A/N: Well, this chapter was written by Menyl, with the tiniest little bit of help from me, Celenae. I have to say that this is chapter 7, because chapters 5 and 6 were together, and it was too much of a hassle to separate them, plus I would've lost my reviews from those chapters as well. READ AND REVIEW!!!!!!
THE TOWER
Written by Menyl the Goddess of MANIPULATION (this chapter)
Chapter 7: Carver
Wasn't that a great class? Ron chuckled as he, Harry and Hermione walked down to the Great Hall for dinner.
I know, Harry said, grinning, Did you see Snape's face when we opened the door and he couldn't see anyone there? He looked like the Bloody Baron was out to get him!
And that's probably what he thought, Hermione uttered with disapproval, I mean, should we really be knacking on a teacher's nerves, mindless or not that this particular one doesn't have any?
Hermione, shut up, Ron said, annoyed, You have to admit that that was funny. Even you couldn't have missed Snape's wide goggly eyes, and pale, pathetic face.
How could I? Hermione snapped, It was smacked right in my own face.
Hey we couldn't help it if Snape suddenly decided to run screaming out the room. Ron laughed hysterically, It was your fault that you were blocking the doorway.
Ron, if you weren't such a-, Hermione stopped suddenly when she opened the doors to the Great Hall. What in the world?
Harry looked at the scene laid before him. Professor McGonagall looked in shock. Snape was burning with anger. Ginny and Maria watched in horror. All of the students were standing up staring at something in the mystical Great Hall ceiling. The four long tables that usually seated all the houses of Hogwarts were turned upside down, floating in the air. Hanging from the upturned Slytherin table was Draco Malfoy.
Oi Malfoy, Harry could hear Fred shout,How are your cronies going to help you down from there now, eh? Do you have any suggestions, George?
George shouted, How about we inflate his already big ego? Then he could just float down to the ground.
The Great Hall exploded with laughter, while professor McGonagall, who seemed to get over her shock and was now encompassed with fury, stood up from her seat and yelled, THAT'S ENOUGH!!!! She pointed her wand up to Malfoy and evenly chanted her spell,leverate revertus. All of the tables slowly dropped to the ground, like in slow motion. Malfoy was hanging on the leg of the Slytherin's table for dear life, with his head cowardly crouched down, so that none of the other tables would knock him out.
Whoever did this should report to me at this instant, because either way, we will find out. McGonagall was fiercely looking around the entire room, searching for any possible suspects. Harry found that a bit strange, considering that it is usually easy to spot a person enchanting tables to float to the ceiling. You just look for the person holding a wand.
Harry looked at Hermione through the corner of his eye. She was seething with anger.
she said, through gritted teeth.
As if on cue, carver popped up behind Harry, wearing a big, goofy grin on his face and mischievous laughter in his eyes. Hey cuz.
Hermione glared at her little cousin with icy cold eyes. she said, evenly, what did you do?
What are you talking about, Hermione? Carver asked innocently.
You know what I mean. No one else could pull this off but you. She stared down at carver with her famous Hermione glare. Surprisingly enough, Carver matched that glare with his own.
Must be in the blood, Harry heard Ron whisper.
Finally, after four straight minutes of the most evenly matched staring contest in the world, Carver broke down.
Okay, okay, I did it. carver smiled at her proudly, but only because he kept on annoying me about coming from a muggle family. He called me a Mud blood, you know?
Oh Carver. Who cares? Hermione cried, He's been bugging me for years for not being pure blood'. I never let it get to me, at least not like this anyway.
And why not, Hermione? Carver said passionately, Don't you see that if you don't confront him, he's never going to stop?
Not in this way! Hermione screamed, Don't you realize that you could get expelled for this, Carver? Didn't think of that, now, did you?
Some people started to notice the argument between Carver and Hermione, despite all the commotion. They stopped gaping at Draco, and started to watch the Grangers fight.
It's your first week in Hogwarts! When are you going to start using your senses and act like a real wizard? Hermione stormed out of the Great Hall, leaving a shocked-looking Carver left standing there.
I am a wizard! Carver seemed to finally find his voice, shouted, You for one should know it!
Stunned, Harry and Ron stared down at the hallway Hermione fumed off to, turned to Carver, then back to Hermione again. They knew they should go to Hermione, but Carver looked so upset that they didn't want to leave him.
Here, Harry whispered to Ron, you stay with carver and I'll go up to Hermione.
Ron agreed.
Ron watched Harry run out of the Great Hall to Hermione. The voice inside his head teased his best friend. Run fool, run. Leave us alone with the boy.
No, no, Ron softly moaned.
No what?
Ron hadn't realized he was speaking out loud until Carver looked at him questioningly.
What was that Ron?
Oh, uh nothin. I was just, er , sorry to see Malfoy down on the ground again. He deserves to be left hanging out there like a monkey.
Carver smiled, believing him in an instant. Well, I'm glad to see someone appreciates my work, he said, looking disdainfully at the corridors where Hermione left.
Well, Hermione did have a point there. Hogwarts has strict rules for students using their magic against other students, even if the student happens to be a pompous imp, although in that case I really don't see why, Ron added thoughtfully.
I don't think that was the only thing Hermione was worried about. I think it was because-oh, I shouldn't say.
Oh no, it's alright. I won't mind.
I can't. I promised Hermione I won't tell anyone.
Ron looked at the face of Hermione's little cousin and clearly understood that he had a secret that he needed to keep. He didn't press on any further.
You idiot. We need this information. Get it from the boy. GET IT FROM THE BOY!!!
Shut up, shut up, Ron cried silently.
His face was scrunched up in agony, and Carver seemed to notice because he asked, Ron, are you okay?
Ron looked at him, his face in pain, and answered, Yeah, yeah I'm fine. I just need some air.
Do you want me to go with you?
No. No, please don't. Ron staggered to the Great Hall doors. He closed the doors behind him and leaned against the wall. Ron pleaded silently to the destructive voice in his head, Please go away, please go away..........
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Hermione sat down on the edge of her bed and silently let the tears fall down.
Oh Carver, she thought sadly, why do you always do these things? Carver was one of the many people Hermione cried for, but only one of the two that upset her the most. Him and Harry.
There was a soft knock on her door.
Hermione wiped away her tears and looked up into Harry's shining green eyes. Hi, Harry, she said softly.
Hermione, are you okay? Harry went over to her bed and sat down next to her. He gently wiped away the tears that still fell down her face, Please don't cry.
This compassionate gesture and those sympathetic words mixed with the fact that it was Harry right there next to her doing and saying those things only made her cry even more.
Harry awkwardly took her in his arms and let her cry on his chest. There now, he said, uncomfortably patting the top of her head. Her tears kept on falling, and she wished they would stop. It was always embarrassing for her to cry in front of other people.
I'm sorry, Hermione pulled away from him. I hate for you to see me like this. It's just-just.....Carver. She said her cousin's name with an exasperated sigh. I love him to death, but he's always like this. Never realizes where his actions may lead him.
Hermione looked up at Harry and saw that he was listening intently to what she was saying. He seemed to realize that the possibility of Carver getting expelled from Hogwarts wasn't half of what she was worried about. She went on.
Carver was always a special person. Ever since he was a little boy, I could see that in him. He had some sort of charismatic quality in him that made him stand out from everyone else. I've always considered him more like a brother than a cousin. I remember when his father died, on the day of his funeral, Carver sat on my lap, just crying for the entire time. Hermione's voice broke at the memory, but she didn't cry. After my first year in Hogwarts, when I went back home, I found Carver had changed. He had always been a harmless troublemaker, but now he was a troublemaker to a new extreme. When he found out that I was witch, he was certain that he had some wizarding powers in him as well. He was absolutely right, more than you could ever imagine. I read about wizards like him. There are only two known in the history. Three now, including him.
Hermione, what on earth are you talking about? I don't get it.
Carver's a G.A.P. wizard.
So what does that make him? A wizard who occasionally shops in a large American chain store? Cause if that's the case, then I would be A G.A.P. wizard too.
No Harry. He's a G.A.P. wizard. A Great Amazingly Powerful Wizard. Original names these magical people think up aren't they? Hermione looked up at Harry's face. His blank expression showed how much of this he fathomed. Understandable, considering not a whole lot of people in the world ever heard about the G.A.P. Wizards.
Great Amazingly Powerful Wizards are just what the name suggests. Great, amazing and powerful. They could control their magic without use of their wands. It's just like telekinesis, actually, except instead of just using their mind, G.A.P. wizards are using their entire being. I suspect it would be rather exhausting having their power.
But that's a good thing, isn't it? Not the exhaustion part, but that fact that Carver could control his magic without a wand. He would be the most powerful wizard in Hogwarts.
Not exactly the most powerful.
What? Are there other types of powerfully strong wizards roaming the halls? Maybe W.I.G.S or D.O.G.S. this time?
Well, there are Great Amazingly Powerful' wizards out, just not called Great Amazingly Powerful' wizards, said Hermione. Like for example, I know for certain that Dumbledore's something, I just can't put my finger to what that something is.
Harry grinned proudly, I could only suspect that much. He's a diabolical genius, you know, right?
Not exactly diabolical, but I know what you ,mean, Hermione smiled gently.
Is it that you're afraid that Carver will turn like Dumbledore? asked Harry. Because you could always get help for that little insanity inside of him.
Oh if only that were the case, exclaimed Hermione. I would be thrilled if Carver turned exactly into Dumbledore, but I doubt that would happen. The other two G.A.P. wizards are nothing like Dumbledore. They are insane, yes, but they have none of Dumbledore's gentle goodness.
Hermione, who are these two G.A.P. wizards?
Voldemort and Salazaar Slytherin.
Harry's hand involuntarily dropped to his side. Oh-oh cripes....uh I mean, well, I'm sure it'll be okay, he stammered, Carver's a good lot.
Oh Harry, I know Carver's good. I know he would never intentionally hurt anyone or go into some dark, evil forces, or anything like that. Hermione cried, It's just that I don't trust the dark lords as much as I trust my cousin.
Hermione, don't worry. No one probably realizes that Carver's a G.A.P.
Voldemort's out Harry. You know it more than anyone. He's rising by the minute and in need of more followers. He will go through desperate measures to get them, you know? Like sending someone to spy on the most prestigious school in the wizarding world for any potential dark wizards. I'm almost certain there is someone like that right now in this school. Carver's a target. His secret isn't exactly a secret anymore, for those who know exactly what G.A.P. wizards are. And believe me, that dark group of frighteningly creepy wizards hovering over the unfortunate growth of their dark master do know what G.A.P. wizards are.
Harry stared at Hermione, And what exactly are G.A.P. wizards?
G.A.P. wizards are evil, answered Hermione. They are destined to be evil. It's what they're here for. It's what they're made for. And it's all wrong. Carver's not supposed to be evil. He's too good, too passionate, too vulnerable. And he will be too scared if he know how much I knew about he is. I know I am. I'm scared for him, Harry. I'm so scared, Hermione finally broke down and started to cry. Big droplets of tears fell down her thin cheeks, and she couldn't stop them anymore.
Oh Hermione, come here. Harry immediately grabbed her into a tight embrace and held her closely in his arms. It felt so good to be comforted by Harry, so natural. She felt safe. All her fears for Carver seemed to melt away when she was with him. She could feel an electricity running through inside of her, an electricity she never felt for anyone else before. Hermione wondered of Harry felt it too, or if she was feeling it enough for the both of them. She went up from his tender hug and stared at him straight in the face. She looked into his eyes and saw the compassion and bravery that she always known and loved in him. Harry seemed to feel the electricity too, because his eyes intensified into a dark green, almost hazel.
he said in a deep raspy whisper. Harry then did something that totally knocked her out of her senses. He leaned forward and kissed her. For the first time in her life, Hermione was kissing the boy she had always loved for as long as she could remember. Their entire relationship seemed to pass by before her - from the first time that they met, to all the times he saved her life and vice versa, up into this instant - it all was in that kiss.
Hermione loved every precious moment of it.
Harry suddenly pulled away, embarrassed and ashamed. he stood up from the bed and walked backwards towards the door. His face was flush red and his eyes wouldn't meet hers. Hermione looked at him, humiliated, and wishing he would just come right back there and not make her feel like a fool.
I-I'm s-sorry about your, uh, Carver, he said awkwardly and ran out the door.
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Disclaimer: We don't anything in this except for Carver, Professor Dervillia, and Maria. The G.A.P. idea is slightly imitated from Cassandra Claire's Magid concept (seriously, I didn't realize it was somewhat similar to a Magid until I finished writing and read the story myself), but don't worry - we got permission from her to use it. We haven't yet conquered the universe, but don't worry. We're working on that (Watch out Katie).