A/N: Hello PPL! I noe I am updating after ages.yea? *ducks to avoid sledge
hammers thrown* SORRY SORRY . . . was extremely busy what with all the hw
we get . . .anyway, I shall not delay ur reading this chapter any longer!
So here's presenting, CHAPTER 11! *finally* Enjoy!
Chapter 11: For Better or for Worse?
Hermione lay still in bed, thinking about the events that had taken place in the past few days. Natasha was still unconscious . . . speaking of Natasha . . .
"Nina?" Hermione whispered through the darkness. "Nina, are you asleep yet?" No reply. "Nina!" Hermione called again. She wrenched the hangings apart and stared through the darkness at the bed beside her. The bed was still made.
* * *
Ron rolled over on his back." Why Nina?" he thought. "Why her? She wouldn't harm anyone . . . why is all this happening to her?"
He whispered to the figure on the bed beside his bed. "Harry! Are you awake?"
Grunt.
"Forget it," he thought . . .
* * *
"What??" Hermione thought. "She didn't come to bed and I didn't even notice? Where could she be? Should I tell Harry and Ron about this? Oh no . . . why didn't I keep a lookout for her?" Hermione moaned inwardly. After the attacks on Natasha, the whole of Gryffindor house had been extremely jittery. Nina had pleaded with Macgonagall to keep it from the rest of the school and Macgonagall had given in to her pleas. However, she had insisted on explaining it to everyone from Gryffindor house as it concerned them directly. Hermione had promised herself that she would watch out for Nina all the time. She had let herself down. Hermione stepped out of bed. She had made one mistake . . . she wasn't going to make anymore. She was going straight to Macgonagall. Just then, the door of the dormitory swung open.
* * *
Nina entered the dormitory and saw Hermione standing in the middle of the dormitory like a statue.
"Hermione! Haven't you slept?" Nina asked. She knew what was coming and she quickly thought of something to say . . .
* * *
"Where have you been, Nina?" Hermione asked, then hesitated. She did not want to sound too accusing. Nina did not seem to take it as an accusation. She merely gave a half smile and said calmly, "I had been to see Dumbledore about my relatives and my sister. He was just sorting out odds and ends . . ."
"Like?" Hermione questioned before she could stop herself. Nina thought for a split second before she whispered, "Like where I am going to live now?"
Hermione immediately regretted asking that question. She nodded and said, "So Dumbledore's back, huh? Anyway, we better get to bed before we wake the rest." However, as Hermione got into bed, she thought she saw Nina shove something silvery and shimmering into her trunk. "An invisibility cloak?" she thought to herself but was too sleepy to bring it up.
* * *
Harry woke up and saw that it was barely dawn. He sat up and wondered what had woken him up when he saw Hedwig clicking her beak impatiently. He grabbed his glasses and took the note from her. It was from Sirius.
"Ron!" he called. "Ron, Sirius has sent a note!" Ron clambered over, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. "Harry, can't you read it to me later?"
"Listen to this." Harry said, ignoring Ron's remarks.
"Dear Harry, Ron and Hermione,
How are you all? I heard about Natasha. Actually Harry, I don't know if you figured out, but Nina and Natasha were the two girls I was talking about in my last letter. I do hope they are both okay. I was there at the scene, comforting the two of them. They were in hysterics. I don't know whether Dumbledore has told you all yet . . . I think I will just leave it to him to tell you. Ok, I have to stop here but I will be in touch soon . . . probably sooner than you think! Love, Sirius."
Harry finished reading and looked at Ron. "What does he mean by 'I will just leave it to him to tell you.' Why should Dumbledore tell us that Nina and Natasha were in hysterics? And why is he saying that he's going to be in touch sooner than we think? What is he trying to do by dropping hints like this?" Harry said in exasperation. He ran his fingers through his hair and looked at the letter again. "It doesn't make any sense . . ."
* * *
Hermione rushed into the potions classroom seconds before the bell went. She scooted to where Harry was sitting, dropped a piece of folded parchment on his desk, whispered, "Put it in your pocket, Snape's coming!" and just managed to get to her seat and sit down when Snape came in, his greasy hair covering his face. He marched to his desk and looked around the class. His eyes fell on Harry and he stared at Harry with a look of extreme loathing on his face.
"Potter! Sit in front of my desk with Mr. Malfoy NOW!" he barked. Hermione saw Harry scowl, but she knew that he did not dare disobey Snape. She watched helplessly as he obediently moved his belongings to the desk beside Malfoy.
* * *
"Now," Snape continued, smiling unpleasantly. "This will be your seating arrangement for as long as you have me as your potions teacher." Harry stared at Snape. What did he think he was playing at? A few seats behind, he heard Ron exclaim. Snape smiled his unpleasant smile at Ron.
"Is there a problem Mr. Weasley?" Ron just glared. "I didn't think u would find any problem." Snape continued, still smiling. "Page 200 of your books, NOW!" he barked suddenly, making the class jump. Harry opened his book at page 200 and was waiting for further instructions when he heard Malfoy say, "So, you think that I don't know that you have been selected?"
"What exactly," Harry asked, "Is that supposed to mean?"
"You don't know yet Potter? My, my, my . . . I am surprised. I never thought Dumbledore would be so slow in informing you . . .actually, pretty interesting that Weasel and the Mudblood got chosen too isn't it?"
"Malfoy, if you don't want to tell me, just shut up!" Harry said in a low voice. Malfoy clamped his mouth shut, but wore an extremely satisfied expression on his face.
* * *
Ron and Harry were walking back to the Gryffindor common room after dinner. Harry was reading out Hermione's note in a whisper to Ron. As he finished, Ron looked up. "But Harry, why should she lie? It is true that Dumbledore has to arrange a place for her to live now . . ."
Harry interrupted, "Then how about the invisibility cloak?"
Ron immediately replied, "Look, it was late at night. Filch would probably have skinned her if he had seen her wandering around at night . . . she would need an invisibility cloak to get to Dumbledore's office . . . what's more, it might not have even been an invisibility cloak! Hermione was probably too sleepy to even have noticed properly . . ." They had reached the common room.
* * *
Harry stared at Ron. He was shocked at Ron's reaction. Why was he supporting Nina so much? Or was he? Unless . . .
Harry was visited by a strange but funny idea. Harry couldn't believe it, but it was the only explanation. Harry held back a snigger and scooted in through the portrait hole. He looked around and noticed Hermione and Nina sitting in a corner, giggling over something. "Girls . . ." he thought, with a dismal shake of his head. Instinctively, he looked at Ron. He was staring in the direction of . . .
* * *
"Nina!" Ron called. "Hermione!" The whole common room looked up to see who was calling and Ron went just a little red. Maybe he should have been a little not so loud . . .He noticed Hermione waving and waved back. He turned to his side to look at Harry, but Harry was lost in thought. "Oh well . . ." he thought to himself.
* * *
Nina was looked at Hermione. It was amazing how they had become such good friends. She was just going to say how cute Ron was when he turned red, when she noticed Neville beckoning to the both of them. She raised an eyebrow at Hermione and got up. They walked towards him and saw Harry and Ron heading in their direction too.
As they got to Neville, he whispered in his usual stammer, "Macgonagall just told me that she wants to see all four of you. Immediately. She seemed very stern, Harry . . . dunno what it's all about . . ." Nina looked at the three people standing around her. Here it comes, she thought. As they headed towards the portrait hole, she murmured to herself, "They have no clue what they are heading into . . ." She stepped through and just managed to catch a glimpse of Neville looking very ashen- faced, before the portrait closed over the entrance again.
What is going to happen to Harry and co.?
If Nina was not talking to Prof. Dumbledore, where was she that night? (you should know this . . .)
How is Harry going to survive potions from now on?
Will Ron find out that Harry is aware of his crush on Nina?
Find out in future chapters!
A/N: Soooo, how was it? I noe there wasn't much action in this chapter.a few mysteries, yea? I'm getting towards the end of my story.there are only about 4-5 chapters left.Pls do R&R, I will be very grateful! THANKS!! Cheerz, nutti(((
Chapter 11: For Better or for Worse?
Hermione lay still in bed, thinking about the events that had taken place in the past few days. Natasha was still unconscious . . . speaking of Natasha . . .
"Nina?" Hermione whispered through the darkness. "Nina, are you asleep yet?" No reply. "Nina!" Hermione called again. She wrenched the hangings apart and stared through the darkness at the bed beside her. The bed was still made.
* * *
Ron rolled over on his back." Why Nina?" he thought. "Why her? She wouldn't harm anyone . . . why is all this happening to her?"
He whispered to the figure on the bed beside his bed. "Harry! Are you awake?"
Grunt.
"Forget it," he thought . . .
* * *
"What??" Hermione thought. "She didn't come to bed and I didn't even notice? Where could she be? Should I tell Harry and Ron about this? Oh no . . . why didn't I keep a lookout for her?" Hermione moaned inwardly. After the attacks on Natasha, the whole of Gryffindor house had been extremely jittery. Nina had pleaded with Macgonagall to keep it from the rest of the school and Macgonagall had given in to her pleas. However, she had insisted on explaining it to everyone from Gryffindor house as it concerned them directly. Hermione had promised herself that she would watch out for Nina all the time. She had let herself down. Hermione stepped out of bed. She had made one mistake . . . she wasn't going to make anymore. She was going straight to Macgonagall. Just then, the door of the dormitory swung open.
* * *
Nina entered the dormitory and saw Hermione standing in the middle of the dormitory like a statue.
"Hermione! Haven't you slept?" Nina asked. She knew what was coming and she quickly thought of something to say . . .
* * *
"Where have you been, Nina?" Hermione asked, then hesitated. She did not want to sound too accusing. Nina did not seem to take it as an accusation. She merely gave a half smile and said calmly, "I had been to see Dumbledore about my relatives and my sister. He was just sorting out odds and ends . . ."
"Like?" Hermione questioned before she could stop herself. Nina thought for a split second before she whispered, "Like where I am going to live now?"
Hermione immediately regretted asking that question. She nodded and said, "So Dumbledore's back, huh? Anyway, we better get to bed before we wake the rest." However, as Hermione got into bed, she thought she saw Nina shove something silvery and shimmering into her trunk. "An invisibility cloak?" she thought to herself but was too sleepy to bring it up.
* * *
Harry woke up and saw that it was barely dawn. He sat up and wondered what had woken him up when he saw Hedwig clicking her beak impatiently. He grabbed his glasses and took the note from her. It was from Sirius.
"Ron!" he called. "Ron, Sirius has sent a note!" Ron clambered over, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. "Harry, can't you read it to me later?"
"Listen to this." Harry said, ignoring Ron's remarks.
"Dear Harry, Ron and Hermione,
How are you all? I heard about Natasha. Actually Harry, I don't know if you figured out, but Nina and Natasha were the two girls I was talking about in my last letter. I do hope they are both okay. I was there at the scene, comforting the two of them. They were in hysterics. I don't know whether Dumbledore has told you all yet . . . I think I will just leave it to him to tell you. Ok, I have to stop here but I will be in touch soon . . . probably sooner than you think! Love, Sirius."
Harry finished reading and looked at Ron. "What does he mean by 'I will just leave it to him to tell you.' Why should Dumbledore tell us that Nina and Natasha were in hysterics? And why is he saying that he's going to be in touch sooner than we think? What is he trying to do by dropping hints like this?" Harry said in exasperation. He ran his fingers through his hair and looked at the letter again. "It doesn't make any sense . . ."
* * *
Hermione rushed into the potions classroom seconds before the bell went. She scooted to where Harry was sitting, dropped a piece of folded parchment on his desk, whispered, "Put it in your pocket, Snape's coming!" and just managed to get to her seat and sit down when Snape came in, his greasy hair covering his face. He marched to his desk and looked around the class. His eyes fell on Harry and he stared at Harry with a look of extreme loathing on his face.
"Potter! Sit in front of my desk with Mr. Malfoy NOW!" he barked. Hermione saw Harry scowl, but she knew that he did not dare disobey Snape. She watched helplessly as he obediently moved his belongings to the desk beside Malfoy.
* * *
"Now," Snape continued, smiling unpleasantly. "This will be your seating arrangement for as long as you have me as your potions teacher." Harry stared at Snape. What did he think he was playing at? A few seats behind, he heard Ron exclaim. Snape smiled his unpleasant smile at Ron.
"Is there a problem Mr. Weasley?" Ron just glared. "I didn't think u would find any problem." Snape continued, still smiling. "Page 200 of your books, NOW!" he barked suddenly, making the class jump. Harry opened his book at page 200 and was waiting for further instructions when he heard Malfoy say, "So, you think that I don't know that you have been selected?"
"What exactly," Harry asked, "Is that supposed to mean?"
"You don't know yet Potter? My, my, my . . . I am surprised. I never thought Dumbledore would be so slow in informing you . . .actually, pretty interesting that Weasel and the Mudblood got chosen too isn't it?"
"Malfoy, if you don't want to tell me, just shut up!" Harry said in a low voice. Malfoy clamped his mouth shut, but wore an extremely satisfied expression on his face.
* * *
Ron and Harry were walking back to the Gryffindor common room after dinner. Harry was reading out Hermione's note in a whisper to Ron. As he finished, Ron looked up. "But Harry, why should she lie? It is true that Dumbledore has to arrange a place for her to live now . . ."
Harry interrupted, "Then how about the invisibility cloak?"
Ron immediately replied, "Look, it was late at night. Filch would probably have skinned her if he had seen her wandering around at night . . . she would need an invisibility cloak to get to Dumbledore's office . . . what's more, it might not have even been an invisibility cloak! Hermione was probably too sleepy to even have noticed properly . . ." They had reached the common room.
* * *
Harry stared at Ron. He was shocked at Ron's reaction. Why was he supporting Nina so much? Or was he? Unless . . .
Harry was visited by a strange but funny idea. Harry couldn't believe it, but it was the only explanation. Harry held back a snigger and scooted in through the portrait hole. He looked around and noticed Hermione and Nina sitting in a corner, giggling over something. "Girls . . ." he thought, with a dismal shake of his head. Instinctively, he looked at Ron. He was staring in the direction of . . .
* * *
"Nina!" Ron called. "Hermione!" The whole common room looked up to see who was calling and Ron went just a little red. Maybe he should have been a little not so loud . . .He noticed Hermione waving and waved back. He turned to his side to look at Harry, but Harry was lost in thought. "Oh well . . ." he thought to himself.
* * *
Nina was looked at Hermione. It was amazing how they had become such good friends. She was just going to say how cute Ron was when he turned red, when she noticed Neville beckoning to the both of them. She raised an eyebrow at Hermione and got up. They walked towards him and saw Harry and Ron heading in their direction too.
As they got to Neville, he whispered in his usual stammer, "Macgonagall just told me that she wants to see all four of you. Immediately. She seemed very stern, Harry . . . dunno what it's all about . . ." Nina looked at the three people standing around her. Here it comes, she thought. As they headed towards the portrait hole, she murmured to herself, "They have no clue what they are heading into . . ." She stepped through and just managed to catch a glimpse of Neville looking very ashen- faced, before the portrait closed over the entrance again.
What is going to happen to Harry and co.?
If Nina was not talking to Prof. Dumbledore, where was she that night? (you should know this . . .)
How is Harry going to survive potions from now on?
Will Ron find out that Harry is aware of his crush on Nina?
Find out in future chapters!
A/N: Soooo, how was it? I noe there wasn't much action in this chapter.a few mysteries, yea? I'm getting towards the end of my story.there are only about 4-5 chapters left.Pls do R&R, I will be very grateful! THANKS!! Cheerz, nutti(((