost fully grown feline during the five months they'd attended Hogwarts together. The black feline looked up upon being addressed and tilted her head to the side as if saying something. Anna silently laughed at the action. "Could you go find a book for me?" The feline nodded and stood, then stopped to tilt her head once again as if asking. "The subject is on Werewolves." The dark feline blinked, then nodded before sauntering off in search for the book her owner wanted.
The green eyed feline returned awhile later, a large tomb in her mouth that appeared heavy, but the feline carried with ease, she even jumped up on the table; the large tomb in her jaws.
"Ah, thanks girl." She said not paying attention as Spirit dropped the large tomb in Anna's awaiting arms. "Mother of Merlin! How did you carry this, it weighs a ton!" The witch silently exclaimed at the weight of the tomb that her still small feline had carried with such ease. She blew on the cover and dust flew everywhere. Anna coughed and sighed, grabbing her pinewood wand from the table beside her and pointed it to the large tomb. "Scourgify." The dust immediately disappeared, Anna laughed quietly and said, "Ah! Cleaning Charms sure do come in handy, when they're needed, eh Spi?" as she turned to the Contents of the large tomb in her research for Werewolves to cover a theory.
oOoOoOo
Defence Classroom
Anna and the gang chattered excitedly as they took their seats in the large classroom. Anna had made an amazing discovery on werewolves, and she knew all the signs, the full moon was also the night. Jamie looked even worse than he had that morning and now Anna knew why, but kept his secret for him, even her knowledge of his secret from him.
She sat beside him in class, her hand on his as the classroom doors burst open—the room falling silent—a name writing itself on the black board at the front of the class: Professor Higgs.
"Good morning students, my name is Professor Higgs. There will be no need for desks in this class, everyone up. You will be learning how to defend yourselves in bad situations." He gently kicked the large, black chest beside him and it rattled violently. Making the class gasp and back up. "Can anyone tell me what a Boggart is?"
Four hands shot into the air; Anna's, Mia's, Irys' and Jamie's.
"Yes! Mister Summers?" He pointed to James, who's chest puffed out being in his element.
"A Boggart is a creature that lives in dark and dank places, it's a shape-shifter, sir, it takes the shape of whatever we fear the most." James said.
"15 Points to Hufflepuff, well done Mister Summers, now can anyone tell me what a Boggart looks like?"
Two hands shot up this time around; Anna's and Cedric's.
"Miss Cloud?"
"No one knows the shape it takes when it's alone, sir, we only see the shape as to what we fear the most."
"Excellent! Another 15 Points to Hufflepuff! Well done Miss Cloud. Now does anyone know what has been happening lately in the Prophet?"
Naturally, Peter's hand flew to the air as he was the only one besides Amos and Holly, whom read the Daily Prophet in the morning.
"Mister Stebbins?"
"There were sightings of werewolves last week, and two families of Muggles and Muggle-borns were slaughtered." Peter said, his tone shaky when he mentioned Muggle-borns and slaughtered, his gaze went to Anna, whom visibly swallowed.
"Correct, 5 Points to Hufflepuff." Professor Higgs said, an air of sadness in his voice. "Now," he said firmly, looking to his students. "Today you will be facing your fears, repeat after me—without wands please—Ridikulus. With this Charm you must have full focus, you want to turn the Boggart into something you find, funny."
"Ridikulus." the class said in unison.
"Very good, now form a line and face your fears. Miss Valentine? Will you help me demonstrate?" Mia stepped forward whilst the rest of the class formed a line behind her, Jamie and Al had their backs pressed against the wall. Anna gave them a worried look towards their reactions, of course she knew James' secret but she still couldn't help but feel a strange protectiveness overcome her for the boy. Nor did she know the reason why Al had his back pressed up tightly against the wall beside him.
"You alright love?" She asked, moving Jamie's dark brown hair from his forehead. He winced slightly, then stilled at her touch, her eyes flashing a dark purple in worry.
"I'm alright love, you go on in line, I just need a moment." He said moving her blackberry bangs from her eyes as he gave her a reassuring smile.
"Only a moment?" She smirked.
"You're cruel." He smiled, chuckling softly.
"You okay Al?" She asked, worried once again, turning to the blonde boy next to Jamie.
"You go on ahead kitten." Anna nodded in understanding as she joined the line.
From the front of the line, Mia had walked forward and was now standing in front of Professor Higgs. "Now, Miss Valentine, what is your biggest fear?"
"Cockroaches." She muttered. And Anna instantly understood why Mia greatly disliked old four poster beds.
"I see, now when I open that chest I want you to visualize it, and turn it into something you find funny." Professor Higgs said as he flicked his wand and the chest opened with a loud bang!
A large, ugly cockroach the size of a large cat crawled out from the chest, Mia's eyes were wide—her wand arm steady, the rest of her body shaking uncontrollably—.
"Take your time, face your fear." Professor Higgs encouraged.
Mia pointed her wand to the large cockroach and shouted, "Ridikulus!" the cockroach then flipped upside down and was unable to right itself, everyone laughed.
"Well done Miss Valentine! Well done! Mister Diggory?"
Cedric moved forward and the cockroach began shifting. It took the form of a giant black cat, much larger then Spirit, half the size of a lion.
"What is that?" Someone asked.
"It's a panther." Anna breathed, she looked at Cedric's reaction and found that he was terrified. She walked up behind him and put a hand on his shoulder. "You can do this Ced, take your time." She encouraged with, her eyes turning a bright plum, a shade he'd never seen before.
He gave her a thanking smile and gave a curt nod. He turned to the panther and pointed his wand. "Ridikulus!" He yelled and the large black panther shrunk into a mini kitten with a large yellow oversized bow, it gave the smallest meow and then fell face first from the weight of the bow. Anna and Ced laughed.
"Well done, Mister Diggory! Well done! Miss Cloud?"
Anna took a deep breath and stepped forward, the little kitten started to shift and shift and shift, but never took a form, it simply kept shifting. Anna looked to Professor Higgs, whom looked impressed.
"Miss Cloud?" He asked. "What are you afraid of?"
Anna looked to him and said, "I don't know sir, I've never thought about it." Just then, someone screamed in horror, Anna's head turned quickly—snapping in the process at the speed—to look in front of her and she went pale. Eleven bodies were strewn here and there, the eleven bodies of her best friends; dead.
Mia's body was right at her feet, covered in blood, her big green eyes staring off into the distance, face blank and extremely pale, looking tortured before a gory death.
Clover's body was a little bit further, her glasses askew, a large gash in her cheek. Her entire body ripped and scratched and bruised as if she'd been tortured, badly.
Al, Jamie, Cedric, Amos, Peter and Thomas all layed side by side, they're bodies all ripped and scratched in bad places, all staring into the distance, faces blank and pale.
Holly, Irys and Weaver's bodies were scattered around, Irys' soft blue eyes stared blankly, whilst Holly's and Weaver's green eyes looked pained. Every single body Anna looked at, they'd looked like they'd been tortured to insanity before a very bloody and gory death.
Tears formed in the corner of her eyes, as she pointed her wand and screamed, "Ridikulus!" Nothing happened. Professor Higgs stepped in front of her and the bodies disappeared and they merged into one, that of a woman, chewed up and bloody.
"Ridikulus!" He shouted and the body turned into a living woman as she laughed a beautiful laugh and smiled a beautiful smile. And just like that the woman stood up and walked right back into the chest as it slammed shut behind her. Anna had tears pouring down her cheeks, she turned and looked to her friends to make sure, what she just discovered was untrue. Her eleven friends ran up and hugged her tightly. "Read Chapter 1 on your books as homework, we will continue our lesson next week. Dismissed. Miss Cloud, may I have a word with you?" Anna nodded silently as she said nothing. Her friends made sure she was alright before they left. "I'll send an owl to your other Professors you'll spend some time with me and we'll talk alright, because I am shocked, but also impressed at your biggest fear, which went from nothing to probably the worse kind of fear. The fear of Death himself."
"P-Professor?" She asked, her voice small.
"What is it?" He asked as he passed her a cup of tea, a little cup of milk and another with sugar in front of her as she made her tea the way she liked, with a little milk and three sugar cubes.
"Who was the woman?" She asked, her voice still small, as she blew on her tea. He handed her a small slab of chocolate to warm her up from the images he was certain were haunting her mind at that moment. At her question, he showed no fear, but he flushed at the word "woman" meaning the woman he saw from the Boggart.
"It was my wife," he said, sipping his own tea as she took a bite of a small piece of the chocolate he had given her, the colour instantly returned to her face and she visibly calmed down. "We're a lot alike, my dear. Your biggest fear is losing your friends, mine is losing my wife. I never knew a Boggart could divide itself the way it did for your fear and I'm impressed with you, Miss Cloud so I will award Hufflepuff with a good 50 Points for your courage and for teaching me something that I didn't even know about Boggarts. I'm proud of you dear, you tried your best, I'll take you one on one and help you face your fear alright?"
She nodded and sipped her tea, the light in her ocean blue eyes returned and Professor Higgs couldn't have been happier to see the light and innocence of childhood still there. "So what you mean by one on one is you'll teach me how to face my biggest fear, one body at a time, so it's not overwhelming?" She asked suddenly and his brown eyes grew wide.
"Yes, Miss Cloud. That is exactly what I meant." He said as he sipped his tea as something to do, shocked by her intelligence as she had caught on to his point so quickly, that he hadn't even needed to tell her his reason, she'd already known and fully understood.
"Professor, I have a question," she said suddenly, swallowing as she said it, like she'd hesitated and she'd said it without meaning to say it.
"Yes Miss Cloud? What is it? I can see your hesitation, I promise that whatever it is, I will not judge, nor will I question your reasons." He swore as he tapped his wand on his shoulder. "I swear on my magic." She smiled at his trust and faith in her it made her feel confident.
"Professor? What do you know about werewolves?" She asked casually, as if she were speaking merely of the weather, she sipped her tea cringing from its cooled temperature, she set down her teacup and waved her wand once over it, as Professor Higgs watched the steam appear at the obvious Heating Charm she'd cast.
When he'd finally registered her question, he didn't flush, nor did he pale, he simply smiled and gave her a thoughtful look. "Is this about you friend?" He asked without thinking of the consequences if she knew or not.
She smiled thoughtfully, her eyes didn't widen, nor did she react the way he had expected. She nodded. "Of course, I figured our Professors knew of his condition and I figured you'd be the perfect Professor to ask about it, I noted that the full moon is tonight and I wanted to know how to ease his... er... you know... transformation," she said uneasily, she looked at the small melted piece of chocolate in between her index and middle finger and she smiled suddenly. "Would chocolate help?"
Professor Higgs simply smiled.
oOoOoOo
Dumbledore's Office
Anna paced back and forth in front of the large gargoyle that blocked the entrance to the Headmaster's Office.
"Sugar Quills!" She exclaimed finally and the gargoyle jumped out of the way as she climbed up the stairs taking two at a time—grinning smugly that the password was her current obsession—until she reached the large doors and hesitated before knocking, but knocked all the same.
"Enter." Dumbledore called from inside, she opened the door and found him sitting peacefully at his desk. "Oh! Hello Miss Cloud. How may I help you? Sugar Quill?" He offered, pointing to the small bowl filled with them at the corner of his desk, as she smiled thankfully after nodding and taking one, sitting in the chair in front of his desk.
"Good evening Professor, and thank you for the Sugar Quill, they are my current obsession in the Honeyduke's Sweet Shop, I have a bunch from my friends from Christmas still, but am running low, but that is not why I am here. I am here to talk about James, Mister Summers. I know." She said, averting Professor Dumbledore's gaze as he watched her over his half-moon spectacles, his blue eyes twinkling, waiting for her to explain further. When he didn't react or speak, but waited for her to explain further, she did. "I know of his... er... condition." She explained.
"I see," he said, tapping his fore finger to his snowy long bearded chin, as if in deep thought. "Do you accept his condition, Miss Cloud?" He asked, watching her every move, reaction and facial expression.
"Of course sir, I just wanted to know if I could visit him in the Hospital Wing, before and after his transformations. So he knows he's not alone, he's been through so much and it pained me to learn of his condition, we had Defence Against the Dark Arts today Professor,—Boggarts—and Jamie's back was practically glued to the wall, now I understand why Professor, he was terrified to show everyone the truth. I've known since this morning. I did research sir, may I visit him or has he already been escorted to the Whomping Willow, I haven't yet returned to my Dorm Room yet."
"Unfortunately, Mister Summers has already been escorted to the Whomping Willow and will not return until tomorrow morning. But you may go to the Hospital Wing and bring him a little treat, I hear, he has quite the collection of Chocolate Frogs." He chuckled, his blue eyes twinkling. She nodded and made to stand when he halted her and grabbed a small piece of parchment and quickly wrote something, before handing it to her. "Give this to Madam Pomfrey, it'll explain your presence and your knowledge of Mister Summer's condition. You may leave him a gift, but unfortunately for this evening you have to return to your Common Room straight afterwards."
She nodded and took the parchment, putting it safely in her robe pocket. "May I grab another Sugar Quill sir? Before I go?" He gestured to the small bowl and she smiled in thanks, nodding her head curtly before turning on her heel and leaving the room sucking on the end of a new, Hufflepuff yellow Sugar Quill.
oOoOoOo
Hospital Wing
It was nearing curfew as Anna approached the Hospital Wing, a small bag in her hands filled with the Chocolate Frogs from her Christmas basket from Jamie himself. A small note from her inside that told him to get well soon, but didn't mention of her knowledge of his condition she wanted to tell him that herself, in person.
When she entered the Hospital Wing it was empty, save for a certain pair of redheaded twins, one in a Hospital bed, the other in a chair beside him; both fast asleep, the one in the chair stirred at her presence and smiled at her, a smile she returned before holding up a finger to give her a moment.
Madam Pomfrey appeared having heard the front doors open at her entrance and when she saw her, her brown eyes immediately fell to the small bag in her hands; her eyes softening. Anna handed her the small bag full of Chocolate Frogs and then the small bit of parchment from Professor Dumbledore. The Mediwitch read the parchment and nodded without a word.
"How is he?" She asked, meaning James.
"He'll be alright, just needs some rest and maybe a few Pain Potions to ease his sleep." She answered keeping her reply short and sweet, at the lack of an empty room to talk in private.
"The bag is for Jamie, I was given the tip that they're his favourite and that it might help him feel better, just so he doesn't feel alone. I want to tell him myself, that I know. I accept him and I don't want him to overreact when I tell him, if that's okay with you Madam Pomfrey?" The Mediwitch nodded.
"Now it's almost past curfew off you go," she said to the little witch.
"I have two more wizards to visit, before I go, Madam." She said with a soft chuckle pointing to the single closed curtain behind her. "If that's alright with you, Poppy." She added using the witches first name, making the Mediwitch smile and nod gesturing to the closed curtains.
Anna silently thanked her and made her way towards the closed curtain. She realized she had nothing to give so she grabbed three little flowers and Transfigured them before silently walking to the open end of the curtains, she smiled at the redheaded twin that sat watching her silently from his chair. She held out her hand and handed him two of the three Sugar Quills she was holding. He took them and keeping one for himself, he set it down beside his twin and gestured that she could sit down.
"How is he?" She asked in a whisper, sitting beside the twin in the hospital bed. He shifted in his sleep and rolled over to face them, but kept his eyes shut.
"He's doing better, I guess, Freddie's still out cold, it's been almost three days now, what if he doesn't wake up?" The twin, she now knew was George, asked in a panicked whisper.
She put a consoling hand on his shoulder and gave him a sweet, caring smile. "I was in a coma for a week. I wasn't on a broom, but I ran into Peeves, pretty sure you heard the story," She said and he nodded. "I didn't get into a broom accident, but I know for a fact that he'll be fine, in fact he should open his eyes to let his bloody brother know that he's already awake, isn't that right Freddie?"
The twin, laying beside her, sighed in defeat and opened his eyes looking from her to his brother.
"Hey there Freddie, how ya feelin?" She asked him, turning her body to face him.
"Tired but you should go, both of you. I know it's past curfew and you guys don't want to be caught out, maybe not you Georgie, but Annie I bet she doesn't want to be caught. You guys go, you can come and visit me in the morning. I'll be feeling a little better." Fred said in a weak and hoarse voice.
Anna leaned down and hugged Fred, kissing him lightly on the head—a kind and affectionate gesture—making him blush lightly and he was thanking Merlin, Circe and Morgan Le Fay for the dim lighting. "See you in the morning, Freddie." She said in a sweet voice, the sweetness reaching her eyes; shifting them to a beautiful light violet shade. She may not have been blessed to walk amongst the other lions of Hogwarts, but that didn't mean she couldn't be friends with them.
George held out his fist in a brotherly fashion. "Mischief?"
Fred winced as he brought his fist to do the same; pounding his brothers fist with his own. "Managed." He smiled.
So here it is. Chapter 9. Hope you guys enjoyed it. Chapter 10 should be up within the hour as well. Love, T. T. Zoldy