Chapter 8: Emotions from the past evoked
" That was one disastrous lesson!" Ron exclaimed as he exited the Potions classroom with Harry and Hermione. As he looked over at his friends for a response, he suddenly realized that what he said was not very appropriate. Snape had given Harry detention for being rude to him. "Well," Ron thought silently, " It wasn't really Harry's fault." Harry had come to Nina's defence when Snape commented angrily about her long-term absence. Snape had jumped at this opportunity to give him detention. " How like him!" Ron thought to himself.
* * *
Harry looked down at his shoes. Why did Snape have to pick on him? He had only come to Nina's defence. Pickling humbugs in Snape's dungeon wasn't a very inviting idea, even with all his friends around. Now he had to endure two hours of that very dungeon all alone.
He suddenly stopped dead in his tracks. They were face to face with Malfoy, the last person he wished to see then. Behind him stood his huge companions, Crabbe and Goyle, sniggering goofily.
"Oh boys . . . look who is here . . . it's little Holland's boyfriend . . . how's it going Potter? Oh wait . . . you don't know where she is, do you?" Malfoy scorned. Crabbe and Goyle sniggered uncontrollably. Harry stared at the three of them with a burning feeling in his stomach. His eyes were filled with longing, raging anger and steely determination . . . sound familiar?
"MALFOY, SHUT IT " was all he managed to say. He was so angry that he couldn't get himself to open his mouth. He was afraid something unwanted might come out of it. Still glaring at the three, Harry went obediently with Ron and Hermione towards the Gryffindor common room.
* * *
Hermione pulled Harry and signaled to Ron to do the same. Harry left obediently with them, although he was still glaring at the three laughing figures behind. Suddenly, Ron stopped.
" What is it, Ron?" Hermione asked.
" I forgot my quill in the dungeon! Back there with Snape!" Ron moaned. Hermione sighed. Harry was still glaring straight ahead. "Go get your quill. Harry and I shall head back to the common room first. That is ok with you, right Harry?" Hermione questioned. Silence. Taking that as a yes, Hermione waved to Ron and pulled Harry towards the portrait of the Fat Lady.
"Password?" The Fat Lady asked.
" Wimblebimble" Hermione replied and the portrait swung forward to admit them. As they stepped in through the portrait hole, what they saw made them stop dead.
* * *
" Hi guys!!" Nina exclaimed.
" Nina!" Hermione squealed and ran forward to give her a hug. Nina choked and coughed. " Wow Hermione, you choked me with that hug . . ." she panted. As they broke apart, Nina noticed Harry standing a few feet away. She waved to him. "Come on over, Harry! Why are you still standing there?"
* * *
Harry couldn't believe his eyes. She was back . . . she was actually back . . .in spite of himself, he smiled. Hesitantly, he moved forward. Nina was smiling but behind that smile he could see the worry and sadness that was in her mind. Not to mention the longing, raging anger and steely determination . . .
Harry unstuck his tongue and asked, "When did you return, Nina?" He was only half listening, as Nina told the two how she returned during potions but decided not to go for class, as she was scared that Snape would give her detention for coming in late. She said that she thought staying in the common room was better as Snape did not know that she was back. Harry could see that Hermione did not approve of this, firstly as Nina was skipping lessons and also, as it was because of Nina's absence that Harry got detention. If Nina had come for potions, Snape would not have commented about her absence and Harry would not have talked back. He could have escaped detention . . . Harry shook his head. It wasn't Nina's fault.
* * *
Nina looked at Hermione, then at Harry. She could sense that something was wrong. "Anything up?" she asked as casually as she could. Harry simply shook his head. The sound of someone entering the common room made her look up. It was . . . Ron.
Nina stared at the floor. Then recovering quickly, she looked up at Ron and smiled, awaiting his reaction.
" Nina! Is it really you? Where had you gone? What happened?" Ron's curiosity made her laugh.
"Chill out, Ron! It is me!" Nina shook her head, got up and leaned against the armchair. "I came back during potions, but decided not to came for lesson as I was too scared that Snape would give me detention for coming in late. There was no way of him knowing that I was already back . . ."
Ron nodded in acknowledgement. "So why did you disappear without an explanation? Are you ready to tell us about your past now?" he asked, after casting a nervous glance at Harry. Nina hesitated, glanced at each of them briefly, then started.
"It all started when I was very young. Both my parents were aurors. It was the time when Voldemort's power was at its peak. One day, my parents, who were members of the . . .er, I mean . . . they were called in for a meeting."
* * *
"Members of the . . .?" Harry mumbled. Nina did not seem to hear.
"They left me and my sister in the care of one of my wizarding relatives- my mother's sister. That night was the last time we ever saw them. The next morning, my parents' death was all over the Daily Prophet. Voldemort had murdered them. The day on which the wizarding world was informed of our parents' death was also the day on which you brought about Voldemort's downfall, Harry."
Harry looked at her in silence. He was not sure of what he was hearing. Nina had a sister??? Nina continued.
"As my sister and I were very young, we didn't understand much, except for the fact that we would never see our parents again. My wizarding relatives took us in. I was barely one or so. My sister was a newborn baby. It put a lot of pressure on my relatives, but they never complained. Then last year, he returned . . . Voldemort returned . . .and because . . . I mean . . . for some reason or the other . . . he considered me a threat and tried to finish me off. However, I escaped him as I was at my grandmother's house for the holidays with my sister. My grandmother and my other relatives who lived there were all muggles. He went to my house seeking me and in doing so, he murdered everyone else there. It was only after that that he found out I was not there. Dumbledore contacted me and told me what had happened. My sister and I had no choice but to continue living with my muggle relatives.
They knew we were witches, but they accepted us into their family. They were very nice to us. However, soon after we returned to school this year, Voldemort sent the Death Eaters to finish off our only family. In this way he would make me vulnerable to his attacks. The reason why my sister and I went away from school is because Dumbledore suspected that my muggle relatives were in grave danger. He wanted us to be with them at once. Unfortunately, we were too late." Nina ended.
No one had come into the common throughout the time she told her story as it was a Friday and everyone was relaxing outside since they had the whole weekend to do their homework. Because of this, the silence was even more pronounced than ever. Nobody was looking at each other and the silence was not only a stunned silence, it was also an awkward silence. Harry was thinking about Sirius's letter. Muggle killings . . . two girls left orphaned . . . Sirius was talking about Nina and her sister . . . this was what had been tugging at his brain for the past few days . . .
"You never told us that you have a sister," Harry broke the silence.
"I do. Her name's Natasha. She . . . is here . . . in Hogwarts . . . she's a fourth year student." Nina said slowly, focusing her eyes on the ground.
"I hate Voldemort . . . more than ever . . ." Harry said suddenly.
* * *
Nina stared at Harry. " I really want to tell him but how can I speak to him privately?" she thought silently. She suddenly caught sight of Ron and felt herself going red, not knowing why. She looked down then looked up again only to ponder on the matter yet again. "I wish I could tell all of them . . . but, oh well . . ." Noticing that Hermione was staring at her, she quickly looked at her shoes again.
Is there something mysterious about Nina's past? Is there something she's trying to hide?
What does Nina want to tell but does not? Or is it cannot?
Nina goes red at the sight of . . . who???
Read on and find out . . . pls R&R thanx a lot!
" That was one disastrous lesson!" Ron exclaimed as he exited the Potions classroom with Harry and Hermione. As he looked over at his friends for a response, he suddenly realized that what he said was not very appropriate. Snape had given Harry detention for being rude to him. "Well," Ron thought silently, " It wasn't really Harry's fault." Harry had come to Nina's defence when Snape commented angrily about her long-term absence. Snape had jumped at this opportunity to give him detention. " How like him!" Ron thought to himself.
* * *
Harry looked down at his shoes. Why did Snape have to pick on him? He had only come to Nina's defence. Pickling humbugs in Snape's dungeon wasn't a very inviting idea, even with all his friends around. Now he had to endure two hours of that very dungeon all alone.
He suddenly stopped dead in his tracks. They were face to face with Malfoy, the last person he wished to see then. Behind him stood his huge companions, Crabbe and Goyle, sniggering goofily.
"Oh boys . . . look who is here . . . it's little Holland's boyfriend . . . how's it going Potter? Oh wait . . . you don't know where she is, do you?" Malfoy scorned. Crabbe and Goyle sniggered uncontrollably. Harry stared at the three of them with a burning feeling in his stomach. His eyes were filled with longing, raging anger and steely determination . . . sound familiar?
"MALFOY, SHUT IT " was all he managed to say. He was so angry that he couldn't get himself to open his mouth. He was afraid something unwanted might come out of it. Still glaring at the three, Harry went obediently with Ron and Hermione towards the Gryffindor common room.
* * *
Hermione pulled Harry and signaled to Ron to do the same. Harry left obediently with them, although he was still glaring at the three laughing figures behind. Suddenly, Ron stopped.
" What is it, Ron?" Hermione asked.
" I forgot my quill in the dungeon! Back there with Snape!" Ron moaned. Hermione sighed. Harry was still glaring straight ahead. "Go get your quill. Harry and I shall head back to the common room first. That is ok with you, right Harry?" Hermione questioned. Silence. Taking that as a yes, Hermione waved to Ron and pulled Harry towards the portrait of the Fat Lady.
"Password?" The Fat Lady asked.
" Wimblebimble" Hermione replied and the portrait swung forward to admit them. As they stepped in through the portrait hole, what they saw made them stop dead.
* * *
" Hi guys!!" Nina exclaimed.
" Nina!" Hermione squealed and ran forward to give her a hug. Nina choked and coughed. " Wow Hermione, you choked me with that hug . . ." she panted. As they broke apart, Nina noticed Harry standing a few feet away. She waved to him. "Come on over, Harry! Why are you still standing there?"
* * *
Harry couldn't believe his eyes. She was back . . . she was actually back . . .in spite of himself, he smiled. Hesitantly, he moved forward. Nina was smiling but behind that smile he could see the worry and sadness that was in her mind. Not to mention the longing, raging anger and steely determination . . .
Harry unstuck his tongue and asked, "When did you return, Nina?" He was only half listening, as Nina told the two how she returned during potions but decided not to go for class, as she was scared that Snape would give her detention for coming in late. She said that she thought staying in the common room was better as Snape did not know that she was back. Harry could see that Hermione did not approve of this, firstly as Nina was skipping lessons and also, as it was because of Nina's absence that Harry got detention. If Nina had come for potions, Snape would not have commented about her absence and Harry would not have talked back. He could have escaped detention . . . Harry shook his head. It wasn't Nina's fault.
* * *
Nina looked at Hermione, then at Harry. She could sense that something was wrong. "Anything up?" she asked as casually as she could. Harry simply shook his head. The sound of someone entering the common room made her look up. It was . . . Ron.
Nina stared at the floor. Then recovering quickly, she looked up at Ron and smiled, awaiting his reaction.
" Nina! Is it really you? Where had you gone? What happened?" Ron's curiosity made her laugh.
"Chill out, Ron! It is me!" Nina shook her head, got up and leaned against the armchair. "I came back during potions, but decided not to came for lesson as I was too scared that Snape would give me detention for coming in late. There was no way of him knowing that I was already back . . ."
Ron nodded in acknowledgement. "So why did you disappear without an explanation? Are you ready to tell us about your past now?" he asked, after casting a nervous glance at Harry. Nina hesitated, glanced at each of them briefly, then started.
"It all started when I was very young. Both my parents were aurors. It was the time when Voldemort's power was at its peak. One day, my parents, who were members of the . . .er, I mean . . . they were called in for a meeting."
* * *
"Members of the . . .?" Harry mumbled. Nina did not seem to hear.
"They left me and my sister in the care of one of my wizarding relatives- my mother's sister. That night was the last time we ever saw them. The next morning, my parents' death was all over the Daily Prophet. Voldemort had murdered them. The day on which the wizarding world was informed of our parents' death was also the day on which you brought about Voldemort's downfall, Harry."
Harry looked at her in silence. He was not sure of what he was hearing. Nina had a sister??? Nina continued.
"As my sister and I were very young, we didn't understand much, except for the fact that we would never see our parents again. My wizarding relatives took us in. I was barely one or so. My sister was a newborn baby. It put a lot of pressure on my relatives, but they never complained. Then last year, he returned . . . Voldemort returned . . .and because . . . I mean . . . for some reason or the other . . . he considered me a threat and tried to finish me off. However, I escaped him as I was at my grandmother's house for the holidays with my sister. My grandmother and my other relatives who lived there were all muggles. He went to my house seeking me and in doing so, he murdered everyone else there. It was only after that that he found out I was not there. Dumbledore contacted me and told me what had happened. My sister and I had no choice but to continue living with my muggle relatives.
They knew we were witches, but they accepted us into their family. They were very nice to us. However, soon after we returned to school this year, Voldemort sent the Death Eaters to finish off our only family. In this way he would make me vulnerable to his attacks. The reason why my sister and I went away from school is because Dumbledore suspected that my muggle relatives were in grave danger. He wanted us to be with them at once. Unfortunately, we were too late." Nina ended.
No one had come into the common throughout the time she told her story as it was a Friday and everyone was relaxing outside since they had the whole weekend to do their homework. Because of this, the silence was even more pronounced than ever. Nobody was looking at each other and the silence was not only a stunned silence, it was also an awkward silence. Harry was thinking about Sirius's letter. Muggle killings . . . two girls left orphaned . . . Sirius was talking about Nina and her sister . . . this was what had been tugging at his brain for the past few days . . .
"You never told us that you have a sister," Harry broke the silence.
"I do. Her name's Natasha. She . . . is here . . . in Hogwarts . . . she's a fourth year student." Nina said slowly, focusing her eyes on the ground.
"I hate Voldemort . . . more than ever . . ." Harry said suddenly.
* * *
Nina stared at Harry. " I really want to tell him but how can I speak to him privately?" she thought silently. She suddenly caught sight of Ron and felt herself going red, not knowing why. She looked down then looked up again only to ponder on the matter yet again. "I wish I could tell all of them . . . but, oh well . . ." Noticing that Hermione was staring at her, she quickly looked at her shoes again.
Is there something mysterious about Nina's past? Is there something she's trying to hide?
What does Nina want to tell but does not? Or is it cannot?
Nina goes red at the sight of . . . who???
Read on and find out . . . pls R&R thanx a lot!