I just want to give this quick little note, for the past and the future chapters, if there is a Japanese suffix or word in the sentence it means that Japanese is being spoken. For example if Seiya says "Usagi-Chan…" It means the entire sentence is going to be in Japanese until it is obvious that they are speaking Japanese again for example Usagi could close out with "Seiya" instead of "Seiya-kun"
Chapter 15: The Warning
Glancing around the common room Usagi can assume that Hermione's insistent pacing for the last hour is making people even more nervous than they all ready are but Usagi doesn't have the heart to ask her to stop.
Usagi knows that if Hermione sits down again she will begin crying and Usagi couldn't help but think that if Hermione started crying again, she wouldn't be able to stop.
"Usagi is Hermione going to be OK?" Parvati asks, she sits close at hand unsure of what to do.
"We'll all be better when we find out what's happened to Ron." Usagi replies softly staring into the flames. She knew what it felt like to have to wait to hear news on how someone you loved was doing, how many times had she not known what was going to happen to Mamoru and Seiya.
The sound of the portrait swinging open echoes in the silent common room and everyone turns their eyes on the person who is standing there. Harry's face is pale and concerned but despite his voice, barely above a whisper, everyone is able to hear him speak, "The rumors are true, the attack was in fact on Ron Weasley."
Harry doesn't have to say anything more before Hermione crumples and Usagi rushes to her side. "Oh God!" Hermione's voice is low and so mournful that everyone who didn't have tears in their eyes from Harry's news finds tears streaking down their cheeks.
Usagi pulls Hermione into her arms rocking her gently, smoothing her hair trying anything to calm her down even a fraction of a bit. And suddenly Harry is beside them and he has pulled them apart, looking directly into Hermione's eyes, "He's not dead Hermione, Professor McGonagall sent me to get you, Usagi too. Now come on." Harry helps Hermione to her feet and slides his arm around her waist and with his empty hand he takes Usagi's hand and he leads them towards the hospital wing.
When they reach it Usagi immediately spots Ron sitting on a bed with his parents and Ginny on either side of him and before Harry or Usagi can stop her Hermione rushes up to him and smacks Ron across the face "How could you scare us like that?" Hermione shrieks.
Ron barely reacts and just mutters to himself, "The sheep and the cow and future muggle set."
"What's wrong with him?" Usagi whispers to Harry.
"It's a rare curse that few have seen or heard of and even fewer are able to do Miss Tuskino." Professor Dumbledore speaks, "It's called Disintegri il corpo e mente."
"What does that mean?" Usagi asks puzzled.
"Disintegration of the body and mind, it's Italian." Hermione whispers. Nobody should be surprised by the fact that Hermione knows a rare curse but they are and with gaping looks the adults in the room nod. "It's in a book of rare curses I borrowed for summer reading."
"Well what's the counter curse?" Usagi asks.
"The curse has been around for over a thousand years and nobody has been able to find a counter curse." Hermione whispers sitting on the bed and pulling Ron's head to her shoulder. "The curse runs through a period of about 5 and a half months. Ron will retreat more and more into the world forming in his head, and as his mind goes so does his body. Slowly he will waste away and eventually he will die."
The mournful silence in the room is broken my Ron, "Don't be afraid Hermione."
"What?" Hermione gasps.
"There's nothing to be frightened of. Their coming, they'll be here soon but there's nothing to worry about, they're just ants. The ants won't each much of our food Hermione. We should share with them, they are just little we need to protect the little ants. Don't worry Hermione our picnic will be fine." With Ron's words he smoothes Hermione's hair.
Usagi watches as both Mrs. Weasley and Hermione burst into a fresh round of tears before turning to talk to the Professors. "Are you sure there is nothing we can do?"
"A woman sometime ago tried to create a counter curse but she was killed before completing it, or at least we weren't aware that it was completed."
"Well then can't we find her descendants they must have some idea about what it was or where it is." Usagi urges quickly.
"The young woman was a muggle Miss Tuskino. She did not attend Hogwarts and she had no children so even if there was a chance of the counter curse being passed down to family there's no one it could have been passed down to." Professor Dumbledore states sadly.
"So there is nothing we can do to help Ron then?" Usagi asks.
"We've got everyone who has the time working on a counter curse. Ron will continue to stay at Hogwarts, needless to say he won't be attending classes, but we think it's best if he stays here in case a counter curse is found." Professor McGonagall replies.
"So the only thing left is to watch Ron waste away? I won't settle for that!" Usagi exclaims. "There has to be something we can do for him! A counter curse has to be found. What if Vol…You-know-Who decides that he's going to do this to all of his enemies instead of his normal curse? Then what? We have a curse that has the possibility to be countered, we have to find a way."
"I'm not going to let him die." Hermione states, her voice strong as she moves away from Ron who is continuing to talk about ants and picnics. "I'll find that counter curse, you can be sure of it."
"Hermione." Usagi lays a hand on Hermione's shoulder. "The Professors want us to get something to eat. The school has been released from their common rooms and everyone is having dinner in the Great Hall."
"I'm not going. I'm staying with Ron." Hermione shakes her head.
"Hermione they want you to go. They don't want you to stay here, Ron needs to sleep, his parents will be here with him, he won't be alone."
"I'm not leaving!" Hermione exclaims, "And you can't make me."
"Harry?" Usagi turns questioning eyes to her boyfriend.
"I'll be down later with Ginny in a little bit OK?" Harry asks.
"Sure." Usagi nods and before leaving Usagi hugs, Ron, Mrs. Weasley and Hermione, but Ginny won't let Usagi touch her and Harry speaks to her in a low voice.
"Cassi." Draco rushes up to Usagi the moment she walks into the Great Hall. "Are you all right?"
Usagi shakes her head, "Ron's been attacked…"
"Is he…" Draco lets his sentence trail.
"He's not dead, but he might as well be. A rare curse has been put on him, some Italian curse. There's no counter curse for it." Usagi shakes her head. "It's really bad."
"Good, Cassiopeia, Draco I'm glad to find you together."
"Father what are you doing here?" Draco asks turning to find their father standing in the doorway.
"I've heard of the attacks, I've come to take you home. And you Cassiopeia as well. You are not safe here, many parents are taking their children out of school. The ministry refuses to allow the school to be closed nor will they allow Dumbledore to be replaced, so I am taking you out of school."
"No!" Usagi exclaims, "I'm not going you can't take me. It's not your choice as to whether I stay or go!"
"Maybe not but I am sure when your mother hears of what is happening she will be glad I took you out of school. So quickly go to get your things. The train leaves very soon."
"I'm not leaving. If I get word from mama to go then I will consider leaving but you have no authority to take me out of school under any conditions." Usagi snaps.
"You, my dear girl," Lucius hisses taking Usagi's arm, "Are coming with me."
"No." Usagi shakes her head trying to pull her arm out of Lucius' grip; "I'm not going. Let me go."
"Mr. Malfoy I must ask you to let Ms. Tuskino go." Everyone turns to see Taiki and Yaten walking towards them and Taiki continues to talk, "Your daughter is correct, only her mother has the right to take her out of school. I apologize for the inconvenience Mr. Malfoy but we are not allowed to let you take your daughter out of school. If it is your choice to take your son than we can not stop you but as to Ms. Tuskino…"
"I understand." Mr. Malfoy snaps letting Usagi's arm go. "Draco quickly gather your things we're leaving immediately."
Draco turns and heads toward the dormitories, Usagi grabs him by the arm. "Draco!"
Draco turns sad blue eyes on Usagi, "Please don't ask me to stay Usagi, I can't stay."
"Yes! You can! Don't leave Draco! Don't let him force you into retreating!"
"Cassiopeia that will be quite enough. Now say good-bye to your brother and don't delay him any longer." Lucius snaps.
Usagi hugs Draco and whispers, "Don't get caught on the wrong side of this Draco please, Draco, just think before you do anything."
"Cassi I don't know what you're talking about." Draco says pulling away from Usagi, "I'll write you."
"Drackie come on don't go."
"Cassi your overreacting, father is right it's best for me to go home, you could always come with." Draco suggests.
"I pass, thanks anyway, I guess I will talk to you later." Usagi shakes her head and walks away from her biological father and brother with Taiki and Yaten close behind her.
"Usagi-Chan wait up." Yaten calls after Usagi.
"What?" Usagi asks brushing the two off.
"Seiya-kun told us about the fight you two had." Taiki states.
"I don't want to talk about it. I don't want to talk to either one of you either."
"Usagi-Chan-"
"No, both of you, I don't want to talk to you in Japanese or in English, I can take care for myself from now on."
"Usagi-Chan come on…"
"What's going on?" Harry asks walking up to Usagi.
"Nothing, just finishing up some business. Where's Ginny?" Usagi asks.
"She decided not to come back, she's going to spend some more time with her parents and Ron. Have you gotten anything to eat?"
"No not yet. I'll see you guys in class, thanks for getting me out of that spot with my father." Usagi brushes past Taiki and Yaten with Harry by her side. "Draco's going home. Lucius showed up a couple minutes ago he wanted me to leave the school too, but Yaten and Taiki showed up and told him that he couldn't take me and whatever. I'm not very hungry do you want to go back to the common room. It's probably empty, going to the table people are just going to ask a bunch of questions that none of us are going to want to answer."
"Hermione." Harry and Usagi are surprised to find Hermione already back in the common room when they reach it, she has several books piled on the floor around her and she is flipping through several at a time. "What are you doing?"
"I'm trying to find as much information about this woman who started the counter curse as I can, so far I'm not coming up with much."
"We'll help you Hermione." Usagi assures.
"Guys I've been thinking about why Voldermort would use this curse, instead of his usual one." Harry breaks the silence for the first time in about 25 minutes.
"I've been wondering about that too? What's up?" Lizzie asks.
Hermione doesn't say anything, she only looks up from her books.
"I don't think he wanted to kill anyway this time. He just wanted to warn everyone, make a point you know, he's basically saying look at me, I can get into Hogwarts and I can hurt you. He's saying that this is only the beginning and to watch out, there's more to come."
Chapter 15: The Warning
Glancing around the common room Usagi can assume that Hermione's insistent pacing for the last hour is making people even more nervous than they all ready are but Usagi doesn't have the heart to ask her to stop.
Usagi knows that if Hermione sits down again she will begin crying and Usagi couldn't help but think that if Hermione started crying again, she wouldn't be able to stop.
"Usagi is Hermione going to be OK?" Parvati asks, she sits close at hand unsure of what to do.
"We'll all be better when we find out what's happened to Ron." Usagi replies softly staring into the flames. She knew what it felt like to have to wait to hear news on how someone you loved was doing, how many times had she not known what was going to happen to Mamoru and Seiya.
The sound of the portrait swinging open echoes in the silent common room and everyone turns their eyes on the person who is standing there. Harry's face is pale and concerned but despite his voice, barely above a whisper, everyone is able to hear him speak, "The rumors are true, the attack was in fact on Ron Weasley."
Harry doesn't have to say anything more before Hermione crumples and Usagi rushes to her side. "Oh God!" Hermione's voice is low and so mournful that everyone who didn't have tears in their eyes from Harry's news finds tears streaking down their cheeks.
Usagi pulls Hermione into her arms rocking her gently, smoothing her hair trying anything to calm her down even a fraction of a bit. And suddenly Harry is beside them and he has pulled them apart, looking directly into Hermione's eyes, "He's not dead Hermione, Professor McGonagall sent me to get you, Usagi too. Now come on." Harry helps Hermione to her feet and slides his arm around her waist and with his empty hand he takes Usagi's hand and he leads them towards the hospital wing.
When they reach it Usagi immediately spots Ron sitting on a bed with his parents and Ginny on either side of him and before Harry or Usagi can stop her Hermione rushes up to him and smacks Ron across the face "How could you scare us like that?" Hermione shrieks.
Ron barely reacts and just mutters to himself, "The sheep and the cow and future muggle set."
"What's wrong with him?" Usagi whispers to Harry.
"It's a rare curse that few have seen or heard of and even fewer are able to do Miss Tuskino." Professor Dumbledore speaks, "It's called Disintegri il corpo e mente."
"What does that mean?" Usagi asks puzzled.
"Disintegration of the body and mind, it's Italian." Hermione whispers. Nobody should be surprised by the fact that Hermione knows a rare curse but they are and with gaping looks the adults in the room nod. "It's in a book of rare curses I borrowed for summer reading."
"Well what's the counter curse?" Usagi asks.
"The curse has been around for over a thousand years and nobody has been able to find a counter curse." Hermione whispers sitting on the bed and pulling Ron's head to her shoulder. "The curse runs through a period of about 5 and a half months. Ron will retreat more and more into the world forming in his head, and as his mind goes so does his body. Slowly he will waste away and eventually he will die."
The mournful silence in the room is broken my Ron, "Don't be afraid Hermione."
"What?" Hermione gasps.
"There's nothing to be frightened of. Their coming, they'll be here soon but there's nothing to worry about, they're just ants. The ants won't each much of our food Hermione. We should share with them, they are just little we need to protect the little ants. Don't worry Hermione our picnic will be fine." With Ron's words he smoothes Hermione's hair.
Usagi watches as both Mrs. Weasley and Hermione burst into a fresh round of tears before turning to talk to the Professors. "Are you sure there is nothing we can do?"
"A woman sometime ago tried to create a counter curse but she was killed before completing it, or at least we weren't aware that it was completed."
"Well then can't we find her descendants they must have some idea about what it was or where it is." Usagi urges quickly.
"The young woman was a muggle Miss Tuskino. She did not attend Hogwarts and she had no children so even if there was a chance of the counter curse being passed down to family there's no one it could have been passed down to." Professor Dumbledore states sadly.
"So there is nothing we can do to help Ron then?" Usagi asks.
"We've got everyone who has the time working on a counter curse. Ron will continue to stay at Hogwarts, needless to say he won't be attending classes, but we think it's best if he stays here in case a counter curse is found." Professor McGonagall replies.
"So the only thing left is to watch Ron waste away? I won't settle for that!" Usagi exclaims. "There has to be something we can do for him! A counter curse has to be found. What if Vol…You-know-Who decides that he's going to do this to all of his enemies instead of his normal curse? Then what? We have a curse that has the possibility to be countered, we have to find a way."
"I'm not going to let him die." Hermione states, her voice strong as she moves away from Ron who is continuing to talk about ants and picnics. "I'll find that counter curse, you can be sure of it."
"Hermione." Usagi lays a hand on Hermione's shoulder. "The Professors want us to get something to eat. The school has been released from their common rooms and everyone is having dinner in the Great Hall."
"I'm not going. I'm staying with Ron." Hermione shakes her head.
"Hermione they want you to go. They don't want you to stay here, Ron needs to sleep, his parents will be here with him, he won't be alone."
"I'm not leaving!" Hermione exclaims, "And you can't make me."
"Harry?" Usagi turns questioning eyes to her boyfriend.
"I'll be down later with Ginny in a little bit OK?" Harry asks.
"Sure." Usagi nods and before leaving Usagi hugs, Ron, Mrs. Weasley and Hermione, but Ginny won't let Usagi touch her and Harry speaks to her in a low voice.
"Cassi." Draco rushes up to Usagi the moment she walks into the Great Hall. "Are you all right?"
Usagi shakes her head, "Ron's been attacked…"
"Is he…" Draco lets his sentence trail.
"He's not dead, but he might as well be. A rare curse has been put on him, some Italian curse. There's no counter curse for it." Usagi shakes her head. "It's really bad."
"Good, Cassiopeia, Draco I'm glad to find you together."
"Father what are you doing here?" Draco asks turning to find their father standing in the doorway.
"I've heard of the attacks, I've come to take you home. And you Cassiopeia as well. You are not safe here, many parents are taking their children out of school. The ministry refuses to allow the school to be closed nor will they allow Dumbledore to be replaced, so I am taking you out of school."
"No!" Usagi exclaims, "I'm not going you can't take me. It's not your choice as to whether I stay or go!"
"Maybe not but I am sure when your mother hears of what is happening she will be glad I took you out of school. So quickly go to get your things. The train leaves very soon."
"I'm not leaving. If I get word from mama to go then I will consider leaving but you have no authority to take me out of school under any conditions." Usagi snaps.
"You, my dear girl," Lucius hisses taking Usagi's arm, "Are coming with me."
"No." Usagi shakes her head trying to pull her arm out of Lucius' grip; "I'm not going. Let me go."
"Mr. Malfoy I must ask you to let Ms. Tuskino go." Everyone turns to see Taiki and Yaten walking towards them and Taiki continues to talk, "Your daughter is correct, only her mother has the right to take her out of school. I apologize for the inconvenience Mr. Malfoy but we are not allowed to let you take your daughter out of school. If it is your choice to take your son than we can not stop you but as to Ms. Tuskino…"
"I understand." Mr. Malfoy snaps letting Usagi's arm go. "Draco quickly gather your things we're leaving immediately."
Draco turns and heads toward the dormitories, Usagi grabs him by the arm. "Draco!"
Draco turns sad blue eyes on Usagi, "Please don't ask me to stay Usagi, I can't stay."
"Yes! You can! Don't leave Draco! Don't let him force you into retreating!"
"Cassiopeia that will be quite enough. Now say good-bye to your brother and don't delay him any longer." Lucius snaps.
Usagi hugs Draco and whispers, "Don't get caught on the wrong side of this Draco please, Draco, just think before you do anything."
"Cassi I don't know what you're talking about." Draco says pulling away from Usagi, "I'll write you."
"Drackie come on don't go."
"Cassi your overreacting, father is right it's best for me to go home, you could always come with." Draco suggests.
"I pass, thanks anyway, I guess I will talk to you later." Usagi shakes her head and walks away from her biological father and brother with Taiki and Yaten close behind her.
"Usagi-Chan wait up." Yaten calls after Usagi.
"What?" Usagi asks brushing the two off.
"Seiya-kun told us about the fight you two had." Taiki states.
"I don't want to talk about it. I don't want to talk to either one of you either."
"Usagi-Chan-"
"No, both of you, I don't want to talk to you in Japanese or in English, I can take care for myself from now on."
"Usagi-Chan come on…"
"What's going on?" Harry asks walking up to Usagi.
"Nothing, just finishing up some business. Where's Ginny?" Usagi asks.
"She decided not to come back, she's going to spend some more time with her parents and Ron. Have you gotten anything to eat?"
"No not yet. I'll see you guys in class, thanks for getting me out of that spot with my father." Usagi brushes past Taiki and Yaten with Harry by her side. "Draco's going home. Lucius showed up a couple minutes ago he wanted me to leave the school too, but Yaten and Taiki showed up and told him that he couldn't take me and whatever. I'm not very hungry do you want to go back to the common room. It's probably empty, going to the table people are just going to ask a bunch of questions that none of us are going to want to answer."
"Hermione." Harry and Usagi are surprised to find Hermione already back in the common room when they reach it, she has several books piled on the floor around her and she is flipping through several at a time. "What are you doing?"
"I'm trying to find as much information about this woman who started the counter curse as I can, so far I'm not coming up with much."
"We'll help you Hermione." Usagi assures.
"Guys I've been thinking about why Voldermort would use this curse, instead of his usual one." Harry breaks the silence for the first time in about 25 minutes.
"I've been wondering about that too? What's up?" Lizzie asks.
Hermione doesn't say anything, she only looks up from her books.
"I don't think he wanted to kill anyway this time. He just wanted to warn everyone, make a point you know, he's basically saying look at me, I can get into Hogwarts and I can hurt you. He's saying that this is only the beginning and to watch out, there's more to come."