Chapter 11
Valentine's Day
The month of January was one that lightened the heart. Even though students suspected that Hermione had been attacked due to her disappearance, both Harry and Ron assured those that asked that she hadn't been.
Wood and Vera fell into a comfortable routine together, becoming closer as the days went on. It was quite common to see them sitting together whether on the couch or at a table, doing whatever assignment they had. As Katie had told Wood, Vera very rarely if ever woke up screaming anymore.
So things were peaceful. When February showed up, the overall feeling in the castle was one of hope. There hadn't been another attack in nearly two months and Madam Pomfrey said that the mandrakes would be ready soon.
"The moment their acne clears up, they'll be ready for repotting again," Harry heard her telling Filch kindly one afternoon. "And after that, it won't be long until we're cutting them up and stewing them. You'll have Mrs. Norris back in no time."
With the Heir of Slytherin seemingly gone, moods changed dramatically. Lockhart professed that he had vanquished the culprit, claiming he would no longer come out, lest Lockhart find him. It was then that the teacher had given the first hint of an idea forming in his mind.
"You know," Lockhart said thoughtfully one day when speaking with Professor McGonagall, "What the school needs now is a morale-booster. Wash away the memories of last term! I won't say any more just now, but I think I know just the thing. . . " He then tapped his nose and strode off.
Lockhart's idea of a morale-booster became clear at breakfast time on February fourteenth. Vera and Katie started down to the Great Hall together, rising earlier than the others even though Katie was still tired from a Quidditch practice that had ran late last night. Their conversation ended the second they walked through the doors and promptly stopped in their tracks.
The walls were all covered with large, lurid pink flowers. Worse still, heart-shaped confetti was falling from the pale blue ceiling. The two sixth years walked over to the Gryffindor table, trying not to stare in shock and repulsion at the change to the Great Hall.
"What in the world is going on?" asked Vera as she sat down.
Katie picked up a piece of toast and hit it against the table, trying to get rid of all the confetti. "This was Lockhart's idea I guess. As interesting as this is, I've never been one for Valentine's Day."
"Me neither," replied Vera. Katie gave her a look and rolled her eyes. "Hey," protested Vera. "Just because I'm with Oliver, doesn't mean I'm going to have a sudden change of heart."
"What about me?" asked Wood as he yawned and sat down next to Vera.
Vera opened her mouth to explain, but was interrupted by Lockhart, who was wearing lurid pink robes to match the decorations. "Happy Valentine's Day!" Lockhart shouted. "And may I thank the forty-six people who have so far sent me cards! Yes, I have taken the liberty of arranging this little surprise for you all - and it doesn't end here!"
Lockhart clapped his hand and through the doors to the entrance hall marched a dozen surly-looking dwarfs. Not just any dwarfs however. Lockhart had them all wearing golden wings and carrying harps.
"My friendly, card-carrying cupids!" beamed Lockhart. "They will be roving around the school today delivering your valentines! And the fund doesn't stop here! Why not ask Professor Snape to show you how to whip up a Love Potion! And while you're at it, Professor Flitwick knows more about Entrancing Enchantments than any wizard I've ever met, the sly old dog!" Professor Flitwick buried his face in his hands. Snape was looking as though the first person to ask him for a Love Potion would be force-fed poison.
Vera turned to Wood. "If you so much as even THINK about giving me a valentine through a dwarf, I will never talk to you again." Wood started to say something, but Vera shoved a piece of bacon in his mouth instead. "I mean it. Now close your mouth and chew, you're being rude otherwise."
Katie chuckled. "Really, Oliver. Mind your manners." He turned a scalding look on Katie at this point and the girls could only chuckle. With Vera's threat hanging over his head, Wood didn't even attempt to contact one of the dwarfs.
It was in Transfiguration, their first class of the day with Slytherin that it became apparent that the dwarfs would be quite the nuisance the whole day. Professor McGonagall changed effortlessly into a cat and back again, looking at the whole class expectantly.
"You have all learned about Animagi and done research on them. It takes great talent to become a full Animagus, but most students can succeed in some form of self-Transfiguration. Now I will call one of you at a time up here to try and attempt a self-Transfiguration. You need to concentrate a great deal or something could go wrong, though I am here to prevent that. Assuming you did your homework, you should have no problem."
She paused and looked around the room again, noting the looks of mostly anticipation throughout the class. "Miss Shields, why don't you start us off?"
Vera nodded and walked to the front of the class. Closing her eyes and gripping her wand tightly in her hand, she focused on all her aunt had taught her about Transfiguration. Starting to quietly mutter a spell, she opened her eyes and the class began to mutter among themselves softly.
Wood watched in fascination as Vera opened her eyes to reveal an emerald stare. Her ears slid to the top of her head and became pointed. Her teeth elongated and became fangs. Her nose started to turn pink as whiskers sprouted from her cheeks. As her hands turned into large paws, lethal looking claws extended, black fur started to sprout over her body. Her robes disappeared in a haze of black as she started to hunker down, taking a form of a large panther. He couldn't help but smile as he noticed a small white teardrop shaped patch of fur across her neck, the distinctive markings that looked like the necklace he had given her.
At this moment as a tail started to sprout and swish to and fro, a dwarf burst into the room in a racket of noise, calling for Mary Ritter. Vera's concentration broke in that second and she opened her mouth, a horrible sound between a scream and a roar bursting from her lips.
Vera fell onto her side, more panther than human at this point. She screamed again, the horrible sound issuing forth, filled with pain. Professor McGonagall kneeled down next to her, her own wand trained on the catlike figure. Whispering a spell, Vera slowly began to transform back into herself, the fur disappearing as her features returned to normal.
When Vera was finally lying on the ground, eyes screwed shut and panting with the effort that it took, Professor McGonagall shot a withering stare at the dwarf. "Deliver your message and get out." The dwarf that was hardly daunted by the teacher, whose gaze was filled with malice, handed a valentine to Mary Ritter, a Gryffindor who was trying to sink down into her chair out of sight.
As the dwarf left, Professor McGonagall crouched once again by Vera's side. "That is what happens when self-Transfiguration goes wrong. If your concentration breaks, one of the greater side effects can be pain. Which is why we do not teach these things until you are older." Placing her hand on Vera's forehead she sighed. "Wood, come here a moment."
Wood stood up and carefully moved to the front of the class, crouching over Vera in concern. "Yes, Professor?"
"She felt quite a bit of suffering there. Were she at the earlier stages of the transformation, it would not have been quite so painful. But she is an advanced student, and I don't doubt that we would have had a black panther in our classroom." She paused and Wood swore that he saw something akin to pride in her eyes. "I need you to take her to Madam Pomfrey, to make sure that she is all right. I'll be down shortly, understand?"
Wood nodded before Professor McGonagall continued on. "You'll have to carry her. Such a transformation, even if completed, is very draining the first time and the pain did not help. Now go on."
Wood gathered Vera in his arms and stood up. Flint sneered at him as he passed, but Wood paid him no head, worried about the girl in his arms. Vera's eyes were still tightly shut and her breathing was slightly ragged. "Vera?" he asked quietly.
She moaned and coughed. "What happened?" she asked hoarsely.
"You lost your concentration. I'm taking you to the hospital wing right now."
Vera nodded before coughing again. "I hate Valentine's Day," she muttered.
Wood laughed as he brought her into the infirmary and carefully laid her on a bed. Madam Pomfrey nearly ran over and asked what happened.
"Self-Transfiguration gone wrong," explained Wood. "Quite painful as Professor McGonagall explained it."
"She wasn't lying," Vera croaked. As Madam Pomfrey began to mix up a potion to help with the pain, Professor McGonagall came into the room, carrying both Wood's and Vera's things.
"Well Ms. Shields, I believe that this is the third time you have ended up in this room?"
Vera grinned weakly. "I'm just attracted to it I guess. Oliver said that I lost my concentration."
Professor McGonagall nodded. "It is easily expected when one first attempts a Transfiguration as you did. Though I have no doubt that had you not been interrupted, you would have fully changed into a panther."
Vera smiled. "Let's just make sure that there are no dwarfs around when I try it again."
Professor McGonagall laughed, a most unusual sound to Wood. "Of course. Rest here for a little bit, then try and return to class if you can. You can stay with her Wood."
She then left and Madam Pomfrey came over with a potion. Vera sighed as she pushed herself up into a sitting position. Taking the cup in her hand she sighed. "I might as well keep a potion ready by my bedside," she muttered as she drank the liquid.
Wood smiled and settled down into a chair. They didn't return to classes until much later in the day, Vera still weakened by her ordeal. They came into their Defense Against the Dark Arts class ten minutes late. Lockhart watched as both Wood and Vera sat down quietly before speaking up.
"Miss Shields! Professor McGonagall told me about your unfortunate accident during her class. Had I been there, I'm sure that you would have completed the transformation without a hitch."
"Actually," began Vera, not being able to resist. "It was one of your dwarfs that caused me to lose my concentration."
Lockhart paused for a moment and looked at her. "Yes, well," he replied nervously. "Quite an unfortunate incident. Now, as I was saying." Vera and Wood exchanged a quick smile before returning their attention to Lockhart.
~*~*~*~
Vera sighed at the end of the day, thankful that it was over. She still felt a dull ache throughout her body and hoped that a night's sleep would cure that. Setting her pen down on her essay for Transfiguration, she tried to bite back a yawn.
"Hey Vera," said Wood as he sat down next to her. "Are you finished with your essay?"
Vera nodded. "Yeah. A rather informed essay on the side effects of self- Transfiguration. Needless to say, I know what I'm talking about."
"I'm thinking that your aunt has been helping you to possibly become an Animagus? I mean, no one I know could possibly have gotten as far as you did."
Vera smiled sheepishly. "Yes, she has been helping me for a few years actually. I've nearly done it. With my secrets, we figured that it couldn't hurt to have another trick or two up my sleeve."
Wood nodded. "Well, I think that a panther will be a match for anyone that you come up against. Listen, Vera," he paused and looked around the rather crowded common room. "Come with me for a few moments, I don't really want to talk with everyone around."
Vera watched him curiously, but did as he asked. Closing her books, she followed him out the portrait hole and walked down the nearly deserted corridor. He grasped her hand firmly within his own as he led her out of the castle and into the nearby garden.
"Oliver, what's going on?" asked Vera, slightly confused.
He sighed and turned toward her, taking her other hand within his own. "Vera, there is something I want to tell you, but I didn't want to do it with everyone else, no doubt someone would spoil it."
"Oliver," began Vera, but he shook his head to silence her.
"Vera, listen to me. I've never said this to anyone before, but I can't go without saying it now. I love you Vera."
Vera's eyes widened. "What?" she breathed.
"I love you," Wood repeated. "I've never felt this way about anybody. My whole life has been spent focusing on Quidditch, but when you came around things changed. I don't care about what happened in your past, as long as you'll spend your future with me. I love you Vera."
Tears came to Vera's eyes, having never heard such a heartfelt thing in her life. "I love you too Oliver," she whispered, hardly believing what had just happened. She met his eyes again before leaning over to kiss him, not quite sure how else to express her feelings. The kiss grew in intensity for several minutes as they stood within the garden. They broke off though as heavy footsteps sounded, followed by a blast and several squeals.
"Ten points from Gryffindor Ms. Ritter!" snarled Snape as he blasted apart a rosebush. "And ten points from Ravenclaw Mr. Weirsyn!"
Vera and Wood quickly skirted around Snape and headed back into the school, not willing to try getting caught by the ill-tempered Potions Master. They paused again before the portrait, kissing one last time.
"Maybe Valentine's Day isn't so bad after all," commented Vera. Wood laughed as they went inside.
~*~*~*~ There's a fairly long chapter for you. There are very few chapters left actually. I have chapter 12 written, and all I really have left to write is the huge climax at the end with a little piece to tie everything up. So the story will be ended soon. Remember, the little button at the bottom is your friend, I know it's mine! Thanks for the feedback! The next chapter is called: Dreadful Attack. I think. ~ Alexandra
Valentine's Day
The month of January was one that lightened the heart. Even though students suspected that Hermione had been attacked due to her disappearance, both Harry and Ron assured those that asked that she hadn't been.
Wood and Vera fell into a comfortable routine together, becoming closer as the days went on. It was quite common to see them sitting together whether on the couch or at a table, doing whatever assignment they had. As Katie had told Wood, Vera very rarely if ever woke up screaming anymore.
So things were peaceful. When February showed up, the overall feeling in the castle was one of hope. There hadn't been another attack in nearly two months and Madam Pomfrey said that the mandrakes would be ready soon.
"The moment their acne clears up, they'll be ready for repotting again," Harry heard her telling Filch kindly one afternoon. "And after that, it won't be long until we're cutting them up and stewing them. You'll have Mrs. Norris back in no time."
With the Heir of Slytherin seemingly gone, moods changed dramatically. Lockhart professed that he had vanquished the culprit, claiming he would no longer come out, lest Lockhart find him. It was then that the teacher had given the first hint of an idea forming in his mind.
"You know," Lockhart said thoughtfully one day when speaking with Professor McGonagall, "What the school needs now is a morale-booster. Wash away the memories of last term! I won't say any more just now, but I think I know just the thing. . . " He then tapped his nose and strode off.
Lockhart's idea of a morale-booster became clear at breakfast time on February fourteenth. Vera and Katie started down to the Great Hall together, rising earlier than the others even though Katie was still tired from a Quidditch practice that had ran late last night. Their conversation ended the second they walked through the doors and promptly stopped in their tracks.
The walls were all covered with large, lurid pink flowers. Worse still, heart-shaped confetti was falling from the pale blue ceiling. The two sixth years walked over to the Gryffindor table, trying not to stare in shock and repulsion at the change to the Great Hall.
"What in the world is going on?" asked Vera as she sat down.
Katie picked up a piece of toast and hit it against the table, trying to get rid of all the confetti. "This was Lockhart's idea I guess. As interesting as this is, I've never been one for Valentine's Day."
"Me neither," replied Vera. Katie gave her a look and rolled her eyes. "Hey," protested Vera. "Just because I'm with Oliver, doesn't mean I'm going to have a sudden change of heart."
"What about me?" asked Wood as he yawned and sat down next to Vera.
Vera opened her mouth to explain, but was interrupted by Lockhart, who was wearing lurid pink robes to match the decorations. "Happy Valentine's Day!" Lockhart shouted. "And may I thank the forty-six people who have so far sent me cards! Yes, I have taken the liberty of arranging this little surprise for you all - and it doesn't end here!"
Lockhart clapped his hand and through the doors to the entrance hall marched a dozen surly-looking dwarfs. Not just any dwarfs however. Lockhart had them all wearing golden wings and carrying harps.
"My friendly, card-carrying cupids!" beamed Lockhart. "They will be roving around the school today delivering your valentines! And the fund doesn't stop here! Why not ask Professor Snape to show you how to whip up a Love Potion! And while you're at it, Professor Flitwick knows more about Entrancing Enchantments than any wizard I've ever met, the sly old dog!" Professor Flitwick buried his face in his hands. Snape was looking as though the first person to ask him for a Love Potion would be force-fed poison.
Vera turned to Wood. "If you so much as even THINK about giving me a valentine through a dwarf, I will never talk to you again." Wood started to say something, but Vera shoved a piece of bacon in his mouth instead. "I mean it. Now close your mouth and chew, you're being rude otherwise."
Katie chuckled. "Really, Oliver. Mind your manners." He turned a scalding look on Katie at this point and the girls could only chuckle. With Vera's threat hanging over his head, Wood didn't even attempt to contact one of the dwarfs.
It was in Transfiguration, their first class of the day with Slytherin that it became apparent that the dwarfs would be quite the nuisance the whole day. Professor McGonagall changed effortlessly into a cat and back again, looking at the whole class expectantly.
"You have all learned about Animagi and done research on them. It takes great talent to become a full Animagus, but most students can succeed in some form of self-Transfiguration. Now I will call one of you at a time up here to try and attempt a self-Transfiguration. You need to concentrate a great deal or something could go wrong, though I am here to prevent that. Assuming you did your homework, you should have no problem."
She paused and looked around the room again, noting the looks of mostly anticipation throughout the class. "Miss Shields, why don't you start us off?"
Vera nodded and walked to the front of the class. Closing her eyes and gripping her wand tightly in her hand, she focused on all her aunt had taught her about Transfiguration. Starting to quietly mutter a spell, she opened her eyes and the class began to mutter among themselves softly.
Wood watched in fascination as Vera opened her eyes to reveal an emerald stare. Her ears slid to the top of her head and became pointed. Her teeth elongated and became fangs. Her nose started to turn pink as whiskers sprouted from her cheeks. As her hands turned into large paws, lethal looking claws extended, black fur started to sprout over her body. Her robes disappeared in a haze of black as she started to hunker down, taking a form of a large panther. He couldn't help but smile as he noticed a small white teardrop shaped patch of fur across her neck, the distinctive markings that looked like the necklace he had given her.
At this moment as a tail started to sprout and swish to and fro, a dwarf burst into the room in a racket of noise, calling for Mary Ritter. Vera's concentration broke in that second and she opened her mouth, a horrible sound between a scream and a roar bursting from her lips.
Vera fell onto her side, more panther than human at this point. She screamed again, the horrible sound issuing forth, filled with pain. Professor McGonagall kneeled down next to her, her own wand trained on the catlike figure. Whispering a spell, Vera slowly began to transform back into herself, the fur disappearing as her features returned to normal.
When Vera was finally lying on the ground, eyes screwed shut and panting with the effort that it took, Professor McGonagall shot a withering stare at the dwarf. "Deliver your message and get out." The dwarf that was hardly daunted by the teacher, whose gaze was filled with malice, handed a valentine to Mary Ritter, a Gryffindor who was trying to sink down into her chair out of sight.
As the dwarf left, Professor McGonagall crouched once again by Vera's side. "That is what happens when self-Transfiguration goes wrong. If your concentration breaks, one of the greater side effects can be pain. Which is why we do not teach these things until you are older." Placing her hand on Vera's forehead she sighed. "Wood, come here a moment."
Wood stood up and carefully moved to the front of the class, crouching over Vera in concern. "Yes, Professor?"
"She felt quite a bit of suffering there. Were she at the earlier stages of the transformation, it would not have been quite so painful. But she is an advanced student, and I don't doubt that we would have had a black panther in our classroom." She paused and Wood swore that he saw something akin to pride in her eyes. "I need you to take her to Madam Pomfrey, to make sure that she is all right. I'll be down shortly, understand?"
Wood nodded before Professor McGonagall continued on. "You'll have to carry her. Such a transformation, even if completed, is very draining the first time and the pain did not help. Now go on."
Wood gathered Vera in his arms and stood up. Flint sneered at him as he passed, but Wood paid him no head, worried about the girl in his arms. Vera's eyes were still tightly shut and her breathing was slightly ragged. "Vera?" he asked quietly.
She moaned and coughed. "What happened?" she asked hoarsely.
"You lost your concentration. I'm taking you to the hospital wing right now."
Vera nodded before coughing again. "I hate Valentine's Day," she muttered.
Wood laughed as he brought her into the infirmary and carefully laid her on a bed. Madam Pomfrey nearly ran over and asked what happened.
"Self-Transfiguration gone wrong," explained Wood. "Quite painful as Professor McGonagall explained it."
"She wasn't lying," Vera croaked. As Madam Pomfrey began to mix up a potion to help with the pain, Professor McGonagall came into the room, carrying both Wood's and Vera's things.
"Well Ms. Shields, I believe that this is the third time you have ended up in this room?"
Vera grinned weakly. "I'm just attracted to it I guess. Oliver said that I lost my concentration."
Professor McGonagall nodded. "It is easily expected when one first attempts a Transfiguration as you did. Though I have no doubt that had you not been interrupted, you would have fully changed into a panther."
Vera smiled. "Let's just make sure that there are no dwarfs around when I try it again."
Professor McGonagall laughed, a most unusual sound to Wood. "Of course. Rest here for a little bit, then try and return to class if you can. You can stay with her Wood."
She then left and Madam Pomfrey came over with a potion. Vera sighed as she pushed herself up into a sitting position. Taking the cup in her hand she sighed. "I might as well keep a potion ready by my bedside," she muttered as she drank the liquid.
Wood smiled and settled down into a chair. They didn't return to classes until much later in the day, Vera still weakened by her ordeal. They came into their Defense Against the Dark Arts class ten minutes late. Lockhart watched as both Wood and Vera sat down quietly before speaking up.
"Miss Shields! Professor McGonagall told me about your unfortunate accident during her class. Had I been there, I'm sure that you would have completed the transformation without a hitch."
"Actually," began Vera, not being able to resist. "It was one of your dwarfs that caused me to lose my concentration."
Lockhart paused for a moment and looked at her. "Yes, well," he replied nervously. "Quite an unfortunate incident. Now, as I was saying." Vera and Wood exchanged a quick smile before returning their attention to Lockhart.
~*~*~*~
Vera sighed at the end of the day, thankful that it was over. She still felt a dull ache throughout her body and hoped that a night's sleep would cure that. Setting her pen down on her essay for Transfiguration, she tried to bite back a yawn.
"Hey Vera," said Wood as he sat down next to her. "Are you finished with your essay?"
Vera nodded. "Yeah. A rather informed essay on the side effects of self- Transfiguration. Needless to say, I know what I'm talking about."
"I'm thinking that your aunt has been helping you to possibly become an Animagus? I mean, no one I know could possibly have gotten as far as you did."
Vera smiled sheepishly. "Yes, she has been helping me for a few years actually. I've nearly done it. With my secrets, we figured that it couldn't hurt to have another trick or two up my sleeve."
Wood nodded. "Well, I think that a panther will be a match for anyone that you come up against. Listen, Vera," he paused and looked around the rather crowded common room. "Come with me for a few moments, I don't really want to talk with everyone around."
Vera watched him curiously, but did as he asked. Closing her books, she followed him out the portrait hole and walked down the nearly deserted corridor. He grasped her hand firmly within his own as he led her out of the castle and into the nearby garden.
"Oliver, what's going on?" asked Vera, slightly confused.
He sighed and turned toward her, taking her other hand within his own. "Vera, there is something I want to tell you, but I didn't want to do it with everyone else, no doubt someone would spoil it."
"Oliver," began Vera, but he shook his head to silence her.
"Vera, listen to me. I've never said this to anyone before, but I can't go without saying it now. I love you Vera."
Vera's eyes widened. "What?" she breathed.
"I love you," Wood repeated. "I've never felt this way about anybody. My whole life has been spent focusing on Quidditch, but when you came around things changed. I don't care about what happened in your past, as long as you'll spend your future with me. I love you Vera."
Tears came to Vera's eyes, having never heard such a heartfelt thing in her life. "I love you too Oliver," she whispered, hardly believing what had just happened. She met his eyes again before leaning over to kiss him, not quite sure how else to express her feelings. The kiss grew in intensity for several minutes as they stood within the garden. They broke off though as heavy footsteps sounded, followed by a blast and several squeals.
"Ten points from Gryffindor Ms. Ritter!" snarled Snape as he blasted apart a rosebush. "And ten points from Ravenclaw Mr. Weirsyn!"
Vera and Wood quickly skirted around Snape and headed back into the school, not willing to try getting caught by the ill-tempered Potions Master. They paused again before the portrait, kissing one last time.
"Maybe Valentine's Day isn't so bad after all," commented Vera. Wood laughed as they went inside.
~*~*~*~ There's a fairly long chapter for you. There are very few chapters left actually. I have chapter 12 written, and all I really have left to write is the huge climax at the end with a little piece to tie everything up. So the story will be ended soon. Remember, the little button at the bottom is your friend, I know it's mine! Thanks for the feedback! The next chapter is called: Dreadful Attack. I think. ~ Alexandra