DISCLAIMER: I own nothing.
A/N: Anybody care to review? Really? Please? I want to know if you hate Kana or if you hate the whole thing or if you like it or if you love and you want some more of it.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
In the dungeoN
The new Dark Arts classroom was in the depths of Hogwarts, even further underground than Snape's office. Harry made his way cautiously down the stairs. He could hear someone following him. He suspected it was Malfoy or one of his goons. No one else in their right mind would be taking the new class.
Harry checked his watch. It couldn't have been too much farther or else he'd be late for class. Maybe he'd passed it. He slowed, avoiding a puddle of some dark goo dripping from the ceiling above. No, he was sure it was a little farther. He'd been given a map, and he seemed to be on track. If only he'd brought the Marauder's Map, then he'd know where he was for sure. But then there was always the chance that someone would discover it.
"Augh!"
He heard the footsteps behind him come to a halt, the screeching of shoes, and something hitting the floor. Harry quickly doubled back to find Neville, lying on his back in the puddle that Harry had avoided earlier.
"Are you all right?" Harry asked. He held out a hand for Neville to grip and helped him to his feet.
"Just fine, thanks," Neville replied, rubbing his backside.
"What are you doing down here?"
Neville raised an eyebrow. "I'm… I'm going to class, of course. Don't tell me you're lost. I thought for sure you'd be able to follow the map to the Dark Arts classroom."
"Oh, yeah," Harry said. He ran his fingers through his hair. "I didn't realize that you were planning to study the Dark Arts. Everyone said that you were studying Herbology."
Neville frowned. "I know Herbology is the only thing I'm good at, but I just…" His voice trailed off. "I just want to do something else. I want to make a difference." He stared at the floor. "I want to make sure that nobody else's parents end up like mine."
Harry didn't know what to say. He'd never heard Neville speak of his mother or father before. He didn't even think that Neville knew he was aware of their condition. He cleared his throat. "I feel the same way Neville. I don't want any one else's parents to end up like mine, either."
Neville looked up at Harry and the two of them shared a smile. Harry never realized how similar the two of them were. Neville had changed so much from the chubby, clumsy first-year who could never keep track of his toad. He had filled out a little, but still looked like a little boy when he smiled.
"C'mon," Harry said. "I think it's only a little further. We're going to be late."
He picked up the pace as he and Neville turned the corner and found the dark corridor leading to the new classroom. The dungeon door was made of moldy wood. In fact, as Harry entered the class, he realized that the entire room smelled of mold and mildew. He crinkled his nose.
The room itself was nearly empty. There was a teacher's desk and chalkboard at the front of the room. There were no posters or paintings or pictures on the walls. There were only eight individual desks lined up. Perhaps there was no partner pairing in this class. Harry found a seat in the middle of the back row. Neville sat next to him, on the end.
"Saint Potter, what are you doing here?"
Harry spun around. Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, and Kana were standing the doorway. Harry's heart pounded in his chest at the sight of Kana. How could she get caught up in this entire mess? How could she be studying the Dark Arts? Did she even know what they were?
"And Longbottom, are you lost?" Malfoy laughed. "You do know that this is the Dark Arts class."
"Shove it, Malfoy," Harry said.
"Oh come on Potter, I can see the fear in your eyes already. And Longbottom will probably wet his pants. You don't really expect to survive this class, do you?"
"I survived Voldemort, didn't I?" Harry replied. He glared at Malfoy. "Just sit down and shut up. I think you've said enough for today."
Malfoy cursed under his breath, and then sat down at the desk next to him. There weren't very many more places to choose from. Harry was not looking forward to being in such close company with Malfoy.
But things did start to look up when Kana sat down in front of Malfoy.
Harry was so close to her he could smell the scent of cocoanut on her dark skin. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a messy bun and a few small ringlets were touching the back of her neck. Harry resisted the urge to pull on one and watch it spring back. He wanted to talk with her – to hear her voice – but he didn't know what to say. And Malfoy was very territorial about everything. If it was general knowledge that Kana was now his…
Harry shuttered at the thought.
If only she could remember him. If only she'd never been given that memory charm. If only the charm hadn't worked. Of course, then there would be no guarantee that she would have lived. It was better that she was alive with no memory than be dead and only a memory.
Harry tried to control himself. His blood was boiling inside him from the argument with Malfoy, and it also seemed to be rushing to a part of his body where he didn't want anyone to notice. He took a deep breath, then blew it out.
He heard footsteps out in the corridor, and another person walked into the classroom. Everyone turned to look.
"Hannah!" Neville exclaimed.
Hannah Abbott of the Hufflepuff house grinned at Neville, then sat down in the seat in front of him. The two of them chatted nervously. Harry was glad that Neville would have another friend in the class. His greatest strength was in his faith of his friends.
Then Harry heard the distinct clicking of high heeled shoes. He turned around just as Pansy Parkinson made her way into the dungeon classroom. She saw Malfoy before he saw her, and took the time to straighten her skirt and fluff her hair a little. He didn't notice, however, because Malfoy was engaged in a deep conversation about quidditch with Kana.
"You!" Pansy shouted. "What the hell are you doing here?" She stretched out an index finger and pointed it at Kana. She practically took the words out of Harry's mouth.
Kana whirled around in her seat, looking very confused. "I… I'm sorry?"
Pansy marched over to Kana's desk, and Harry was fearful that she was going to whip out her wand and curse Kana on the spot.
"I think I've had enough of you and all of your games," Pansy cried. "I won't stand for you to spread anymore lies about me. I'm sick and tired of watching you smother Draco with your affections and flirt endlessly with him."
Harry stomach twisted into a knot. Had Kana really been affectionate with him?
"He is my boyfriend, and I will not let you just move in and take him away from me." She slammed both of her fists down onto Kana's desk, the sound echoing through the dungeon. Hannah and Neville quickly stopped their chatting.
"But I wasn't…" Kana started.
"I am not your boyfriend anymore, Pansy," Malfoy said with a heavy sigh. "How many times do we have to have this conversation? We are over."
"We are not over," Pansy replied, "until I say we are."
"You are making a complete fool of yourself," Malfoy announced.
"I don't care," Pansy snapped. "I will do everything in my power to make a complete fool out of you." She glared at Kana. "You… you liar."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Kana replied. "Please, Pansy, I didn't…"
"Shut up you evil, gossiping, deceitful bitch!"
Harry gripped his wand inside his robe. He felt almost as confused as Kana looked, but he refused to believe that anything Pansy was saying was true.
"Pansy…"
"I said shut up!" Pansy interrupted. "I don't know who the hell you think you are, just waltzing into Slytherin thinking you can get away with all of your lies."
"What lies?" Malfoy questioned. He gestured to Crabbe and Goyle. "They've confirmed it."
Pansy's face turned many different shades of red. "It's not true. I would never – Draco, you've got to believe me. This is all her doing!"
"Makana has nothing to do with your… promiscuity." Malfoy sneered. "So just sit down before you humiliate yourself any further."
"This is not over," Pansy whispered, taking the desk in front of Harry and next to Kana. "I will pay you back for this. I will have my revenge."
"But Pansy, I don't know what you're talking about. I didn't say anything."
Pansy shoved a hand in Kana's face, silencing her.
Harry frowned. This was going to be some class. With only eight of them, they would be working very closely together with very harmful magic. At least he would be there to protect Kana. He turned to Neville, who actually did look quite close to wetting himself.
And it looked like Harry was there to protect him, too.