I don't own any of JK Rowling's stuff.
Note to reader: I started this chapter the same night that I finished chapter four: Memories, and this is where the true colors start to shine, or so I hope. Thorn of the Rose is where I'm going to muddy the waters yet again. Meet Kieran O'Connell, the half brother Morag doesn't know about. Did I throw you a bit when Morag's parentage was announced in the first chapter? Or when Thamala Blake appeared on the scene? No? Damn. Ah well. I fully intend to make this chapter a bumpy ride for all involved.
Thanks to: People who bother to read this! I love you all!
Dedications: This is dedicated to my friend Cymon, the tiny pacifist bouncer (private joke, and it's not really that funny either).
-
Chapter Five: Thorn of the Rose
-
Thamala and Morag were in the library, studying for a history of magic test. Morag was distracted though – there was a ball to be held in honor of some esteemed guests. Minister of Magic, who'd finally been convinced of the danger Voldemort made, had come to discuss things with Dumbledore. So there was to be a banquet & ball in his honor, simply because the students needed something to look forward to.
"Lilli, stop thinking about the ball." Thamala laughed. "Draco's going to take you, you'll be the 'belle of the ball' and the envy of all."
"All?" Morag raised an eyebrow. "What about the Gryffindors, Ravenclaws, and Hufflepuffs?"
Thamala made with the mock-surprise. "They count?"
Both girls laughed. Morag had slowly began to relax around Thamala, but still distrusted her – and wisely. Thamala did things only for herself, though they occasionally benefited others.
-
"Dream on Harry!" "Snape's own daughter?" "She'd date Crabbe or Goyle before you!"
The words rolled around Harry's head as he finally admitted it. He was jealous of Malfoy, because Malfoy had Morag.
Malfoy had Morag.
Morag didn't want anything to do with him.
She knew something.
Her owl knew something.
What?
-
Later that day, in the evening, Morag sat alone in the library. She was in the restricted section, with a special pass from Professor Snape. She was researching the Keeper of Secrets, something of an enigma in the magical world. Nobody quite agreed on what the Keeper of Secrets was – only that it was powerful, and that no one found out the secrets it guarded, ever.
She had to find it.
Find out what it was.
How to use it.
Fast.
Morag was terrified by the prospect, but she steeled herself to the task at hand and kept reading.
'Many believe that the Keeper of Secrets is not itself a spell, but something you Summon with a spell. World-renowned witch, Eleyne Everly, claims that the Keeper of Secrets is a magical creature – in the form of a lady in white or an angel perhaps. The Keeper of Secrets protects secrets and people alike, a guardian for those who need it most. One must be in dire straits before the Keeper will deign to come to you – and she is temperamental.' Morag read. She sighed, the more she read, the more she feared.
What if the Keeper would not come?
What if the books were wrong?
What if she ran out of time?
What about Thamala?
-
Hermione and Ron were playing Wizard Chess in the Gryffindor common room when Harry came up.
"Harry!" Ron shouted, waving him over.
Hermione smirked. "You just want out of me beating you at Wizard Chess."
"You won't beat me!" Ron denied.
"Maybe not today – but I'm getting better." Hermione grinned.
Harry walked over, listening to the growing argument about Hermione's chess- playing abilities.
"You look thoughtful." Hermione said to Harry, when she finally forgot what it was that she and Ron were arguing about in the first place.
"Do I?" he responded, sitting down.
"Yes, you do. This doesn't have anything to do with Lilli Snape, does it?" Hermione almost unconsciously called Morag what everyone did – Lilli.
"Why would it?" he asked, guardedly.
"Because you're constantly staring at her, thinking about her, talking to yourself about her when you think nobody's listening." Hermione replied promptly.
"Hey!" Harry protested.
"You're saying you don't?"
"I'm saying…how do you know what I think about?"
"But you aren't denying it." Hermione told him triumphantly. "I knew it was her. Lilli Snape, the darling of Slytherin. Draco Malfoy's taking her to the ball for Fudge." She watched his reaction. As expected, Harry's fists clenched involuntarily.
"I knew it – it is her!"
"Just don't tell anyone." Harry muttered. Ron had been distracted by Ginny, who wanted tips on Wizard Chess, and to tell Ron – blushing a bit – that she'd gotten herself a date to the ball. A Ravenclaw fourth year, Kieran O'Connell.
Hermione nodded. "My lips are sealed, Harry. But be careful – you've seen what she's like. I've seen her lie, cheat, and steal with the barest glance."
"I know. She's the 'thorn of the rose', isn't she?" Harry said wryly.
"What?" Hermione seemed confused – and in any other circumstances, Harry might have enjoyed that.
"Just something Morag said a while ago."
-
Thamala caught sight of someone in the hall, someone who looked so familiar…almost like…
Morag.
But it wasn't, it wasn't even a girl. It was a boy, and a dark haired one at that. She purposely bumped into him.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Her black eyes glittered. "I'm Thamala Blake."
"Kieran O'Connell." He muttered, trying not to look at her eyes. "It's quite all right."
Kieran was like Morag, she saw now. The way he held himself, walked, spoke. When he was more comfortable, it would probably be that long drawl that Morag used when she was in a more humorous mood. On impulse, Thamala asked, "Have you seen Lilli Snape around? I just can't find her anywhere."
Kieran almost flinched. He knew Thamala was up to something, and his father had warned him that he had a half sister here somewhere, though he'd refused to specify. 'Her mother wouldn't like it', Mr. J O'Connell had said. Perhaps this Lilli was his half sister – he'd seen her around, it was like he knew her but he hadn't met her yet. "No, I'm afraid not." He answered Thamala.
Thamala saw the look in Kieran's eyes. Something was going on at Hogwarts, and she was determined to find out what.
-
-
-
Note to reader: I know, it's probably not 'up to standard', whatever standard that may be. And this unfortunate habit of introducing new characters, confusing an already complicated plot, it's getting really annoying, isn't it? Sorry. I've just decided that perhaps the Snape family needs a little more tension, and the presence of Jonathan O'Connell's son – Morag's half brother – will definitely supply that. Fear not, I know what's going to happen in the end. Now, important question, I need you to tell me what you think:
Harry is 'falling for' Morag. Should he act on it, and we'll have a big fight scene between him and Draco, or, should he suffer heroically in silence? Either way Draco has to win, otherwise certain things can't happen (sorry, can't tell you what), but would anyone like to see Harry kick some Malfoy-butt in the meantime?
I have to admit, I'm partial to Draco and Harry having a punch-up (and I mean a punch-up, no wands. Lets give Harry the satisfaction of smacking Malfoy over a couple of times with his own two hands), and I've even got a chapter title just in case. 'Pride Goeth Before A Fall'. But, should popular opinion be against Harry and Draco smacking each other a few times, I…probably won't put up that chapter. Can't make any promises, I'm quite attached to the idea.
Note to reader: I started this chapter the same night that I finished chapter four: Memories, and this is where the true colors start to shine, or so I hope. Thorn of the Rose is where I'm going to muddy the waters yet again. Meet Kieran O'Connell, the half brother Morag doesn't know about. Did I throw you a bit when Morag's parentage was announced in the first chapter? Or when Thamala Blake appeared on the scene? No? Damn. Ah well. I fully intend to make this chapter a bumpy ride for all involved.
Thanks to: People who bother to read this! I love you all!
Dedications: This is dedicated to my friend Cymon, the tiny pacifist bouncer (private joke, and it's not really that funny either).
-
Chapter Five: Thorn of the Rose
-
Thamala and Morag were in the library, studying for a history of magic test. Morag was distracted though – there was a ball to be held in honor of some esteemed guests. Minister of Magic, who'd finally been convinced of the danger Voldemort made, had come to discuss things with Dumbledore. So there was to be a banquet & ball in his honor, simply because the students needed something to look forward to.
"Lilli, stop thinking about the ball." Thamala laughed. "Draco's going to take you, you'll be the 'belle of the ball' and the envy of all."
"All?" Morag raised an eyebrow. "What about the Gryffindors, Ravenclaws, and Hufflepuffs?"
Thamala made with the mock-surprise. "They count?"
Both girls laughed. Morag had slowly began to relax around Thamala, but still distrusted her – and wisely. Thamala did things only for herself, though they occasionally benefited others.
-
"Dream on Harry!" "Snape's own daughter?" "She'd date Crabbe or Goyle before you!"
The words rolled around Harry's head as he finally admitted it. He was jealous of Malfoy, because Malfoy had Morag.
Malfoy had Morag.
Morag didn't want anything to do with him.
She knew something.
Her owl knew something.
What?
-
Later that day, in the evening, Morag sat alone in the library. She was in the restricted section, with a special pass from Professor Snape. She was researching the Keeper of Secrets, something of an enigma in the magical world. Nobody quite agreed on what the Keeper of Secrets was – only that it was powerful, and that no one found out the secrets it guarded, ever.
She had to find it.
Find out what it was.
How to use it.
Fast.
Morag was terrified by the prospect, but she steeled herself to the task at hand and kept reading.
'Many believe that the Keeper of Secrets is not itself a spell, but something you Summon with a spell. World-renowned witch, Eleyne Everly, claims that the Keeper of Secrets is a magical creature – in the form of a lady in white or an angel perhaps. The Keeper of Secrets protects secrets and people alike, a guardian for those who need it most. One must be in dire straits before the Keeper will deign to come to you – and she is temperamental.' Morag read. She sighed, the more she read, the more she feared.
What if the Keeper would not come?
What if the books were wrong?
What if she ran out of time?
What about Thamala?
-
Hermione and Ron were playing Wizard Chess in the Gryffindor common room when Harry came up.
"Harry!" Ron shouted, waving him over.
Hermione smirked. "You just want out of me beating you at Wizard Chess."
"You won't beat me!" Ron denied.
"Maybe not today – but I'm getting better." Hermione grinned.
Harry walked over, listening to the growing argument about Hermione's chess- playing abilities.
"You look thoughtful." Hermione said to Harry, when she finally forgot what it was that she and Ron were arguing about in the first place.
"Do I?" he responded, sitting down.
"Yes, you do. This doesn't have anything to do with Lilli Snape, does it?" Hermione almost unconsciously called Morag what everyone did – Lilli.
"Why would it?" he asked, guardedly.
"Because you're constantly staring at her, thinking about her, talking to yourself about her when you think nobody's listening." Hermione replied promptly.
"Hey!" Harry protested.
"You're saying you don't?"
"I'm saying…how do you know what I think about?"
"But you aren't denying it." Hermione told him triumphantly. "I knew it was her. Lilli Snape, the darling of Slytherin. Draco Malfoy's taking her to the ball for Fudge." She watched his reaction. As expected, Harry's fists clenched involuntarily.
"I knew it – it is her!"
"Just don't tell anyone." Harry muttered. Ron had been distracted by Ginny, who wanted tips on Wizard Chess, and to tell Ron – blushing a bit – that she'd gotten herself a date to the ball. A Ravenclaw fourth year, Kieran O'Connell.
Hermione nodded. "My lips are sealed, Harry. But be careful – you've seen what she's like. I've seen her lie, cheat, and steal with the barest glance."
"I know. She's the 'thorn of the rose', isn't she?" Harry said wryly.
"What?" Hermione seemed confused – and in any other circumstances, Harry might have enjoyed that.
"Just something Morag said a while ago."
-
Thamala caught sight of someone in the hall, someone who looked so familiar…almost like…
Morag.
But it wasn't, it wasn't even a girl. It was a boy, and a dark haired one at that. She purposely bumped into him.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Her black eyes glittered. "I'm Thamala Blake."
"Kieran O'Connell." He muttered, trying not to look at her eyes. "It's quite all right."
Kieran was like Morag, she saw now. The way he held himself, walked, spoke. When he was more comfortable, it would probably be that long drawl that Morag used when she was in a more humorous mood. On impulse, Thamala asked, "Have you seen Lilli Snape around? I just can't find her anywhere."
Kieran almost flinched. He knew Thamala was up to something, and his father had warned him that he had a half sister here somewhere, though he'd refused to specify. 'Her mother wouldn't like it', Mr. J O'Connell had said. Perhaps this Lilli was his half sister – he'd seen her around, it was like he knew her but he hadn't met her yet. "No, I'm afraid not." He answered Thamala.
Thamala saw the look in Kieran's eyes. Something was going on at Hogwarts, and she was determined to find out what.
-
-
-
Note to reader: I know, it's probably not 'up to standard', whatever standard that may be. And this unfortunate habit of introducing new characters, confusing an already complicated plot, it's getting really annoying, isn't it? Sorry. I've just decided that perhaps the Snape family needs a little more tension, and the presence of Jonathan O'Connell's son – Morag's half brother – will definitely supply that. Fear not, I know what's going to happen in the end. Now, important question, I need you to tell me what you think:
Harry is 'falling for' Morag. Should he act on it, and we'll have a big fight scene between him and Draco, or, should he suffer heroically in silence? Either way Draco has to win, otherwise certain things can't happen (sorry, can't tell you what), but would anyone like to see Harry kick some Malfoy-butt in the meantime?
I have to admit, I'm partial to Draco and Harry having a punch-up (and I mean a punch-up, no wands. Lets give Harry the satisfaction of smacking Malfoy over a couple of times with his own two hands), and I've even got a chapter title just in case. 'Pride Goeth Before A Fall'. But, should popular opinion be against Harry and Draco smacking each other a few times, I…probably won't put up that chapter. Can't make any promises, I'm quite attached to the idea.