Notes: Damn. Who besides me thinks this took a really long time to
post? *many hands go up* Who besides me cares? *crickets chirp* . . .
Thought so =^-^=
Disclaimer: see chapter one.
Chapter Ten - Puzzle Pieces Fit
"Jillian, Ron? Are you all right?" asked the voices of each person as they filed through, "Ron? Jillian?"
"How's the weather out there?"
"Yeah, what took you so long?"
All movement stopped short in the Common Room from the leaders of the line, which lead to a domino effect that ended up with Neville and Seamus falling to the floor. Makoto and Ron were sitting on the Common Room floor, calmly playing a game of Exploding Snap in front of the merrily roaring fire. Next to them were a fairly plain pitcher, filled with pumpkin juice, and two paper cups. McGonagall stepped forward cautiously to inspect them, and stared down at the two teens.
"Where did you get these?"
Makoto and Ron blushed slightly as they set their cards down and turned to look at their rescuers.
"Well . . . we have been paying attention in class, Professor, even if we don't look like it. At least, he has," Makoto said, waving her hand in Ron's general direction.
"You mean you transfigured these?" McGonagall asked. She sounded relatively amazed, considering she was Professor McGonagall-the-impassive, and the Transfigurations expert.
"Uh . . . yes, actually," Ron muttered. "See, this pitcher used to be her hat, and the cups had been two of my 'Frog Cards."
"Where did the pumpkin juice come from?" Dumbledore asked, eyes shining with amusement.
"Erm . . . snow, actually," Makoto grinned. "I remembered a spell that Harry had used to make his broom come, so I did that to make the snow come . . . "
There was complete silence throughout the entire room, which lasted until Sirius shook himself out of his stupor and rushed forward. He grabbed both Makoto and Ron in a hug as the rest of the group looked on in various states of amusement and relief.
"You -- you little . . ." Sirius began, not knowing what else to say. He finally rolled his eyes heaven ward in exasperation and said very sternly, "Don't ever worry me like that again!"
"But . . . Sirius-chichi . . . " Makoto said, a goofy grin winding its way onto her lips, "that's half the fun of being a parent. You get to be paranoid and I get to keep you that way."
Some snickers answered her statement, mostly from the twins and Lee Jordan. As soon as Sirius moved away from the two teens, however, all noise stopped and Harry, Fred, and George immediately rushed at their younger siblings. Once again Makoto and Ron found themselves smothered in hugs, something that neither were really used to.
"Ouch!" said Ron shortly after, "What'd y' have to go and hit ME for?"
"Ickle Ronniekins was a bad boy, trying to make us worry. Wouldn't you say, Fred?"
"I'm inclined to agree with you, George ol' boy. I'm afraid we'll have to dole out punishment in place of our dear mother."
"Hmmm. Yes, I'd say so," said the other as he scratched his chin thoughtfully.
"Ahem," Dumbledore said, eyes twinkling. "Perhaps it can be worked out at a later time? I would like you all to come with me to the Great Hall. I'll not have anyone else in here to get trapped. The Gryffindors will have to sleep somewhere else until we can find the Fat Lady, I'm afraid."
He was met with a chorus of moans and grumbles, but the Gryffindors and Professors all obediently followed the Headmaster out of the Common Room and down to the Great Hall. Rei, Ami, Hotaru, and those few students from the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw houses were already down in the hall, waiting impatiently for their lunch. Makoto could see Malfoy and his pawns Crabbe and Goyle sulking in the nearest corner of their table, obviously not pleased at having to wait for their sworn enemy house.
"It's just like the Gryffindors, too," Malfoy sneered as they walked passed the table, "to make us wait for their royal selves."
Crabbe and Goyle made sounds of agreement. Ron and Harry looked at each other and rolled their eyes, Makoto and Hermione snickered, and the others carried on their own conversations and pretended that nothing had been said at all. Other than a sharp glare from McGonagall, no indication was made to show that the snide remark had even been heard. The Gryffindor students took their seats and the professors made their way to the Head Table. Dumbledore remained standing and some of the more impatient students groaned slightly, knowing there was more waiting in store.
"A few announcements before we begin lunch," the Headmaster said, sounding cheerful as ever. "First, Mr. Filch would like to remind students that the corridors are not the Great Hall or the Potions classroom. As such, you must not eat, drink, or make potions in them. Second, it would appear that the Fat Lady who guards the entrance to the Gryffindor Common Room has been stolen. If this is a practical joke, it is not very funny and we ask that the painting kindly be restored to its rightful place as quickly as possible. Until it is returned or a suitable replacement is found, the students will be arranged as follows for the rest of the break. Mr. Potter, Mssrs. Weasley's, Mr. Jordan, Thomas, and Finnigan will please report to the Hufflepuff Common Room. Misses Potter, Granger, Tomoe, mister Longbottom and Creevey will please make their way to the Ravenclaw Common Room. Your things will be arranged for you in an empty dorm room. And now . . . let's eat."
As the Headmaster sat down, the empty serving plates suddenly burst forth with food. Around the newly seated Gryffindors the other students sighed in relief, leaving Makoto wondering exactly how long they'd been waiting for them. She looked up to the Head Table and saw the professors eating gratefully and she wondered how long they had been working to get her and Ron out. Then she noticed something strange.
"Oi, 'Nii-chan . . . why isn't Snape there?"
Harry looked up, startled, and did a quick sweep of the Head Table with his eyes. Ron and Hermione, who had overheard them, did the same.
"Huh. What do you know, he really *isn't* there. I wonder why . . . " Ron looked thoughtful before turning back to his food. "Oh well, he'll show up."
"Yeah, since when have any professors ever missed a meal?" Harry grinned, "Don't worry, Jillie. I'm sure that he's just gone to the loo, he'll be back."
Hermione didn't look at sure as the boys but didn't say anything more. Makoto just shrugged and looked back down at her plate. She began pushing the food around, lost in her own thoughts. Nothing made sense to her anymore. First her bracelet started up, going cold and glowing red, suits of armor crashed at rather convenient times, then the paintings went missing, and she and Ron got stuck in their own Common Room.
And what is there to say for it? Nothing! There's no explanation, so I've got no way of knowing *why* this is happening, which doesn't make me happy! Makoto thought angrily.
To make matters worse, the wheels were turning in her head, but nothing was clicking. There was something she felt she should know . something important . if only she could remember what it was. Suddenly she stood up from the table.
The book!
Ron, Harry and Hermione looked at her in surprise, and even some of the other students glanced in her direction before going back to their own conversations.
"Jillie?" Harry asked. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine. I just remembered that I left something at the library," Makoto explained quickly. She was already making her way towards the Great Hall doors.
"Aren't you going to eat?" called Hermione.
"I'm not hungry!" Makoto called back, and the Hall disappeared behind her.
Slytherins are known for a few things: they are cunning, enjoy power, have no problems with cheating to get that power, and, when they put their mind to it, very few people can match them for stealth. Draco Malfoy was no exception to any of the Syltherin rules. When he didn't want someone to see him, he went unseen. And that was how he escaped from the Great Hall, and no one noticed he was gone until he was sitting back at his table.
Makoto sighed quietly, annoyed. His footsteps were still there; he'd been following her all the way from the Great Hall. She knew just by the self-confident and proud way his shoes tapped on the floor. She slowed down enough to encourage him to speak, but didn't stop. No sense in encouraging a fight, not right now. She didn't have the time.
"Potter. Stop," he said, speaking at last.
She stopped finally and sighed again, out loud. "I'm not in the mood to fight you, Malfoy."
"Neither am I. That's not why I'm here, though. You seemed sort of . . . out of it, back there. I thought . . . I figure maybe you're not so bad."
"Should I take that as a compliment?"
"Take it as you like."
"Why are you here, Malfoy?"
The pale haired boy paused as if he, for once, hadn't planned his attack in advance. Makoto took the liberty of turning around to look him in the eyes, and nearly gasped. Malfoy's eyes, usually icy cold and stunningly haughty, weren't so horrible to look at. He looked almost sympathetic to her cause, if such a word existed in his vocabulary. The blonde shrugged in that infuriatingly casual way of his and smirked.
"Like I said, you don't seem so bad. If you need help . . . "
"Is that an offer?"
"Do you want it to be?"
Makoto was unsure as to whether she should laugh or be stunned, so she settled for a look of stunned amusement. After all, what was Malfoy do offering his help to his sworn enemy? Okay, so maybe "sworn enemy" was a bit dramatic, but the Potters and the Malfoys did *not* get along. At least, Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy did not get along. Maybe there was some hope for Jillian Potter to bridge that gap with her Kino Makoto charm. She turned her lips into a small smile, just enough to look friendly.
"Thanks, Malfoy, I think," she said. She waved in the direction of the Great Hall. "You'd, ah . . . you'd better get back before someone comes looking for you. Wouldn't want to be seen being nice, now, would you?"
"No, I'm afraid that wouldn't do at all," Malfoy agreed. He seemed as if he meant it. "Don't tell anyone about my offer, Potter. Not even your diary. Or else . . . "
"Yeah, yeah. Blimey Malfoy, but you can be an insufferable git. I suppose that's part of your charm or something. Right, then I'm off. Wouldn't want to be seen talking to you civilly or anything," with a clipped nod, Makoto turned her back on the pale haired boy and walked away.
Malfoy watched her, she could feel his eyes on her back, then suddenly turned and walked back into the Great Hall. His footsteps were lost in the noise the students made.
* * *
"Can I help you, dear?" asked Madam Pince. She made a quick note to herself in her large book of records and smiled kindly down at Makoto.
She was definitely surprised to see a student other than Hermione in the library on a holiday, but it pleased her to no end. She always made a point of being especially nice to those few but she would deny it to her dying day if someone accused her of playing favorites. And she wasn't, really; she just felt that she could afford to let loose her Strict- Librarian mask at times.
"Um . . . " Makoto started. "Yes, please. I'm looking for a book by a man named Upton. I think his first name was Cassell. It was a book about jewelry and its uses in the wizarding world."
Madam Pince nodded once and turned to her record book, her eyes quickly scanning to see if the book had been borrowed. It hadn't been.
"It should be where you found it last. Two isles to your left, dear, I'll wager on one of the bottom shelves. You're welcome to stay here for as long as you like."
Makoto sketched a quick bow, a habit she hadn't quite broken even after all this time at Hogwarts. She could usually catch herself and stop it, but her mind wasn't on whether or not she was bowing. It was on that book.
"Thank you very much."
"You're welcome."
Makoto walked as fast as she dared under the librarian's watchful eye two isles to her left and disappeared in the rows of books. The librarian paused, wondering if one of the professors had assigned a project, but turned back to her own work.
"Where are you, Upton?" Makoto hissed.
She stooped low, looking for the U authors, and quickly realized that he wasn't there. There were some books on the table in between rows, which she looked through, and it wasn't there, either. Annoyed, she glared at her bracelet and held it up.
"I've half a mind to take you off and leave you here," Makoto warned. "Show me where the book is if you don't want that to happen, because this is all your fault."
The bracelet remained a piece of jewelry. It didn't go cold, and she didn't see any books falling off the shelves like she thought the bracelet had made the suit of armor do when she had been about to get a detention from Filch. It didn't explain the paintings being stolen or why it went cold, but at least it was something. Makoto slumped on the large window seat and held the bracelet over her head so she could examine it again.
"Are you . . . you are, aren't you? The bracelet in the book; the one that belonged to Gryffindor," she asked it. Everything started clicking into place, comparing her memory of what the book had described to what the bracelet had done. "Yes! You are, I know you are!"
She jumped up from the seat, startled by the sound of a large book falling to the floor. It was Upton's magical jewelry book. Makoto pounced on it and scuttled to Madam Pince, checking it out with a stern warning from the librarian to be careful with, and walked as quickly as she dared through the halls to the Gryffindor Common room. Small trunks littered floor, packed by the House Elves she assumed, and she rushed through them to find hers. Tossing the book inside it Makoto caught a glimpse of her watch. Lunch was nearly over. Eyes widening, she ran for the Great Hall and noted only when she reached the doors that she hadn't been seen by Filch.
"Maybe you are good for something," Makoto muttered, preparing to enter the Hall.
"Potter. Running in the halls?" asked a dangerously soft voice.
Makoto inwardly groaned. "Then again, maybe not," she hissed, turning to face her Potions professor. "Professor Snape. Yes, I was. I forgot something at the library and -- "
"Are you wearing any jewelry?"
"Jewelry, professor?"
"Don't play stupid, Potter," Snape sneered. "It's a simple enough question, though I suppose you might not be able to grasp the concept. Now answer me, are you wearing any jewelry?"
Makoto winced slightly. She never did take insults to her intelligence well, especially since no one really understood her situation. Most assumed she was stupid because of her late acceptance, which brought up memories of her parents' deaths that she would rather leave forgotten. More importantly now, however, was the question of why did Snape *care* if she had jewelry or not?
"Well, I don't see why it's important, but yes. I have a bracelet."
"Let me see it."
Makoto held up her hand obediently. The lion headed bracelet glittered with the reflected light of the torches in their holders. She held her breath anxiously, Snape always unnerved her and his new intensity towards her bracelet did not calm her any. But she was amazed to see Snape's own eyes widen, although nearly imperceptibly, and quickly dart around the hall as though someone might be watching them. He jerked away from the Great Hall tugging at her arm to make sure she followed him.
"This way."
"But Professor, I haven't done anything -- "
"This way, Potter. Five points from Gryffindor for speaking to a professor like that. Keep quiet."
Makoto resisted the urge to pull away and run from the Potions professor. She winced as a particularly hard tug sent a sharp pang up the length of her arm. She picked up her pace to keep up with Snape so he wouldn't have the chance to dislocate her already abused arm. This action seemed to make the professor move faster until they were nearly both running. They made it to his office in the dungeons in record time. Makoto found herself being pushed in the dark office and watched Snape look around suspiciously before closing the door. A few sharply muttered words sent the torches and fireplace blazing into action.
"Sit," he said, pointing to an overstuffed chair. He waited for Makoto to sit before moving to stoop directly in front of her. "Potter, you must listen to me and I need you to be completely honest. You know what that bracelet is."
Makoto nodded. "The Bracelet of Gryffindor."
"Then you know what it can do," it wasn't a question. "And you must understand that he is after it."
"'He'?"
"The one who killed your parents; all of them. The one who is trying to kill you and your brother."
Makoto placed her hand over her scar, gasping slightly. Snape nodded curtly and pulled back his sleeve, revealing a faint black mark that looked like a skull with a serpent for a tongue. She remembered Harry and Ron mentioning something like that during one of their stories, and knew that it was evil . . . but what was it?
"The Dark Mark, Voldemort's sign. Last year was the Triwizard Tournament. I assume your brother told you all about his triumphs. Did he tell you *everything*?"
"You mean what happened when he and Cedric made it to the trophy? Yes. He told me Voldemort used his blood and a rat-tail's hand to bring himself back to power. He said he saw a shadow of our mum and dad because the two wands were locked together, or something. And the Mr. Crouch's son posed as a DADA professor and fed Voldemort the information. But -- "
"No questions right now. You know what the bracelet can do, and you know whom it belonged to. You know that there have been paintings and other things about the castle disappearing. They all have one thing in common: they either have jewelry or could possibly hide it. Do you understand?"
"Yeah, but . . . " Makoto's eyes grew impossibly wide. A cold fear had taken over her body and her scar was burning. "D'you mean Voldemort has been taking the paintings? How would you know? You're one of his followers, aren't you! You helped kill my mum and dad, didn't you!"
" . . . I was, but no more," Snape's voice grew increasingly colder. "That's all you need to know. As for your accusations, you would do well to think before making them. You know no more of my life than I know of yours; therefore I would thank you to not judge me. Now listen to me, girl. Take caution. I'll not be picking up your pieces. He's back."
The sound of a thud sent Snape shooting up from his crouched position, instantly alert. Neither saw anything, but neither relaxed because of that knowledge.
"Go back to the Hall. Lunch will end soon."
"Yes sir."
Collin watched with wide eyes as Jillian Potter scuffled quickly out of Professor Snape's office. She looked around the corridor before running in the direction of the Great Hall, as the Potions master had instructed. He thanked whatever deity was watching him that the shadows concealed him and that he knew how to quiet his breathing. Doubly thanked that same deity when Snape came swooping out less than two minutes after her. He went in the opposite direction without a backward glance. The boy slumped against the wall in relief.
"Imagine . . . the Bracelet of Gryffindor, and it now belongs to Jillian," he mused. He didn't know what it was, but knew it sounded very important.
Collin had heard everything that had been said in that office and would have heard more if he hadn't tripped over a loose floor stone. He silently cursed himself for tripping, but resolved to follow Jillian as exclusively as possible. He started off in the direction that Jillian had gone in, stopping only when he remember to quickly check his camera for film.
~Owari, chapter 10~
At long last, the damn chapter is done! There will most likely only be two or three more chapters after this, so the action is becoming more and more a part of the chapters. Hopefully it's also becoming more interesting.
Chapter Ten - Puzzle Pieces Fit
"Jillian, Ron? Are you all right?" asked the voices of each person as they filed through, "Ron? Jillian?"
"How's the weather out there?"
"Yeah, what took you so long?"
All movement stopped short in the Common Room from the leaders of the line, which lead to a domino effect that ended up with Neville and Seamus falling to the floor. Makoto and Ron were sitting on the Common Room floor, calmly playing a game of Exploding Snap in front of the merrily roaring fire. Next to them were a fairly plain pitcher, filled with pumpkin juice, and two paper cups. McGonagall stepped forward cautiously to inspect them, and stared down at the two teens.
"Where did you get these?"
Makoto and Ron blushed slightly as they set their cards down and turned to look at their rescuers.
"Well . . . we have been paying attention in class, Professor, even if we don't look like it. At least, he has," Makoto said, waving her hand in Ron's general direction.
"You mean you transfigured these?" McGonagall asked. She sounded relatively amazed, considering she was Professor McGonagall-the-impassive, and the Transfigurations expert.
"Uh . . . yes, actually," Ron muttered. "See, this pitcher used to be her hat, and the cups had been two of my 'Frog Cards."
"Where did the pumpkin juice come from?" Dumbledore asked, eyes shining with amusement.
"Erm . . . snow, actually," Makoto grinned. "I remembered a spell that Harry had used to make his broom come, so I did that to make the snow come . . . "
There was complete silence throughout the entire room, which lasted until Sirius shook himself out of his stupor and rushed forward. He grabbed both Makoto and Ron in a hug as the rest of the group looked on in various states of amusement and relief.
"You -- you little . . ." Sirius began, not knowing what else to say. He finally rolled his eyes heaven ward in exasperation and said very sternly, "Don't ever worry me like that again!"
"But . . . Sirius-chichi . . . " Makoto said, a goofy grin winding its way onto her lips, "that's half the fun of being a parent. You get to be paranoid and I get to keep you that way."
Some snickers answered her statement, mostly from the twins and Lee Jordan. As soon as Sirius moved away from the two teens, however, all noise stopped and Harry, Fred, and George immediately rushed at their younger siblings. Once again Makoto and Ron found themselves smothered in hugs, something that neither were really used to.
"Ouch!" said Ron shortly after, "What'd y' have to go and hit ME for?"
"Ickle Ronniekins was a bad boy, trying to make us worry. Wouldn't you say, Fred?"
"I'm inclined to agree with you, George ol' boy. I'm afraid we'll have to dole out punishment in place of our dear mother."
"Hmmm. Yes, I'd say so," said the other as he scratched his chin thoughtfully.
"Ahem," Dumbledore said, eyes twinkling. "Perhaps it can be worked out at a later time? I would like you all to come with me to the Great Hall. I'll not have anyone else in here to get trapped. The Gryffindors will have to sleep somewhere else until we can find the Fat Lady, I'm afraid."
He was met with a chorus of moans and grumbles, but the Gryffindors and Professors all obediently followed the Headmaster out of the Common Room and down to the Great Hall. Rei, Ami, Hotaru, and those few students from the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw houses were already down in the hall, waiting impatiently for their lunch. Makoto could see Malfoy and his pawns Crabbe and Goyle sulking in the nearest corner of their table, obviously not pleased at having to wait for their sworn enemy house.
"It's just like the Gryffindors, too," Malfoy sneered as they walked passed the table, "to make us wait for their royal selves."
Crabbe and Goyle made sounds of agreement. Ron and Harry looked at each other and rolled their eyes, Makoto and Hermione snickered, and the others carried on their own conversations and pretended that nothing had been said at all. Other than a sharp glare from McGonagall, no indication was made to show that the snide remark had even been heard. The Gryffindor students took their seats and the professors made their way to the Head Table. Dumbledore remained standing and some of the more impatient students groaned slightly, knowing there was more waiting in store.
"A few announcements before we begin lunch," the Headmaster said, sounding cheerful as ever. "First, Mr. Filch would like to remind students that the corridors are not the Great Hall or the Potions classroom. As such, you must not eat, drink, or make potions in them. Second, it would appear that the Fat Lady who guards the entrance to the Gryffindor Common Room has been stolen. If this is a practical joke, it is not very funny and we ask that the painting kindly be restored to its rightful place as quickly as possible. Until it is returned or a suitable replacement is found, the students will be arranged as follows for the rest of the break. Mr. Potter, Mssrs. Weasley's, Mr. Jordan, Thomas, and Finnigan will please report to the Hufflepuff Common Room. Misses Potter, Granger, Tomoe, mister Longbottom and Creevey will please make their way to the Ravenclaw Common Room. Your things will be arranged for you in an empty dorm room. And now . . . let's eat."
As the Headmaster sat down, the empty serving plates suddenly burst forth with food. Around the newly seated Gryffindors the other students sighed in relief, leaving Makoto wondering exactly how long they'd been waiting for them. She looked up to the Head Table and saw the professors eating gratefully and she wondered how long they had been working to get her and Ron out. Then she noticed something strange.
"Oi, 'Nii-chan . . . why isn't Snape there?"
Harry looked up, startled, and did a quick sweep of the Head Table with his eyes. Ron and Hermione, who had overheard them, did the same.
"Huh. What do you know, he really *isn't* there. I wonder why . . . " Ron looked thoughtful before turning back to his food. "Oh well, he'll show up."
"Yeah, since when have any professors ever missed a meal?" Harry grinned, "Don't worry, Jillie. I'm sure that he's just gone to the loo, he'll be back."
Hermione didn't look at sure as the boys but didn't say anything more. Makoto just shrugged and looked back down at her plate. She began pushing the food around, lost in her own thoughts. Nothing made sense to her anymore. First her bracelet started up, going cold and glowing red, suits of armor crashed at rather convenient times, then the paintings went missing, and she and Ron got stuck in their own Common Room.
And what is there to say for it? Nothing! There's no explanation, so I've got no way of knowing *why* this is happening, which doesn't make me happy! Makoto thought angrily.
To make matters worse, the wheels were turning in her head, but nothing was clicking. There was something she felt she should know . something important . if only she could remember what it was. Suddenly she stood up from the table.
The book!
Ron, Harry and Hermione looked at her in surprise, and even some of the other students glanced in her direction before going back to their own conversations.
"Jillie?" Harry asked. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine. I just remembered that I left something at the library," Makoto explained quickly. She was already making her way towards the Great Hall doors.
"Aren't you going to eat?" called Hermione.
"I'm not hungry!" Makoto called back, and the Hall disappeared behind her.
Slytherins are known for a few things: they are cunning, enjoy power, have no problems with cheating to get that power, and, when they put their mind to it, very few people can match them for stealth. Draco Malfoy was no exception to any of the Syltherin rules. When he didn't want someone to see him, he went unseen. And that was how he escaped from the Great Hall, and no one noticed he was gone until he was sitting back at his table.
Makoto sighed quietly, annoyed. His footsteps were still there; he'd been following her all the way from the Great Hall. She knew just by the self-confident and proud way his shoes tapped on the floor. She slowed down enough to encourage him to speak, but didn't stop. No sense in encouraging a fight, not right now. She didn't have the time.
"Potter. Stop," he said, speaking at last.
She stopped finally and sighed again, out loud. "I'm not in the mood to fight you, Malfoy."
"Neither am I. That's not why I'm here, though. You seemed sort of . . . out of it, back there. I thought . . . I figure maybe you're not so bad."
"Should I take that as a compliment?"
"Take it as you like."
"Why are you here, Malfoy?"
The pale haired boy paused as if he, for once, hadn't planned his attack in advance. Makoto took the liberty of turning around to look him in the eyes, and nearly gasped. Malfoy's eyes, usually icy cold and stunningly haughty, weren't so horrible to look at. He looked almost sympathetic to her cause, if such a word existed in his vocabulary. The blonde shrugged in that infuriatingly casual way of his and smirked.
"Like I said, you don't seem so bad. If you need help . . . "
"Is that an offer?"
"Do you want it to be?"
Makoto was unsure as to whether she should laugh or be stunned, so she settled for a look of stunned amusement. After all, what was Malfoy do offering his help to his sworn enemy? Okay, so maybe "sworn enemy" was a bit dramatic, but the Potters and the Malfoys did *not* get along. At least, Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy did not get along. Maybe there was some hope for Jillian Potter to bridge that gap with her Kino Makoto charm. She turned her lips into a small smile, just enough to look friendly.
"Thanks, Malfoy, I think," she said. She waved in the direction of the Great Hall. "You'd, ah . . . you'd better get back before someone comes looking for you. Wouldn't want to be seen being nice, now, would you?"
"No, I'm afraid that wouldn't do at all," Malfoy agreed. He seemed as if he meant it. "Don't tell anyone about my offer, Potter. Not even your diary. Or else . . . "
"Yeah, yeah. Blimey Malfoy, but you can be an insufferable git. I suppose that's part of your charm or something. Right, then I'm off. Wouldn't want to be seen talking to you civilly or anything," with a clipped nod, Makoto turned her back on the pale haired boy and walked away.
Malfoy watched her, she could feel his eyes on her back, then suddenly turned and walked back into the Great Hall. His footsteps were lost in the noise the students made.
* * *
"Can I help you, dear?" asked Madam Pince. She made a quick note to herself in her large book of records and smiled kindly down at Makoto.
She was definitely surprised to see a student other than Hermione in the library on a holiday, but it pleased her to no end. She always made a point of being especially nice to those few but she would deny it to her dying day if someone accused her of playing favorites. And she wasn't, really; she just felt that she could afford to let loose her Strict- Librarian mask at times.
"Um . . . " Makoto started. "Yes, please. I'm looking for a book by a man named Upton. I think his first name was Cassell. It was a book about jewelry and its uses in the wizarding world."
Madam Pince nodded once and turned to her record book, her eyes quickly scanning to see if the book had been borrowed. It hadn't been.
"It should be where you found it last. Two isles to your left, dear, I'll wager on one of the bottom shelves. You're welcome to stay here for as long as you like."
Makoto sketched a quick bow, a habit she hadn't quite broken even after all this time at Hogwarts. She could usually catch herself and stop it, but her mind wasn't on whether or not she was bowing. It was on that book.
"Thank you very much."
"You're welcome."
Makoto walked as fast as she dared under the librarian's watchful eye two isles to her left and disappeared in the rows of books. The librarian paused, wondering if one of the professors had assigned a project, but turned back to her own work.
"Where are you, Upton?" Makoto hissed.
She stooped low, looking for the U authors, and quickly realized that he wasn't there. There were some books on the table in between rows, which she looked through, and it wasn't there, either. Annoyed, she glared at her bracelet and held it up.
"I've half a mind to take you off and leave you here," Makoto warned. "Show me where the book is if you don't want that to happen, because this is all your fault."
The bracelet remained a piece of jewelry. It didn't go cold, and she didn't see any books falling off the shelves like she thought the bracelet had made the suit of armor do when she had been about to get a detention from Filch. It didn't explain the paintings being stolen or why it went cold, but at least it was something. Makoto slumped on the large window seat and held the bracelet over her head so she could examine it again.
"Are you . . . you are, aren't you? The bracelet in the book; the one that belonged to Gryffindor," she asked it. Everything started clicking into place, comparing her memory of what the book had described to what the bracelet had done. "Yes! You are, I know you are!"
She jumped up from the seat, startled by the sound of a large book falling to the floor. It was Upton's magical jewelry book. Makoto pounced on it and scuttled to Madam Pince, checking it out with a stern warning from the librarian to be careful with, and walked as quickly as she dared through the halls to the Gryffindor Common room. Small trunks littered floor, packed by the House Elves she assumed, and she rushed through them to find hers. Tossing the book inside it Makoto caught a glimpse of her watch. Lunch was nearly over. Eyes widening, she ran for the Great Hall and noted only when she reached the doors that she hadn't been seen by Filch.
"Maybe you are good for something," Makoto muttered, preparing to enter the Hall.
"Potter. Running in the halls?" asked a dangerously soft voice.
Makoto inwardly groaned. "Then again, maybe not," she hissed, turning to face her Potions professor. "Professor Snape. Yes, I was. I forgot something at the library and -- "
"Are you wearing any jewelry?"
"Jewelry, professor?"
"Don't play stupid, Potter," Snape sneered. "It's a simple enough question, though I suppose you might not be able to grasp the concept. Now answer me, are you wearing any jewelry?"
Makoto winced slightly. She never did take insults to her intelligence well, especially since no one really understood her situation. Most assumed she was stupid because of her late acceptance, which brought up memories of her parents' deaths that she would rather leave forgotten. More importantly now, however, was the question of why did Snape *care* if she had jewelry or not?
"Well, I don't see why it's important, but yes. I have a bracelet."
"Let me see it."
Makoto held up her hand obediently. The lion headed bracelet glittered with the reflected light of the torches in their holders. She held her breath anxiously, Snape always unnerved her and his new intensity towards her bracelet did not calm her any. But she was amazed to see Snape's own eyes widen, although nearly imperceptibly, and quickly dart around the hall as though someone might be watching them. He jerked away from the Great Hall tugging at her arm to make sure she followed him.
"This way."
"But Professor, I haven't done anything -- "
"This way, Potter. Five points from Gryffindor for speaking to a professor like that. Keep quiet."
Makoto resisted the urge to pull away and run from the Potions professor. She winced as a particularly hard tug sent a sharp pang up the length of her arm. She picked up her pace to keep up with Snape so he wouldn't have the chance to dislocate her already abused arm. This action seemed to make the professor move faster until they were nearly both running. They made it to his office in the dungeons in record time. Makoto found herself being pushed in the dark office and watched Snape look around suspiciously before closing the door. A few sharply muttered words sent the torches and fireplace blazing into action.
"Sit," he said, pointing to an overstuffed chair. He waited for Makoto to sit before moving to stoop directly in front of her. "Potter, you must listen to me and I need you to be completely honest. You know what that bracelet is."
Makoto nodded. "The Bracelet of Gryffindor."
"Then you know what it can do," it wasn't a question. "And you must understand that he is after it."
"'He'?"
"The one who killed your parents; all of them. The one who is trying to kill you and your brother."
Makoto placed her hand over her scar, gasping slightly. Snape nodded curtly and pulled back his sleeve, revealing a faint black mark that looked like a skull with a serpent for a tongue. She remembered Harry and Ron mentioning something like that during one of their stories, and knew that it was evil . . . but what was it?
"The Dark Mark, Voldemort's sign. Last year was the Triwizard Tournament. I assume your brother told you all about his triumphs. Did he tell you *everything*?"
"You mean what happened when he and Cedric made it to the trophy? Yes. He told me Voldemort used his blood and a rat-tail's hand to bring himself back to power. He said he saw a shadow of our mum and dad because the two wands were locked together, or something. And the Mr. Crouch's son posed as a DADA professor and fed Voldemort the information. But -- "
"No questions right now. You know what the bracelet can do, and you know whom it belonged to. You know that there have been paintings and other things about the castle disappearing. They all have one thing in common: they either have jewelry or could possibly hide it. Do you understand?"
"Yeah, but . . . " Makoto's eyes grew impossibly wide. A cold fear had taken over her body and her scar was burning. "D'you mean Voldemort has been taking the paintings? How would you know? You're one of his followers, aren't you! You helped kill my mum and dad, didn't you!"
" . . . I was, but no more," Snape's voice grew increasingly colder. "That's all you need to know. As for your accusations, you would do well to think before making them. You know no more of my life than I know of yours; therefore I would thank you to not judge me. Now listen to me, girl. Take caution. I'll not be picking up your pieces. He's back."
The sound of a thud sent Snape shooting up from his crouched position, instantly alert. Neither saw anything, but neither relaxed because of that knowledge.
"Go back to the Hall. Lunch will end soon."
"Yes sir."
Collin watched with wide eyes as Jillian Potter scuffled quickly out of Professor Snape's office. She looked around the corridor before running in the direction of the Great Hall, as the Potions master had instructed. He thanked whatever deity was watching him that the shadows concealed him and that he knew how to quiet his breathing. Doubly thanked that same deity when Snape came swooping out less than two minutes after her. He went in the opposite direction without a backward glance. The boy slumped against the wall in relief.
"Imagine . . . the Bracelet of Gryffindor, and it now belongs to Jillian," he mused. He didn't know what it was, but knew it sounded very important.
Collin had heard everything that had been said in that office and would have heard more if he hadn't tripped over a loose floor stone. He silently cursed himself for tripping, but resolved to follow Jillian as exclusively as possible. He started off in the direction that Jillian had gone in, stopping only when he remember to quickly check his camera for film.
~Owari, chapter 10~
At long last, the damn chapter is done! There will most likely only be two or three more chapters after this, so the action is becoming more and more a part of the chapters. Hopefully it's also becoming more interesting.