Hi there! I hope I didn't make you wait for too long! ^_~ This sucks…I updated this weekend and FF.net had a revamp to do so I didn't get my reviews in my e-mail. I love to read my reviews there! _ Anyway! I got many positive ones! :
Ancient-Legend: Not long enough?! Woah…You're though one to please!
MarsMoonStar: ^_^You're happy!
Koosei: Patience!
Firelightz: ^_^Hope you'll like this chapter!
Chibi Koneko: You're good! She IS gonna get sick! Bravo!
Yadrianne: She'll have to learn!
Miranda Compton: Thanks!
Light Angel: Thanks a bunch!
Syko-san: I loved your review! It gave me great plot ideas! Thanks!
Satori Blackthorn: Me? Roast Lupin?! No way! He's one of my favs!
Harry and Usagi FOREVER: He! He! I like your name! ^_~
Erika: Thanks for the review!
Fallen Phoenix721: Thanks! ^_^
Mitsukai11: I loved your review! I hope I'll hear of you in the next ones!
Crazygurl70: I don't find you annoying!
Birdgirl: At least you reviewed this one! ^_^Thanks!
Maiden Genisis: Thank you! ^_^
I hope I didn't forget anyone! ^__^
_____________________________________________________________
Father Mine
Chapter 08: Sickness comes, sickness goes
_____________________________________________________________________________
"Hurry up, Hermione! Breakfast will start soon! We don't want to be late!" Lavender shouted to the light brown haired girl from the base of the dorm stairs. Hermione rushed to finish dressing up and shook none too gently the still sleeping form of Usagi, covered by her thick blanket up to her head.
"Come on sleepyhead! Waaaake up!" Hearing a groan, she decided that Usagi was awake enough and darted towards the stairs to join her friends.
So, in her haste, she didn't see that the blankets were completely soaked.
Halfway through breakfast, Neville frowned questioningly. "Have any of you guys seen Serena this morning?" It was Hermione's turn to frown. "I shook her out of sleep at sunrise. Maybe she went back to dream world."
Harry furrowed his brow worriedly and started to get up. "I'll go check for her!"
"There's no need to, mate! Look, she's coming as we speak." Seamus pointed at the slowly walking Serena. Ron slapped her on the back in a friendly gesture and she all but winced. "Did ya wake up on the wrong side of the bed, Sere?" He started to laugh but Harry quickly sent him a warning look.
"Are you alright, Serena?" He asked worriedly. "You look a bit pale." Serena mustered her best smile for him. "I'm perfectly fine, Harry! Now, let's eat!" She sat on her bench and sighed, coughing a little. She shrugged off Harry's glances and didn't eat anything from her plate.
The Gryffindors had History this morning. How boring to start a day with that class, especially with professor Binns as a teacher! Ron whined to Dean Thomas who was beside him, while taking his seat; "We just woke up and we're going to fall asleep again! Why can't history be more fun?"
Dean nodded fervently with him. It wasn't his best subject either. Serena merely took her seat silently, gazing emptily at her desk. The voice of the teacher seemed so far to her, while she thought; 'Why do I feel so heavy? I'm sweating so much…Why is it so hot in here?!'
She fidgeted on her seat, trying to ease off her thick robes. Her eyes started to drop and haziness took over her eyesight when a sharp tap on her desk made her blink back to reality. Professor Binns towered over her and the students were looking at her curiously.
"Since you seem to fall asleep in my class, I assume you know what I was just talking about?" A headache the size of the Titanic rendered her incapable to answer. The voice seemed so far! She merely shook her head to whatever question the teacher had asked her and she vaguely heard a growl before a sharper hit collided with her desk.
"You have some nerve! Take your book, page 92! Read the Merlin part to the class, all of it! NOW! And 10 points off Gryffindor!"
After wincing at the sharp and loud voice, she gloomily took her history book, which she liked to call 'the brick' since it weighted a ton, and started to read the chapter in the loudest voice she could muster, which wasn't that loud from her state of mind:
"Legend has it that Merlin's mother was the virtuous daughter of a king, and his father a demon or a malefic spirit bearing the name of incubus. Merlin inherited his mother's kindness and his father's magical powers. As a child, he demonstrated his supernatural abilities, which saved his life.
Merlin possessed the gift of metamorphosis, which enabled him to transform into a child, an old man, a women, a dwarf or an animal, according to his mood. He could control the unsettled sea and command to Camelot's high walls to make any invader fall to the ground, if they were trying to get in.
In spite of his outstanding capacities, Merlin lost his life due to a stupid error. He fell in love with the witch Vivianne (the Lady of the Lake) and revealed all his magical secrets. Using this knowledge against him, Vivianne cast a spell that imprisoned him for ever in the trunk of an oak tree."
She breathed the last words faintly and she vaguely heard the professor asking to pay more attention next time. Her eyes were closing again and Binns yelled at her for the second time. "Miss Tsukino! 20 points off Gryffindor! Next time it will be more!"
Even with her head spinning the way it presently did, she heard the disapproving groans and felt the angry stares directed at her. She forced herself to sit straight but her head was still down. Nobody seemed to notice her breathing had become labored and that beads of sweat now covered her brow. She was still trying to ease the scorching temperature seizing her body in massive hot waves.
When the class finally ended, some Gryffindors almost pushed her out of the way, making her stumble a little. "History might not be fun, but you didn't have to make us loose points! We already lost a lot because of that git Malfoy and Snape! We don't care if you know everything or not! Just stop playing the all-knowing and listen in class!"
They glared forcefully at her and the group made their way to the door. Harry glanced at her with some pity but Dean Thomas urged him out of the classroom with a glare of his own. She made her way to Transfiguration class alone, fighting the unconsciousness that was threatening her. She was stopping every 2 minutes to take a breath, leaning against the wall. She was hardly seeing anything at all by this point.
10 minutes after the beginning of the class, Professor Mc Gonagall asked for the students to give back their homework. She gazed at them while they came up to her desk to hand her their paper when she furrowed her brow.
"Mr. Thomas," she asked randomly, "Do you know where Miss Tsukino is? It is hardly her habit to arrive late or miss a class."
Dean Thomas shrugged, not really caring, still angry at the bunny. "I don't know, ma'am. She was right behind us at some point when she slowed down until she just wasn't behind us anymore. She merits detention anyway! She made us loose precious house points!"
Harry glared at Dean and turned back to gaze at the desk closest to the door. He hadn't even notice it was empty. His eyes got bigger. 'What if…?' He pushed his chair aside quickly, making it fall on the floor. Mc Gonagall eyed him angrily.
"What's the problem, Mr. Potter? You're disrupting the cla--!" But before she could finish, Harry had bolted outside the classroom in a hurry, making both the teacher and the rest of the entire group run after him.
Harry ran as fast as he could, mentally chanting; 'Please let me be wrong! Let her be okay!' He turned a corner and gave out a gasp, before crouching and gently shaking the unconscious girl lying on the floor. She was panting madly and he retracted his hand hastily when he touched her forehead. She was burning with fever!
He heard a shocked gasp behind him and was shoved aside by Mc Gonagall. "Potter! Go tell Pomfrey she'll have a patient! Hurry!"
Harry was about to protest when she directed one of her famous 'do as I say' glare at him. He reluctantly turned and ran towards the infirmary while Mc Gonagall told the curious students that this class was over for today.
She had to yell at them several times because they were following her. Harry was waiting nervously beside Pomfrey and when he spotted his transfiguration teacher her ran to her. "How is she? She's going to be ok, isn't she? What's going on with her?"
Minerva gripped his shoulders tightly and pushed him out of the way. "Good god, Potter! How do you expect us to find what she has if you don't let me pass?! Get out of the infirmary! You're not injured, so get out! Go to the common room or outside, I don't care! But let Pomfrey do her job!"
She didn't leave him any place to protest and shoved him out the door. After trying to knock the door down a couple of times, he gave up and sulkily made his way back to the Gryffindor common room.
Minerva breathed a sigh of relief. "Merlin, the boy is completely head over heals about her! Now, do you know what she has, Pompom?"
The mediwitch quickly checked the panting girl's vitals and muttered, saying the results; "her pulse is going haywire and she has a very high fever. Way too high! A normal person would be in coma right now. She also looks totally exhausted; her body cannot fight the temperature off."
Pomfrey got Usagi's robes off and hissed. "What is it, Pompom? Is she going to be alright?" Minerva asked anxiously.
"The girl is completely soaked! That's my main worry, but her arms are also covered in scars! They're light but some look recent. We'll have to tell the headmaster about it! For the mean time, Minerva, fetch me the fever reducing potion!"
The teacher scrambled to get the vial and gave it to the nurse. Pomfrey tried to make her drink the potion but Usagi was way too sick and immediately rejected it. The nurse cursed under her breath. "I can't give her anything! Her body will only reject it. All we can do is wait. Get me some fresh water and a cloth. I'll put it on her forehead. Maybe it will help get the temperature down." She sighed tiredly. "This is going to be a long night."
*~*~*~*~*
The next day, when Harry finally spotted the tired nurse finally showing herself for breakfast, he quickly ran to her, forgetting his own meal. Snape gave him a chilling glare. "What's the meaning of this, Mr. Potter? Go back to your table!"
Harry shook his head furiously and gripped the mediwitch's arm, surprising her a little. Lupin eyed Harry weirdly because of his unusual behavior and Snape made a motion to get up and teach the boy a lesson, when Harry gripped the nurse's arm even more. He looked tired and almost choked on his words.
"Will she be ok, Madam Pomfrey? You'll cure her, right?" Snape scowled. "Can someone tell me what's going on?" Pomfrey turned to him. "Miss Tsukino collapsed in a corridor yesterday. I found out she had a very bad case of pneumonia and she rejects any potion I try to give her. Her fever lowered a bit but she's still very tired. She woke up this morning, although I do not know how she could ever wake up this fast, and I had to force her to stay in bed. She must be sleeping right now."
Snape's eyebrows shut up. "Miss Tsukino is sick?! Why didn't anyone tell me?"
"The true question is, Severus, how can anybody catch pneumonia at this time of year! It was as if she had gone under the rain for hours and forced her body into exhaustion! The girl's system couldn't fight the virus with all that strain!" The nurse sat down and ate a little of her breakfast.
"Go back to your place, Mr. Potter. I'll allow you to see her at the end of the day if she's better. You can bring your friends too." Harry only nodded and went back to his table with sad eyes.
Lupin eyed him dejectedly. The green eyed boy sat at the end of the table, clearly ignoring his friends. He would recognize the boy's present look anywhere. It was the same miserable look he gave when Sirius…Remus shook his head. 'Sirius is dead. Stop thinking about the past!'
The day passed so very slowly, Harry was snapping at anyone who dared speak to him. He nearly hexed Dean Thomas in Care of Magical Creatures when the boy started to apologize to him about his behavior towards the rabbit the day before. "SINCE WHEN DOES A GRYFFINDOR ACTS LIKE THIS TOWARDS A MEMBER OF HIS OWN HOUSE?! IT'S NOT TO ME YOU SHOULD APOLOGIZE!" Harry shouted back at him.
Ron glanced at Hermione and winced. "Boy is he pissed! I've never seen him like this before!" Hermione nodded. "Harry gave up his silly crush on Cho Chang a long time ago. It seems she's more precious to him than anybody else, now. He never truly forgave himself since Snuffles death and he blames himself for not being more aware of Serena's state."
Ron grunted. "But it's not his fault!!!" Hermione shrugged. "Tell that to Harry."
"Mr. Potter!" The green eyed boy looked eagerly at the mediwitch while the other students listened on. "She's awake. I give you and your friends the permission to see her but don't make her strain herself even more. I'm not planning on letting you inside for too long either. Go on!"
The group made their way inside and Harry blanched. "Professor Snape?!" The man turned around and glared at him. "What, Potter? Can't I visit a sick student? I'm impressed you've actually refrained yourself from coming here during class time."
Harry approached him, gritting his teeth together. "Go. Away." Snape smirked smugly and went back to his dungeon with a swirl of his robes. Harry sat in a chair near the bed and took Usagi's hand in his. Her eyes were closed but she spoke up, surprising the others. They thought she was sleeping.
"I don't get why you and Professor Snape hate each other so much." She wheezed out, opening her dull blue eyes. She entered a coughing fit and grunted tiredly. "Of all the things I lived through, it's a damn cold that knocked me out of commission. How ironic." She muttered darkly.
Harry cocked his head on the side. "What do you mean; of all the things you lived through?" Usagi waved a hand dismissively and Hermione frowned suspiciously. 'She's hiding something.'
The Gryffindors spent some time in the infirmary and Dean profusely apologized for his behavior, which made Usagi laugh, then cough. "Don't worry about it. I've been treated worse!" She shrugged the inquisitive looks again.
Harry hummed in remembrance and searched his pockets. "Here you go!" He gave her a sealed parchment. "Your phoenix dropped this in the common room last night. It's addressed to you and I thought you would like to have it now." Usagi took the letter and made sure the seals had not been tampered with. "Thanks, Harry."
The green eyed boy was the last to leave. "I'll come back tomorrow! Have a good night, Serena." The girl nodded and smiled warmly. When she was sure Harry was out of hearing range, she whispered; "I'll be the one to say hello tomorrow, Harry."
She then read the letter. It was from Sirius, asking why she had not replied quickly to this letter. Apparently, Shi had tried many times to deliver it but came back home each time because he hadn't found Serena. It was also saying that Harry had to take occlumency lessons from Snape in his 5th year because Voldemort started to be aware of his bond with the boy and started to manipulate him.
Usagi raised her eyebrows. Snape giving private lessons to Harry? Unbelievable! She took a quill from the desk beside her bed and wrote back that she had caught a cold after her nightly patrol. She assured him she was alright and to continue his training.
He seriously lacked patience. Craving too much action could get him into serious trouble, she reminded him. She sighed and called Shi mentally, saying her position in the castle. The bird flew in from an opened window and took the letter. Before flying away, the phoenix began to sing a melodious song and she fell asleep, letting the power of Saturn heal her pneumonia. A small smile spread on her lips. She dreamt of the senshis that night.
*~*~*~*~*
Harry yelped when 2 arms hugged him playfully from behind when he entered DADA class the next day. "SERENA?! What are you doing out of bed?!"
Usagi smiled widely while her friends welcomed her back. "Madam Pomfrey asked me the same thing this morning!" She giggled. "Apparently, I seem to have a strong immune system! I can start class again, as long as I take it easy for the next few days!"
"That's great, Serena!" Ron said happily.
Lupin rasped his throat. "I know you're all happy to see Miss Tsukino up and about but class is about to start. Please sit down and we'll start today's lesson about harpies. Mr. Weasley, can you read us the chapter at page 23?" Ron nodded and started:
"The British Islands are, as it is said, populated with all kinds of harpies. Some are friendly spirits connected to the harvests, and others witches who torture and even go as far as eating men. Another one is a very ancient spirit responsible for meteorological changes and for the modifications in landscapes. But all these creatures have one point in common: they are all women, they are all old, and they are all absolutely hideous.
They like to sit on people's faces when they're sleeping, which tend to provoke nightmares and suffocation. A victim will wake up totally exhausted, if he or she has a chance at ever waking up. A sieve, placed on the top of the head, is supposed to prevent the harpy from sitting on the victim, because it will be necessary for her to get through every hole of the tool, which will easily take her all night long.
The most popular harpy of England is named Black Annis. She is a one-eyed cannibal with blue skin, long white hooks and iron claws. She would live in the hills of the Leicestershire, in the cave she would have dug in the cliff by means of her only claws. In front of her cavern grows a big and old oak tree, in which she perches herself, waiting for a prey to show up. When she is not occupied by watching in her tree, Black Annis sits at the entrance of her cavern on a heap of bones- those of her victims, naturally."
Ron gulped. The thing didn't sound too friendly. Remus nodded and asked for Hermione to finish the page.
"It is to the Scottish people we must ask to identify the Storm harpy, an ancient Celtic divinity also known under the name Cailleach Bheare. Just like Black Annis, the Storm harpy has blue skin and one eye. Her hair is white and looks like dried muddled branches and she is always wearing grey robes that are made of wool.
Associated to winter, people say that she is the one to announce the start of this season when she goes to wash her clothes in the Corrievreckan (literally the 'speckled cauldron'), a big underwater whirlwind situated off the west coast of Scotland, which can be very dangerous for boats.
She also possesses a wand or a stick, which she uses to hit the grass and the cultivations, covering them with frost, each year after Halloween. Legend has it that it's the Storm harpy who created the Interior Hebrides islands by throwing rocks and peat into the sea. Numerous Scottish lakes and mountains are also attributed to her very developed artistic sense."
"Very good Miss Granger! Mister Weasley! 10 points to Gryffindor!" The duo smiled cockily at Malfoy and Harry rolled his eyes. Draco merely threw them a silent raspberry and sat straight in his chair when Lupin eyed him.
"For homework, I want you all to find other harpies and write their story. I want the paper to be at least 2 pages full so do your research thoroughly. And no, you cannot use the 2 previously named harpies as subjects." Groans were heard from the students and he smiled. "Ah yes, life isn't fair! Now go on! Class is dismissed!"
"2 whole pages?! Is Lupin crazy? He never gave us this kind of homework in our 3rd year!" Hermione put her hand on Ron's big mouth and hissed at him, eyeing Harry. "Don't mention this when Harry's here! It's bad enough as it is! Don't you remember? Snuffles was alive in our 3rd year!"
Ron gazed Harry, who was walking hastily ahead of them trying to reach Serena, and he moaned. "I keep forgetting! Do you think he heard me?"
Hermione furrowed her brow. "By the way he's trying to avoid us, I would definitely say yes." She sighed. "Come on, or we'll be late for the next class."
___________________________________________________________________
There, that's long enough for today! ^_^
I really did my research, didn't I? The info on Merlin and on the 2 harpies is real. Yep, even on the harpies! Legends about them really exist. I think it's very interesting. I'll have little infos like that throughout the different classes. Isn't this great? ^__^
There will also be more plots coming in the next chapters. So don't flame me because I'm stalling. Because I'm not.
I only needed to get the story going and have a solid base.
Usa will use more powers in the next chapters, we'll see more of Lupin, apprenticeship with Snape and troubles, etc…Maybe a little depression from Usagi and Harry will have one of his 'attacks'. Usagi will also continue her 'man hunt'.
He! He! I'm a naughty author, making you yearn for more! That's my job; making you love my story and want to read more.
I want to see reviews, people. You can write me suggestions and/or things you would like to see in the story.
(Ex: Helios in Care of magical Creatures)
I don't guarantee I'll write about it but I'll certainly try to use the best plots described to me. ^_^
So now, you know what to do:
REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love ya all,
Eternal Cosmos ^_~