Sorry it's been so long. This chapter is fresh off the chopping block so enjoy. Oh, suggestions for next chap are encouraged.
SilentC: I've never seen anyone so devoted. You're my new best friend.
The sun laps against my face. It warms my body, soothes my mind, and re-energizes my soul. I open my eyes. I'm still in the common room, on the same couch as last night. Harry, Black, and the scruffy man are gone. The blanket I put on Ron and Hermoine is on me now. They must have gone down to breakfast.
Uneasily, I get up and head down to the Great Hall, the blanket wrapped around my shoulders. The doors are closed again. Typical, don't want any lepers in here. It takes my whole body weight to push it open. It's nearly empty. Oh, right, it's Saturday.
I stumble to the Gryffindor table and sink down next to Harry. Ron and Hermoine are sitting across from us, giving me strange looks. I brandish my fork in their direction and they continue eating.
"So," I move towards the toast. Cancer sure does give you an appetite. "What were Black and that other man doing in the common room last night?"
Harry looked at me like I'd actually shot him. "They're my friends and family!" he screamed at me, standing up. "Can't they just stop by for a visit?" He ran out of the Great Hall, pushing several students out of the way as he did so.
I turn back towards Ron and Hermoine, continuing to butter my toast. "They're here to replace me while I'm sick, aren't they?" I ask without looking up. I see the movement of their heads nod up and down. "Thought so. Poor boy, didn't want to hurt my feelings." I stick my toast in my mouth and run after him.
He was sitting on the steps of the Great Hall, just outside the door. It was brisk out, it was November after all. I went out and sat next to him, pulling the blanket tighter around my shoulders. We just sit for a while as I stumble to find the words, the feelings. "I know I'm new with this whole friendship thing," I begin, "but I'm pretty sure I'm entitled to the truth." Typical, always looking for the truth you silly girl.
He drops his head into his hands. I move closer to him and drop my head on top of his. "Oh come on," I prod him with my nose. "I'm not going to kill you. It's not like I'm going to go throw myself in the lake because someone else is here to help. Just think of it as, the more the merrier." I make his potential death sound like an outing with Robin Hood. I left my head just an inch off his.
Suddenly, he jerks his head up and smacks me square in the forehead. I fall back, clutching my skull. He holds the back of his head. We laugh at each other's faces and a secret compromise passes between us. We watch as Hagrid leads a pure white unicorn across the ground. Then, it wiggles free and runs full speed towards the forest. It nearly blinds us with its beauty.
I take a bite of my toast and look off in the opposite direction, towards Hogsmeade and the outside world. The sky is a clear aquamarine. A wisp of black smoke curls out from the distance. Then, as if shot from a canon, the Dark Mark rises in emerald green just to the right of the smoke.
My toast is dropped and I jump up to a standing position. "Harry, go into the common room now!" I scream at him. He looks to see what I see, then he runs off inside. "Take Ron and Hermoine with you! And warn the professors!" I yelled after him.
I jump down the stairs and run towards the gates.