You think you know, and you're probably right. So, in the tradition of my
favorite big man, Mr. H, let's see you sweat a little.
1 Part Five
…It was quiet. Warm. Safe. She was in her bed, in that moment when you've woken up just right. The dream was nice but hazy and its contents are as unimportant as everything else. Her eyes fluttered open. She could see the familiar flickering of the fire on the ceiling above her bed. She could feel its heat upon her face. She could hear the other breathing somewhere. It didn't strike her right away that the breathing was a little louder than it should have been, or that it was not the regular pattern of in-and-out, but instead a series of erratic exhalations. She didn't notice when the other moaned at first. But as the breathing grew more erratic and the moaning louder, she tried to lift her head to see what was the matter. She couldn't. The other began to scream. She began to scream. The fire flickered on the ceiling above her bed…
They filled in Hermione on the way to the Hospital Wing, where Elokin had been for the entire second half of the Christmas holiday. Fred and George had begun to camp out there, where they had resumed their usual hunching- over-pieces-of-paper-and-acting-like-we-are-the-only-people-who-matter activities. They got there just as Professor Snape did, holding the rebuild potion as if it were his entry pass. He scowled at them for good measure. As he came in he kicked one of the Weasleys.
"You're in the way," he snapped before they could respond, walking past them to lean over Elokin's bedside. She was asleep, curled into a semi- circle, head sliding off the pillow. Usually he would stand and wait, but with the amount of people currently in the surrounding 30 feet he decided it would be best to leave the potion with Madame Pomfrey. He stepped over the twins again, with another kick and admonition, and went in search for Pomfrey, when he overheard some of Harry's conversation.
"…and a black ponytail. We think he might be her dad,"
"Or just someone she was dancing with," said Hermione, the needed voice of reason, obviously oblivious to Snape's presence just behind her. He busied himself with something that would allow him to stay there.
"I don't know. The way her head was resting on his shoulders," started Ron, "she was giving him the head-rest-of love," Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, and you know so much about that, don't ya?" Ron's face turned a shade of red and he looked away. Harry held in a laugh. Just then all six of the people stationed around Elokin's beside turned.
"Mmmmmmmmmmmm… pie…….," she mumbled, opening her eyes. She was greeted by an extreme close-up of George's face.
"Ello luv!" she jumped, then smiled.
"Hello George!" she said sleepily. George shot a look at Fred.
"I told you! She really can tell us apart! Even when I'm acting like you she knows it's me!" Fred nodded, amazed. Ron looked at Hermione and Harry. He leaned in, his voice a whisper.
"Can you tell when George acts like Fred and Fred like George?" he whispered guiltily. They both shook their heads. This seemed to make him feel a little better and he straightened up. He stepped up to say something to Elokin and was cut off by Professor Snape, who sidestepped in front of him. He thrust out a rebuild potion, which Elokin took from him and drank. Then, looking around at all the other people in the room, he turned to leave.
"Feel free to take points from any students in your way," he said to Nurse Pomfrey, just loud enough for the students to hear.
"Daddy?" He froze, his back to the bed-bound girl and her friends. His right hand began to lose its grip on the empty flask. Then he blinked. He was face-to-face with a male elf. He was about 5' 10", with wavy brown hair and wide brown eyes. And attached to his left arm was Tsukiko. He looked at Professor Snape for a moment, then past him, walking over to Elokin.
"Hey," he said, walking over to her, "I see now why Tsukiko didn't want to leave you alone here," He smiled a big goofy grin and, after some hesitation and a pouting look from Elokin, he bent down, allowing her to ruffle his hair. Tsukiko gave her a hug, and in the process nudged her over. She sat on the bed, leaning forward to whisper in her ear.
"I did!" Elokin said indignantly. "I prepped for days and even took out some of the monmummff," Tsukiko clapped a hand over her mouth, shooting a guilty look at her dad, then a mean look back at Elokin. Before her dad could respond, a human woman walked in, followed quickly by Chris. She carried herself the same way Mrs. Weasley did.
"Maybe you would have fared better had I let you come home," she said thoughtfully, "though I'm sure it's by your own design that you're here." Professor Snape began to edge out of the room. In his haste the flask that had been held so precariously fell out of his right hand and shattered on the tile floor. Everyone looked.
"You!" Mrs. Manebreeze rose to a full height pointing at Professor Snape.
"Well well, it seems quite a crowd has gathered," Dumbledore said thoughtfully from behind Professor Snape, flanked by Madame Pomfrey.
"I told you I wasn't exaggerating!" she whispered. Mrs. Manebreeze shook her finger at him, speechless beyond the one word.
"Its good to see you too, Mrs. Manebreeze, Mr. Hatashinae," he said, smiling knowingly. "If you have some complaint, perhaps you would like to accompany me back to my office to discuss it,"
"It's about time! And don't think you're going to dance around me with your fancy words! That might work with those Ministry boys but I assure you," Mr. Hatashinae came up behind her and took her arm.
"Come, there is some wisdom in patience, especially when the wait is short." She nodded and the three left the Hospital Wing. A few moments later Professor Snape left as well. As if on cue, Madame Pomfrey rose to an impressive (and probably magically enhanced) height.
"I think that's enough excitement for one day. And enough visiting," she nudged the sitting Fred and George with her foot, "for today."
. .. .
Elokin had been released just in time for the first potions class of the year. The now semi-famous as a foursome set of Gryffindors sat at the table nearest the door. Hermione leaned over, opening a notebook.
"I've been studying my potions work over the holiday and I still don't understand," she whispered to Elokin, showing her the notebook filled with notes and tried experiments. "I still can't randomly predict what will change the duration of a potion. I've even memorized the lists of partials and infinitives for all the different categories of potion regents," Elokin's eyes widened as she mentally tabulated just how many different combinations that would be.
"Your reputation for studiousness is certainly well-deserved," she began, "but in this case you're going about it all wrong. Potion creation and dynamics is very complicated and… intuitive. You can't just memorize stuff and do well. It takes…" both Ron and Harry were looking now, both shocked at who was giving the academic advice and who was receiving it. Elokin immediately stopped, giving Hermione a we'll finish this discussion later look.
"If you needed help, you could've asked all of us," Ron said, his pride at doing better in a class overshadowing his common sense for a moment. It was, of course, that moment that Professor Snape chose to sweep into the room, deducting five points from Gryffindor for Ron's comment.
"Over the first half of the semester we altered some of the more notorious potions. In this semester we are going to alter practical ones. We will cover cleaning agents, potions with simple medicinal purposes, developing potions, and the like," At that, both Ron and Harry's ears perked up. They looked at each other.
"Developing potions! Why didn't we think of that before?"
"Perhaps I didn't make myself clear at the beginning of class. I, unlike some of your other teachers, am not lenient at the beginning of a term after a break. Ten points from Mr. Weasley for his second interruption." Neither of the boys was perturbed by this, and both were paying a little more attention.
. .. .
Hermione and Elokin had been in the library all afternoon pouring over their potions notes. Elokin could tell that Hermione wasn't used to having to try this hard to understand something. She had even heard rumors that by this time Hermione was usually deep into studying for her end-of- the-year exams. Hermione looked as if she were close to tears when Chris slapped a hand on her shoulder.
"What are you two doing? Studying?!?" she said in disbelief. "You must be having an awesome affect on her," she said to Hermione. Her expression changed. "What's wrong?"
"They've just started teaching potion dynamics here and everyone's having problems," Elokin said. Hermione smiled a little at her exaggeration. Chris made a face.
"I remember that. Gosh, I remember this," she said, motioning to the table full of books. She sat down. "I didn't get it either. Had to cast a spell on myself just to get through it." Elokin nodded, remembering that particular spell. Then her eyes widened.
"You don't still have a copy of that spell, do ya?" Chris shook her head.
"Nope. And don't need one. All my songs are up here," she said, tapping her head. "But I did write down that other one you've been asking for," she continued, rummaging through her pockets.
"Songs? I thought we were talking about spells?" Hermione said, confused but relieved that it was no longer because of potions.
"She was. Chris is a carmina mage. It means that she does her best magic in song." Hermione nodded, remembering Elokin's description of Ron as an animus mage just after their first potions class. Chris pulled a folded piece of paper from her back pocket, handing it to Elokin.
"It took me forever, so you'd better be grateful," she growled. Elokin held her arms up, then began a series of half-bows.
"I am not worthy!" she began to chant, earning her a smack in the back of the head.
"You're not going to actually sing it though, are you? I mean, you're ok with the songs, but it wouldn't be nearly as potent as if you were to…" Elokin held up a hand.
"I am going to sing it," she said, indignantly. "Besides, I don't want it to be too strong anyway, because it's a spell of control, and I don't want to utter force him into making a decision if he doesn't want to, even if it is the right one." And with that Elokin got up and walked out of the library.
"Control who?" Hermione said, even more confused.
"Nevermind. Ok, now how did that song go?" She thought for a moment. Then her eyes widened. "Oh man, I remember that song! Um, maybe mentioning it was a bad idea. You should try to get it without magic," she said nodding, getting up. Hermione shook her head.
"Please, if you know a way to help, for bloody sakes do it!" Her heated language turned the heads of most of the students in the library. Chris sat back down.
"Its just, this song has a particularly embarrassing side effect," she flinched inadvertently.
"I don't care! Nothing could be worse than getting lower marks than Ron!" Chris smiled and began to nod.
"Ok, ok. But first, I need you to be completely honest with me," Hermione nodded. "You don't have any type of secret crush or guy that you're admiring or anything like that?" Chris watched as her face turned red.
"I most certainly do not!!!" It took all of her willpower to keep from smiling.
"Ok. Just sit back and clear your mind. Think only of the academic trouble you are having. I'm serious, don't think of anything, or anyone else," she struggled to keep a straight face and to fight back a giggle as she began her song.
"Turn around and smell what you don't see. Close your eyes ... it is so clear. Here's the mirror, behind there is a screen. On both ways you can get in. Don't think twice before you listen to your heart. Follow the trace for a new start. What you need and everything you'll feel is just a question of the deal. In the eye of storm you'll see a lonely dove. The experience of survival is the key to the gravity of love," The whole library was entranced and Chris had to consciously stop herself from singings the chorus. Elokin was right. Everyone deserved a choice. After a moment Hermione opened her eyes and sat up into her chair. She mumbled something that sounded like thanks and hurried out of the library.
. .. .
Elokin stood outside the library for just a moment, listening to see if she was being followed. Then, smiling, she strode down the corridor towards the girls' bathroom. She walked in, sitting herself on the sink, looking right at the door. Outside there was an argument of some sort going on, and an angry muffled voice filtered through the door. The door then opened, and Draco Malfoy walked in.
"Those idiots," he muttered under his breath, "leave them alone for two seconds and they turn into whiny babies," He looked up at Elokin, his mouth opening to say something.
"Staring out of his window as the world rushes by, Arthur Robinson closes the glass and replies, "I dream of Ballerinas and I don't know why but I see Cadillac's sailing" He stared at her blankly. She was singing, and for the first time since she had received his letter, she was looking directly into his eyes. "I was born on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay, but Maryland and Virginia have faded away, and I keep thinking tomorrow is coming today so I am endlessly waiting." Somewhere there was a faint hum of music, and he wondered if this were some kind of joke, if Potter and his little rat pack were hiding in the other stalls. "And the comet is coming between me and the girl who could make it all clean. Out there in the shadow of the modern machine walks St. Robinson in his Cadillac dream. Carrie's down in her basement all toe shoes and twinned
with the girl in the mirror who spins when she spins. From where you think you'll end up to the state that you're in your reflection approaches and then recedes again," His eyes narrowed. This sounded suspiciously like a muggle song to him. Only muggle songs attempted to tell long, complicated stories with alternating sets of inane repeating paragraphs. He determined that he would not enjoy it. He would not. "And the comet is coming between me and the girl who could make it all clean. Out there in the shadow of the modern machine walks St. Robinson in his Cadillac dream."
Music surrounded him and in that moment all of his inhibitions melted away. He understood Mr. Robinson, expected by everyone around him to be a certain way, to want certain things, things he wasn't sure he wanted. And to long to let them down.
"I have dreamed of a black car that shimmers and drives down the length of the evening to the carnival side. In a house where regret is a carousel ride we are spinning and spinning and spinning and now there's a hole in the ceiling down through which I fell. There's a girl in a basement coming out of her shell. And there are people who will say that they knew me so well. I may not go to heaven. I hope you go to hell." Draco tore out of the bathroom, tears streaming down his face. He pushed past Crabbe and Goyle and took off down the hall.
Elokin hopped off the sink, dusting the back of her robes and wearing a particularly smug expression. She began to walk towards the bathroom door.
"Wait!" She turned and her eyes met with those of a young girl. She was wearing a Hogwarts uniform, but her body shimmered hazily.
"You're a ghost, aren't you?" The girl nodded, eyes fixed on her.
"You look just like her," she said, her voice reflecting the awe in her eyes. Elokin blinked.
"Look like who?" The ghost smiled.
"Narn," Elokin blinked again, but this time her eyes remained wide.
"You, you knew my mother?" The ghost nodded.
"She was nice to me. She talked to me. She was the only one who did," Unperturbed by the ghost's sudden change of mood, Elokin continued her questioning.
"Who are you? How did you know her? What was she like?" Myrtle smiled. She's just like her, she thought to herself.
. .. .
Hermione burst into the Gryffindor common room, which was filled with students. She saw Harry and Ron in a corner, huddled over something. She rushed over to them.
"Ron! I have to talk to you!" She grabbed him by the arm.
"Stop! Gerroff!" he said tugging away, "Don't you see we're in the middle of something here!" Harry looked up.
"Sit down Hermione. I know you aren't doing so well, but we could use all the help we can get," At that her ears perked up. She looked over Ron's shoulders at what the two were huddling over. It was Harry's family photo album. Beside that Harry had his notebook, where he was furiously trying all sorts of computations.
"What are you doing?"
"We're trying to alter the standard picture developing formula so that it sets a longer period of time for the picture's movement," Hermione recognized the picture from Ron and Harry's hurried recap of their winter break on the way to the Hospital wing a few days before. She snatched up the pad.
"I can do this. Ok," she began scribbling formulas and making lists off to the side of infinitives and partials. Then she stopped. She crossed out both the lists, stared at the paper for a moment, then finished the equation.
"That studying must have really paid off!" Ron said, obviously impressed. Harry looked at it thoughtfully.
"All we need now is a place to make the potion," All three looked at each other.
"The only place that would have all the regents we need is," Hermione, who had just realized what she was about to say, dropped the quill, "We can't go in there!!!!! He'll have us kicked out for sure!"
"Well I'd rather risk it! I'd rather be in fear of Snape than doing potions in a haunted girls' restroom!" Ron proclaimed, Harry nodded emphatically beside him. She rolled her eyes.
"You would rather face expulsion than be in Myrtle's bathroom?" They both nodded. "Fine then. But we're doing it tonight. I don't know how long this spe, I mean, this understanding of potions will last."
. .. .
The door to the Potionsmaster's office opened just enough to allow a slender black cat to fit through. The cat ran down the hallway and disappeared in the darkness at the end of the corridor. In his office, Professor Snape bent over on his desk, hurriedly scribbling a note. He folded up the piece of paper, which simply said "thraiki" and handed it to a rather small, sprig of an owl, which immediately flew out the window. He took several jars from his cabinet of regents; one contained a golden liquid, one with cloves, and one a white crystalline substance. He then left his office, hurrying down the hall.
. .. .
Elokin's face was beginning to feel sore. She had been laughing and listening to Myrtle's memories of her mother for what seemed like hours. Her mother had had the faerie sickness as she did. She had been a Gryffindor, like she was. She had even liked quidditch. It was only then that Elokin noticed that the bathroom had darkened. Behind Myrtle, who was recounting a conversation with Narn after a very close quidditch game, the window was open, revealing the darkened night sky.
"I have to go! I'm going to be caught after lights out! And, no offense, but I don't think that talking to you would be a good enough excuse to get me out of detention," she said, opening the door slowly and making sure the coast was clear. "I'll be back to talk to you again sometime soon, I promise," she said, hurrying out.
. .. .
Harry mentally thanked Hagrid again for going to the pains of including the original negatives in his photo album as he watched Hermione hang the full- size picture up to dry. Because of time constraints, they had altered the potion for both movement time and developing time, and they all watched as the photograph developed before their eyes. They watched the scene form before them, with Harry's parents in the middle, and couples dancing all around them. In the far corner was Narnia, dancing slowly with her mystery partner. They turned in what was now a complete circle, revealing the face of…
. .. .
Elokin crept down the corridors, quiet as a mouse in a feat of stealth magnificence (which she would be sure to mention to George and Fred at her first opportunity) . Those were her thoughts as she slammed into a much taller teacher. Or maybe not, she thought, looking up to see that she had run into none other than Dumbledore himself. He had a grin on his face.
"Out for a late-night stroll, Lady of the Swift Feet?" This could be worse. I could have run into Filch and Mrs. Norris.
"I, um, in the bathroom, Myrtle, didn't know, swear?" she blathered, looking hopefully at the amused Headmaster. At that moment they were both distracted.
"SNAPE!!! Snape was mmm my mmm mmding?!?"
"Harry?" Elokin said. She then looked at Dumbledore with a pleading expression. He gave in to his own curiosity, leading her down the hall towards the potions lab.
. .. .
Professor Snape turned the corner quickly to avoid what he thought was Mr. Filtch. He could barely bear to be in that man's presence, moreso because Filtch had somehow convinced himself that the two were friends, or at the very least, united in a common goal. Just thinking about it made him cringe.
"SNAPE!!! Snape was mmm my mmm mmding?!?" His head snapped up. Who was that out of bed. Or, worse, out of bed and in his potions lab. Perhaps he had been to lenient post-winter break. He made a mental note to remedy that during the next days classes as he quickened his pace. Walking headlong for the wood door leading to his classroom, he was nearly bowled over by Dumbledore himself. He looked at him with a reserved gaze.
"Headmaster. I didn't know you would get my message so quickly." He was cut short by another voice.
"Harry!" Elokin managed to find her way through Dumbledore and Snape, walking into the potions lab. "Ron, Hermione? Man, When I told Chris to help you out with potions, I didn't think you would try it out immediately." Harry and Ron stood side-by-side, clutching the incriminating picture behind them. Hermione, however, had no reason to think what they had found should be kept a secret.
"Elokin! You wouldn't believe what we found!" Snape cleared his throat, and Hermione was involuntarily silenced. Snape smiled. Maybe I'm not losing my touch after all, he thought, but just to be safe still planing to take points off in rare form soon enough.
"I didn't know my classroom had become such a…popular spot for after-hours meetings," he said, sneering. Hermione stepped up to him, an uncharacteristic amount of bravery in her eyes.
"How dare you! How dare you stand here like that! How dare you act this way, all year, like you don't know?!?" she said, pointing an accusing finger. Snape took a step back, surprised. Never, in all of his years as faculty at Hogwarts, had he been yelled at by a student. Dumbledore stepped up, holding out an arm.
"Perhaps, my dear, you should explain yourself," he said quietly, looking involuntarily at Elokin. He sighed. It had to come out sooner or later, he thought. I had just been wishing for later.
"He, he," Hermione began, pointing a accusing finger at Snape. "Snape is Elokin's mother!" Everyone one stopped for a moment. Professor Snape grinned slightly.
"I am sure, my dear, that that is not the case," Dumbledore said, looking at Snape out of the corner of his eye. Harry and Ron both grabbed on of Hermione's arms before she could correct her mistake.
"And we should go," Ron said, his voice turning to a whisper, "while Dumbledore is amused enough to maybe keep Snape from killing us." And Dumbledore was, true to Ron's words, quite amused.
"Indeed. I have something I need to discuss with the Professor. I trust you four can find your way back to your dormitories?" They all nodded, hurrying out.
that's it for this one (. Also, I should note that the ellipses and italics don't work at all. Im not English grammar impaired, I swear!!!! And thanks to my reads: iphi, severa, and whoever else you guys brought w/ you (hinthintnudgenudgesyanomore)
1 Part Five
…It was quiet. Warm. Safe. She was in her bed, in that moment when you've woken up just right. The dream was nice but hazy and its contents are as unimportant as everything else. Her eyes fluttered open. She could see the familiar flickering of the fire on the ceiling above her bed. She could feel its heat upon her face. She could hear the other breathing somewhere. It didn't strike her right away that the breathing was a little louder than it should have been, or that it was not the regular pattern of in-and-out, but instead a series of erratic exhalations. She didn't notice when the other moaned at first. But as the breathing grew more erratic and the moaning louder, she tried to lift her head to see what was the matter. She couldn't. The other began to scream. She began to scream. The fire flickered on the ceiling above her bed…
They filled in Hermione on the way to the Hospital Wing, where Elokin had been for the entire second half of the Christmas holiday. Fred and George had begun to camp out there, where they had resumed their usual hunching- over-pieces-of-paper-and-acting-like-we-are-the-only-people-who-matter activities. They got there just as Professor Snape did, holding the rebuild potion as if it were his entry pass. He scowled at them for good measure. As he came in he kicked one of the Weasleys.
"You're in the way," he snapped before they could respond, walking past them to lean over Elokin's bedside. She was asleep, curled into a semi- circle, head sliding off the pillow. Usually he would stand and wait, but with the amount of people currently in the surrounding 30 feet he decided it would be best to leave the potion with Madame Pomfrey. He stepped over the twins again, with another kick and admonition, and went in search for Pomfrey, when he overheard some of Harry's conversation.
"…and a black ponytail. We think he might be her dad,"
"Or just someone she was dancing with," said Hermione, the needed voice of reason, obviously oblivious to Snape's presence just behind her. He busied himself with something that would allow him to stay there.
"I don't know. The way her head was resting on his shoulders," started Ron, "she was giving him the head-rest-of love," Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, and you know so much about that, don't ya?" Ron's face turned a shade of red and he looked away. Harry held in a laugh. Just then all six of the people stationed around Elokin's beside turned.
"Mmmmmmmmmmmm… pie…….," she mumbled, opening her eyes. She was greeted by an extreme close-up of George's face.
"Ello luv!" she jumped, then smiled.
"Hello George!" she said sleepily. George shot a look at Fred.
"I told you! She really can tell us apart! Even when I'm acting like you she knows it's me!" Fred nodded, amazed. Ron looked at Hermione and Harry. He leaned in, his voice a whisper.
"Can you tell when George acts like Fred and Fred like George?" he whispered guiltily. They both shook their heads. This seemed to make him feel a little better and he straightened up. He stepped up to say something to Elokin and was cut off by Professor Snape, who sidestepped in front of him. He thrust out a rebuild potion, which Elokin took from him and drank. Then, looking around at all the other people in the room, he turned to leave.
"Feel free to take points from any students in your way," he said to Nurse Pomfrey, just loud enough for the students to hear.
"Daddy?" He froze, his back to the bed-bound girl and her friends. His right hand began to lose its grip on the empty flask. Then he blinked. He was face-to-face with a male elf. He was about 5' 10", with wavy brown hair and wide brown eyes. And attached to his left arm was Tsukiko. He looked at Professor Snape for a moment, then past him, walking over to Elokin.
"Hey," he said, walking over to her, "I see now why Tsukiko didn't want to leave you alone here," He smiled a big goofy grin and, after some hesitation and a pouting look from Elokin, he bent down, allowing her to ruffle his hair. Tsukiko gave her a hug, and in the process nudged her over. She sat on the bed, leaning forward to whisper in her ear.
"I did!" Elokin said indignantly. "I prepped for days and even took out some of the monmummff," Tsukiko clapped a hand over her mouth, shooting a guilty look at her dad, then a mean look back at Elokin. Before her dad could respond, a human woman walked in, followed quickly by Chris. She carried herself the same way Mrs. Weasley did.
"Maybe you would have fared better had I let you come home," she said thoughtfully, "though I'm sure it's by your own design that you're here." Professor Snape began to edge out of the room. In his haste the flask that had been held so precariously fell out of his right hand and shattered on the tile floor. Everyone looked.
"You!" Mrs. Manebreeze rose to a full height pointing at Professor Snape.
"Well well, it seems quite a crowd has gathered," Dumbledore said thoughtfully from behind Professor Snape, flanked by Madame Pomfrey.
"I told you I wasn't exaggerating!" she whispered. Mrs. Manebreeze shook her finger at him, speechless beyond the one word.
"Its good to see you too, Mrs. Manebreeze, Mr. Hatashinae," he said, smiling knowingly. "If you have some complaint, perhaps you would like to accompany me back to my office to discuss it,"
"It's about time! And don't think you're going to dance around me with your fancy words! That might work with those Ministry boys but I assure you," Mr. Hatashinae came up behind her and took her arm.
"Come, there is some wisdom in patience, especially when the wait is short." She nodded and the three left the Hospital Wing. A few moments later Professor Snape left as well. As if on cue, Madame Pomfrey rose to an impressive (and probably magically enhanced) height.
"I think that's enough excitement for one day. And enough visiting," she nudged the sitting Fred and George with her foot, "for today."
. .. .
Elokin had been released just in time for the first potions class of the year. The now semi-famous as a foursome set of Gryffindors sat at the table nearest the door. Hermione leaned over, opening a notebook.
"I've been studying my potions work over the holiday and I still don't understand," she whispered to Elokin, showing her the notebook filled with notes and tried experiments. "I still can't randomly predict what will change the duration of a potion. I've even memorized the lists of partials and infinitives for all the different categories of potion regents," Elokin's eyes widened as she mentally tabulated just how many different combinations that would be.
"Your reputation for studiousness is certainly well-deserved," she began, "but in this case you're going about it all wrong. Potion creation and dynamics is very complicated and… intuitive. You can't just memorize stuff and do well. It takes…" both Ron and Harry were looking now, both shocked at who was giving the academic advice and who was receiving it. Elokin immediately stopped, giving Hermione a we'll finish this discussion later look.
"If you needed help, you could've asked all of us," Ron said, his pride at doing better in a class overshadowing his common sense for a moment. It was, of course, that moment that Professor Snape chose to sweep into the room, deducting five points from Gryffindor for Ron's comment.
"Over the first half of the semester we altered some of the more notorious potions. In this semester we are going to alter practical ones. We will cover cleaning agents, potions with simple medicinal purposes, developing potions, and the like," At that, both Ron and Harry's ears perked up. They looked at each other.
"Developing potions! Why didn't we think of that before?"
"Perhaps I didn't make myself clear at the beginning of class. I, unlike some of your other teachers, am not lenient at the beginning of a term after a break. Ten points from Mr. Weasley for his second interruption." Neither of the boys was perturbed by this, and both were paying a little more attention.
. .. .
Hermione and Elokin had been in the library all afternoon pouring over their potions notes. Elokin could tell that Hermione wasn't used to having to try this hard to understand something. She had even heard rumors that by this time Hermione was usually deep into studying for her end-of- the-year exams. Hermione looked as if she were close to tears when Chris slapped a hand on her shoulder.
"What are you two doing? Studying?!?" she said in disbelief. "You must be having an awesome affect on her," she said to Hermione. Her expression changed. "What's wrong?"
"They've just started teaching potion dynamics here and everyone's having problems," Elokin said. Hermione smiled a little at her exaggeration. Chris made a face.
"I remember that. Gosh, I remember this," she said, motioning to the table full of books. She sat down. "I didn't get it either. Had to cast a spell on myself just to get through it." Elokin nodded, remembering that particular spell. Then her eyes widened.
"You don't still have a copy of that spell, do ya?" Chris shook her head.
"Nope. And don't need one. All my songs are up here," she said, tapping her head. "But I did write down that other one you've been asking for," she continued, rummaging through her pockets.
"Songs? I thought we were talking about spells?" Hermione said, confused but relieved that it was no longer because of potions.
"She was. Chris is a carmina mage. It means that she does her best magic in song." Hermione nodded, remembering Elokin's description of Ron as an animus mage just after their first potions class. Chris pulled a folded piece of paper from her back pocket, handing it to Elokin.
"It took me forever, so you'd better be grateful," she growled. Elokin held her arms up, then began a series of half-bows.
"I am not worthy!" she began to chant, earning her a smack in the back of the head.
"You're not going to actually sing it though, are you? I mean, you're ok with the songs, but it wouldn't be nearly as potent as if you were to…" Elokin held up a hand.
"I am going to sing it," she said, indignantly. "Besides, I don't want it to be too strong anyway, because it's a spell of control, and I don't want to utter force him into making a decision if he doesn't want to, even if it is the right one." And with that Elokin got up and walked out of the library.
"Control who?" Hermione said, even more confused.
"Nevermind. Ok, now how did that song go?" She thought for a moment. Then her eyes widened. "Oh man, I remember that song! Um, maybe mentioning it was a bad idea. You should try to get it without magic," she said nodding, getting up. Hermione shook her head.
"Please, if you know a way to help, for bloody sakes do it!" Her heated language turned the heads of most of the students in the library. Chris sat back down.
"Its just, this song has a particularly embarrassing side effect," she flinched inadvertently.
"I don't care! Nothing could be worse than getting lower marks than Ron!" Chris smiled and began to nod.
"Ok, ok. But first, I need you to be completely honest with me," Hermione nodded. "You don't have any type of secret crush or guy that you're admiring or anything like that?" Chris watched as her face turned red.
"I most certainly do not!!!" It took all of her willpower to keep from smiling.
"Ok. Just sit back and clear your mind. Think only of the academic trouble you are having. I'm serious, don't think of anything, or anyone else," she struggled to keep a straight face and to fight back a giggle as she began her song.
"Turn around and smell what you don't see. Close your eyes ... it is so clear. Here's the mirror, behind there is a screen. On both ways you can get in. Don't think twice before you listen to your heart. Follow the trace for a new start. What you need and everything you'll feel is just a question of the deal. In the eye of storm you'll see a lonely dove. The experience of survival is the key to the gravity of love," The whole library was entranced and Chris had to consciously stop herself from singings the chorus. Elokin was right. Everyone deserved a choice. After a moment Hermione opened her eyes and sat up into her chair. She mumbled something that sounded like thanks and hurried out of the library.
. .. .
Elokin stood outside the library for just a moment, listening to see if she was being followed. Then, smiling, she strode down the corridor towards the girls' bathroom. She walked in, sitting herself on the sink, looking right at the door. Outside there was an argument of some sort going on, and an angry muffled voice filtered through the door. The door then opened, and Draco Malfoy walked in.
"Those idiots," he muttered under his breath, "leave them alone for two seconds and they turn into whiny babies," He looked up at Elokin, his mouth opening to say something.
"Staring out of his window as the world rushes by, Arthur Robinson closes the glass and replies, "I dream of Ballerinas and I don't know why but I see Cadillac's sailing" He stared at her blankly. She was singing, and for the first time since she had received his letter, she was looking directly into his eyes. "I was born on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay, but Maryland and Virginia have faded away, and I keep thinking tomorrow is coming today so I am endlessly waiting." Somewhere there was a faint hum of music, and he wondered if this were some kind of joke, if Potter and his little rat pack were hiding in the other stalls. "And the comet is coming between me and the girl who could make it all clean. Out there in the shadow of the modern machine walks St. Robinson in his Cadillac dream. Carrie's down in her basement all toe shoes and twinned
with the girl in the mirror who spins when she spins. From where you think you'll end up to the state that you're in your reflection approaches and then recedes again," His eyes narrowed. This sounded suspiciously like a muggle song to him. Only muggle songs attempted to tell long, complicated stories with alternating sets of inane repeating paragraphs. He determined that he would not enjoy it. He would not. "And the comet is coming between me and the girl who could make it all clean. Out there in the shadow of the modern machine walks St. Robinson in his Cadillac dream."
Music surrounded him and in that moment all of his inhibitions melted away. He understood Mr. Robinson, expected by everyone around him to be a certain way, to want certain things, things he wasn't sure he wanted. And to long to let them down.
"I have dreamed of a black car that shimmers and drives down the length of the evening to the carnival side. In a house where regret is a carousel ride we are spinning and spinning and spinning and now there's a hole in the ceiling down through which I fell. There's a girl in a basement coming out of her shell. And there are people who will say that they knew me so well. I may not go to heaven. I hope you go to hell." Draco tore out of the bathroom, tears streaming down his face. He pushed past Crabbe and Goyle and took off down the hall.
Elokin hopped off the sink, dusting the back of her robes and wearing a particularly smug expression. She began to walk towards the bathroom door.
"Wait!" She turned and her eyes met with those of a young girl. She was wearing a Hogwarts uniform, but her body shimmered hazily.
"You're a ghost, aren't you?" The girl nodded, eyes fixed on her.
"You look just like her," she said, her voice reflecting the awe in her eyes. Elokin blinked.
"Look like who?" The ghost smiled.
"Narn," Elokin blinked again, but this time her eyes remained wide.
"You, you knew my mother?" The ghost nodded.
"She was nice to me. She talked to me. She was the only one who did," Unperturbed by the ghost's sudden change of mood, Elokin continued her questioning.
"Who are you? How did you know her? What was she like?" Myrtle smiled. She's just like her, she thought to herself.
. .. .
Hermione burst into the Gryffindor common room, which was filled with students. She saw Harry and Ron in a corner, huddled over something. She rushed over to them.
"Ron! I have to talk to you!" She grabbed him by the arm.
"Stop! Gerroff!" he said tugging away, "Don't you see we're in the middle of something here!" Harry looked up.
"Sit down Hermione. I know you aren't doing so well, but we could use all the help we can get," At that her ears perked up. She looked over Ron's shoulders at what the two were huddling over. It was Harry's family photo album. Beside that Harry had his notebook, where he was furiously trying all sorts of computations.
"What are you doing?"
"We're trying to alter the standard picture developing formula so that it sets a longer period of time for the picture's movement," Hermione recognized the picture from Ron and Harry's hurried recap of their winter break on the way to the Hospital wing a few days before. She snatched up the pad.
"I can do this. Ok," she began scribbling formulas and making lists off to the side of infinitives and partials. Then she stopped. She crossed out both the lists, stared at the paper for a moment, then finished the equation.
"That studying must have really paid off!" Ron said, obviously impressed. Harry looked at it thoughtfully.
"All we need now is a place to make the potion," All three looked at each other.
"The only place that would have all the regents we need is," Hermione, who had just realized what she was about to say, dropped the quill, "We can't go in there!!!!! He'll have us kicked out for sure!"
"Well I'd rather risk it! I'd rather be in fear of Snape than doing potions in a haunted girls' restroom!" Ron proclaimed, Harry nodded emphatically beside him. She rolled her eyes.
"You would rather face expulsion than be in Myrtle's bathroom?" They both nodded. "Fine then. But we're doing it tonight. I don't know how long this spe, I mean, this understanding of potions will last."
. .. .
The door to the Potionsmaster's office opened just enough to allow a slender black cat to fit through. The cat ran down the hallway and disappeared in the darkness at the end of the corridor. In his office, Professor Snape bent over on his desk, hurriedly scribbling a note. He folded up the piece of paper, which simply said "thraiki" and handed it to a rather small, sprig of an owl, which immediately flew out the window. He took several jars from his cabinet of regents; one contained a golden liquid, one with cloves, and one a white crystalline substance. He then left his office, hurrying down the hall.
. .. .
Elokin's face was beginning to feel sore. She had been laughing and listening to Myrtle's memories of her mother for what seemed like hours. Her mother had had the faerie sickness as she did. She had been a Gryffindor, like she was. She had even liked quidditch. It was only then that Elokin noticed that the bathroom had darkened. Behind Myrtle, who was recounting a conversation with Narn after a very close quidditch game, the window was open, revealing the darkened night sky.
"I have to go! I'm going to be caught after lights out! And, no offense, but I don't think that talking to you would be a good enough excuse to get me out of detention," she said, opening the door slowly and making sure the coast was clear. "I'll be back to talk to you again sometime soon, I promise," she said, hurrying out.
. .. .
Harry mentally thanked Hagrid again for going to the pains of including the original negatives in his photo album as he watched Hermione hang the full- size picture up to dry. Because of time constraints, they had altered the potion for both movement time and developing time, and they all watched as the photograph developed before their eyes. They watched the scene form before them, with Harry's parents in the middle, and couples dancing all around them. In the far corner was Narnia, dancing slowly with her mystery partner. They turned in what was now a complete circle, revealing the face of…
. .. .
Elokin crept down the corridors, quiet as a mouse in a feat of stealth magnificence (which she would be sure to mention to George and Fred at her first opportunity) . Those were her thoughts as she slammed into a much taller teacher. Or maybe not, she thought, looking up to see that she had run into none other than Dumbledore himself. He had a grin on his face.
"Out for a late-night stroll, Lady of the Swift Feet?" This could be worse. I could have run into Filch and Mrs. Norris.
"I, um, in the bathroom, Myrtle, didn't know, swear?" she blathered, looking hopefully at the amused Headmaster. At that moment they were both distracted.
"SNAPE!!! Snape was mmm my mmm mmding?!?"
"Harry?" Elokin said. She then looked at Dumbledore with a pleading expression. He gave in to his own curiosity, leading her down the hall towards the potions lab.
. .. .
Professor Snape turned the corner quickly to avoid what he thought was Mr. Filtch. He could barely bear to be in that man's presence, moreso because Filtch had somehow convinced himself that the two were friends, or at the very least, united in a common goal. Just thinking about it made him cringe.
"SNAPE!!! Snape was mmm my mmm mmding?!?" His head snapped up. Who was that out of bed. Or, worse, out of bed and in his potions lab. Perhaps he had been to lenient post-winter break. He made a mental note to remedy that during the next days classes as he quickened his pace. Walking headlong for the wood door leading to his classroom, he was nearly bowled over by Dumbledore himself. He looked at him with a reserved gaze.
"Headmaster. I didn't know you would get my message so quickly." He was cut short by another voice.
"Harry!" Elokin managed to find her way through Dumbledore and Snape, walking into the potions lab. "Ron, Hermione? Man, When I told Chris to help you out with potions, I didn't think you would try it out immediately." Harry and Ron stood side-by-side, clutching the incriminating picture behind them. Hermione, however, had no reason to think what they had found should be kept a secret.
"Elokin! You wouldn't believe what we found!" Snape cleared his throat, and Hermione was involuntarily silenced. Snape smiled. Maybe I'm not losing my touch after all, he thought, but just to be safe still planing to take points off in rare form soon enough.
"I didn't know my classroom had become such a…popular spot for after-hours meetings," he said, sneering. Hermione stepped up to him, an uncharacteristic amount of bravery in her eyes.
"How dare you! How dare you stand here like that! How dare you act this way, all year, like you don't know?!?" she said, pointing an accusing finger. Snape took a step back, surprised. Never, in all of his years as faculty at Hogwarts, had he been yelled at by a student. Dumbledore stepped up, holding out an arm.
"Perhaps, my dear, you should explain yourself," he said quietly, looking involuntarily at Elokin. He sighed. It had to come out sooner or later, he thought. I had just been wishing for later.
"He, he," Hermione began, pointing a accusing finger at Snape. "Snape is Elokin's mother!" Everyone one stopped for a moment. Professor Snape grinned slightly.
"I am sure, my dear, that that is not the case," Dumbledore said, looking at Snape out of the corner of his eye. Harry and Ron both grabbed on of Hermione's arms before she could correct her mistake.
"And we should go," Ron said, his voice turning to a whisper, "while Dumbledore is amused enough to maybe keep Snape from killing us." And Dumbledore was, true to Ron's words, quite amused.
"Indeed. I have something I need to discuss with the Professor. I trust you four can find your way back to your dormitories?" They all nodded, hurrying out.
that's it for this one (. Also, I should note that the ellipses and italics don't work at all. Im not English grammar impaired, I swear!!!! And thanks to my reads: iphi, severa, and whoever else you guys brought w/ you (hinthintnudgenudgesyanomore)
