Chapter Ten: Voldemort's Plot with a Touch of Pain
When Oscie walked into the Gryffindor common room that night at midnight she found her three friends sitting up talking. They turned to watch her come in and when she sat down she noticed the serious looks on their faces.
"What's wrong?" Oscie asked.
"I just had a vision of Voldemort last night that I was telling them about," Harry replied. "And I know what you're thinking. I didn't do the Occlumency since I was asleep when it happened. I don't think he knew I was there though." "What happened in it?" Oscie questioned.
"There was Lucius Malfoy there and he was talking to Voldemort and Voldemort was saying that he thought all his relatives were dead and Malfoy said it wasn't true and that there was one living at Hogwarts. Then Voldemort got angry and said he wanted the person dead. I woke up and I don't know what else happened," Harry replied. Oscie felt the little color that she had to her skin leave her face.
"What's the matter?" Ron asked, grabbing Oscie's arm to steady her.
"I.I don't feel well is all," she said with a smile to reassure them but it was obvious to the friends that there was more to it.
"Well how was your sister's wedding?" questioned Hermione, changing the subject to try and help Oscie out some. The subject change didn't help her at all and she began to cry into her hands like she had at the café. "Oscie, are you sure you're alright?"
"Yes, it's just that I tripped and on the bottom of her robes that were covered in gold embroidery was a skull with a serpent coming out of the mouth like a tongue! You all know what that means and I just can't take it. She's a Death Eater!" Oscie sobbed. Hermione put her arm around her and helped her to stop crying.
"Did you know anyone else at the wedding?" Ron asked.
"No, but Mr. Nott listed off a few of the guests to me. The Averys, Macnairs, Goyles, and that's all I can remember."
"They were all at the graveyard with Nott," Harry stated. "All are Death Eaters."
"Well if I ever wanted to take out the lot of them I had my chance but I blew it. I should have just blown the building to smithereens," Oscie commented.
"How was it at your sister's house?" Hermione questioned. Oscie sighed heavily and resigned herself to tell her friends the truth. She had been planning to after the fact anyway and this was as good of an opportunity as ever.
"Oscie! You should have told us you were going!" Hermione exclaimed. She was pacing up and down the common room and Oscie was sitting there rubbing the ring that was on her finger.
"At least we know that Lucius was trying to do something to someone. We do have proof of that," Ron stated.
"What proof? The word of a student at Hogwarts against a family like the Malfoys? Do you really think that'll stand up for long?" Hermione yelled. She was very worked up over the whole thing.
"Look, Hermione, I didn't get hurt and I'm sitting here in front of you. I've been surrounded by Death Eaters for the past two days and I've lived to talk about it! I know I should have told you guys about it but you would have told me not to go and that wouldn't have gotten me anywhere. Plus, Lucius' background check on me." Oscie paused. She had left out one part of her family tree when relaying the story.
"What is it?" Harry prompted. Oscie looked at them uneasily.
"Well." Oscie breathed hard and then quickly finished the sentence, "he found out I'm related to Voldemort." There was silence and nobody spoke for at least a minute. Hermione had stopped pacing and was just staring at her. Oscie got up and turned her back to them with her arms crossed.
"He's my dad's cousin," Oscie added. Then a wave of panic crossed her. "You.you don't think he'll try to kill my dad, do you?"
"He said he's only after the one at Hogwarts," Harry replied. Relief washed over Oscie and she didn't even seem to care that she might be killed, at least the family that she had left was safe.
"Don't look relieved! You're still a target!" Hermione exclaimed. She was definitely going ballistic over the situation with the combined trip to the Malfoys and then the news that two of her friends are main targets of Voldemort.
"I've been a target all six years here and I'm still fine," Harry commented.
"That doesn't mean Oscie will stay that way!" Hermione yelled, turning on Harry.
Oscie looked at her watch and then smiled, "Happy Christmas!"
"What?" Hermione exclaimed, thoroughly annoyed with her.
"It's past midnight so Happy Christmas!" she replied. The two boys returned the salutation but Hermione just stared at Oscie in disbelief. "Oh, Hermione, don't worry about it. It's Christmas and we should all be happy!"
"You're right, we should. But in times like these that doesn't always work out. You're always joking about serious situations and can't understand the full impact of all that's going on!" Hermione snapped. Oscie's smile faded and her eyes and ring turned jet black.
"If you truly think I don't understand what's going on then you have another thing coming. Do you think I enjoy having this stuff go wrong or that I think it's all a joke?" Oscie said in a contorted voice that was straining to keep from rising to a yell. "I laugh and joke to keep my sanity. If I didn't smile to the outside then all the pain that is in here would be exposed and what good is a pile of sobbing robes? So don't lecture me on taking situations seriously!"
With those words Oscie turned away from the three and went up to her dormitory. She climbed into bed and realized when she put her hands over her face that her ring was still black, meaning her eyes were as well. After a while she heard the door open and Hermione get into bed but long past that Oscie was wide awake and when morning dawned her eyes were still open staring at the ceiling but unfocused.
Both girls got out of bed without a word and found a pile of gifts at the end of their beds. Oscie picked up her gifts and went down to the common room to open them and wait for Ron and Harry and much to her dismay Hermione followed her, doing the same thing.
"Happy Christmas!" Ron yelled cheerfully as he came running down the stairs with a few presents and Harry followed at his heels. The girls replied merrily to his greeting and they sat together on the couches to open their gifts.
Oscie got a few posters of her favorite quidditch team from Ron, a few boxes of candy from Harry, a journal from Hermione that would show no writing unless you did a spell on it, and an odd looking black leather- bound book that didn't say who it was from. When she touched it she felt as though her fingers were on fire and checked to make sure they weren't. Quickly she opened the book and found written on the first page, 'Sisters should stand together. Join with us or meet your end.' The book then burst into flames on her lap and she threw it across the room.
"What was that?" Ron inquired, staring at the burning book on the stone floor.
"It was Maggie telling me to be a Death Eater," Oscie replied nonchalantly and leaving out the part about her own death and avoiding eye contact with Hermione.
Ron and Harry had both received sweaters from Ron's mom and both had candy and books lying around them on the couch. Hermione had given them both a quill that would holler and squeal if they didn't do their homework while Oscie gave them potions that would help them concentrate, which both seemed very excited about. Ron and Harry had given Hermione some candy and a book about magical objects. Oscie had given her a few hair products to help stop her hair from frizzing and a potion that she said was for studying but was really to help loosen up.
Oscie realized that her parents hadn't bothered with her to send a letter or a package or even and 'I owe you'. Lupin had even sent her something; it was a book of potions and he even sent along a few ingredients that Oscie had never owned before. She had sent him some wolfsbane potion and a new leather briefcase with his initials engraved on it since she remembered seeing his was in taters over the summer.
The three Gryffindors went down to breakfast while Oscie went up to the owlry to send a thank you to her uncle and to tell him about Maggie. As she was going up an owl swooped down and landed on the stair in front of her, holding a bright red letter in his beak. Oscie cringed and then picked up the note and opened it. Immediately the winding staircase was echoing with the loud, cruel voice, "Stay away from him or you'll pay!" The voice was unmistakably Lucius Malfoy's and Oscie sighed as the howler turned into a ball of fire. She stepped over it and continued to the owlry where she wrote her note.
Moony,
Happy Christmas! I absolutely love the book and ingredients! I've never owned eyelashes from a sphinx before or the blood of a barbegazi. I went to my sister's wedding and found out she's a Death Eater. I don't think I've ever felt more miserable on Christmas. I'd say more but I know I can't. Stay safe. Love, Me
The rest of the winter break at Hogwarts went by slowly and uneventfully. The Daily Prophet never had anything in the paper about what Mr. Malfoy had yelled about in his house. Only just recently had Hermione and Oscie begun talking to one another again but they weren't on best friend terms as they had been. All the students had once again returned to Hogwarts and classes had begun. However, life couldn't get worse for Oscie since with the news out that she and Draco were a couple all the Gryffindors wouldn't have anything to do with her and the Slytherins taunted her in the halls. Draco didn't appear to have the same trouble and the Slytherins didn't dare to insult him.
"If I hear one more person say anything even slightly offense I swear I will curse and hex them until they're unrecognizable!" Oscie said through clenched teeth as the friends walked into potions. Draco was already seated in the class and with a sigh Oscie went and sat next to him, ignoring the sneers from the Slytherins and the looks of disgust from the Gryffindors.
"If any of the Slytherins end up in the hospital wing with a mixture of hexes it will be me who will have done it," Oscie seethed. Draco raised his eyebrows.
"You should have been in Slytherin," he drawled.
"Class!" Snape said in his slick voice. "Turn to page 377 and make the potion. It will be due at the end of the period. Miss Whitmore, will you come see me in my office." With that he turned and went into the room adjacent to the classroom. Oscie followed him and when she had entered he shut the door behind her.
"Yes professor?"
"I know about Lupin and where you stayed this summer and how confidential all that you heard and saw is," he said in a low voice. "You do realize who you're.involved with, don't you?"
"I know his father is a Death Eater, if that's what you mean by it," Oscie replied. She knew Snape was working for The Order no matter how shocking it seemed.
"Then you know that your life is at stake?" She nodded. "Well don't think I'm trying to save your life because I'm not. I'm simply concerned about the welfare of the members who could suffer from this involvement of yours."
"I wouldn't sell out those who I'm loyal to," Oscie replied, slightly appalled at the implication that she would do that to her friends. Snape glared at her but even though he was trying to look angry and menacing there was a glint in his eyes that seemed to hold concern. "Why did you really want me in Slytherin?"
"Slytherins are known for their potion making skills," Snape replied. "And I knew about your sister's preference before you did and I also know about your distant relative Lord Voldemort."
She weighted the evidence for a moment and then admitted, "I guess the odds are kind of in favor of Slytherin. It doesn't really matter though since I'm not in a house and all the Gryffindors hate me and the Slytherins abominate me."
"And Lucius Malfoy loathes you," Snape added. Oscie shrugged and nodded her head. "Yet Draco doesn't seem to mind his father's opinion although he respects his father greatly. Seems quite dubious." The look that crossed Snape's face for a moment seemed to be a warning and yet Oscie was unsure if she had really seen it or if it was a figment of her imagination. "Now, please return to your potion and make it properly this time."
"Oh you know I always do," Oscie said with a grin and left before she could get into trouble. Snape followed her into the classroom and when she turned around to see if he was going to say anything about her comment she noticed he had a slight smile on his lips.
Oscie was walking alone to the library one evening to study when she heard the sound of footsteps behind her. She stopped to listen and the noise stopped as well. There was nobody else in sight and so she decided to ignore what she thought she heard and continue along to the library. As she neared the end of the hall she heard two girls talking and stopped at the mention of her name to listen in.
"You know I really don't get Oscie," Lavender stated. "Draco Malfoy? When she first got here I thought she'd be competition for the best guys. I mean a lot of them think she's pretty."
"The weirdest part is that she could have Walt Frost. I heard he liked her last semester and she did nothing about it except ignore him and chase Draco," Parvati replied. "I used to think she fit in with us just fine but now I can't stand the sight of her."
Oscie had heard enough and turned the corner to find the two girls standing there with wide-eyes at the sight of her and the immediately became quiet.
"You know, I wouldn't talk so loud if I were you," Oscie said with a sneer and pointing her wand at them. "It's one thing to dislike someone and another to talk about them. I swore I would hex the next person I heard say anything condescending about me but you're in luck. I don't have the energy to produce the curses I want to use!"
Lavender and Parvati hurried out of sight without uttering a word and Oscie continued to the library in a little bit of a better mood. She spotted Hermione at a table and decided to join her and apologize for the lack of communication when a sharp pain in her chest stopped her in place. It felt as though someone had poured thick oil into her heart and it was being pumped to the rest of her body at a painfully slow rate. The pain was like nothing she had ever experienced and it caught her off guard. She fell to her knees, clutching her chest with her hands. The room began to go black as though the oil in her veins had covered over her eyes as well and she fell to the ground. A few people were talking around her but she couldn't make out their words nor did she care to. The only thing she was truly conscious of was the excruciating pain. Then it stopped. As suddenly as it had begun, it went away leaving her gasping for breath and weak. The room came back to focus and she noticed a few faces above her; Hermione, Madam Pince, Walt Frost, and Ginny.
"Are you alright?" Madam Pince asked frantically as Oscie sat up.
She managed a feeble smile, "You wouldn't believe me if I told you it was just the treacle fudge, would you?" Hermione smiled recognizing she was back to herself and Walt looked confused.
"We best get you to Madam Pomfrey," Madam Pince said. Oscie shook her head as she got to her feet although she wobbled slightly and Walt helped support her.
"I'm really fine. Just a little woozy from the fall," Oscie replied. "I don't need to go to the hospital wing. I'm fine, really!" Madam Pince seemed unfazed.
"Hermione, would you please take her?" she questioned.
"Oh of course," Hermione replied, taking Oscie by the arm and leading her out of the library protesting. "Shush!" Hermione hissed. "We don't have to go to the hospital wing."
"I like the way you think," Oscie replied with a grin as Hermione and she darted into the nearest empty classroom to talk. Peeves the Poltergeist was in there however playing with the papers on the teacher's desk.
"Peeves, would you mind! We need to talk and you're disturbing us," Hermione said in a commanding tone yet well aware that he wouldn't listen. He floated over to the two girls.
"Itsy bitsy buck-tooth Granger," Peeves sang and then cackled. "And teeny weenie whacky Whitmore!" He pelted the two with pencils before he shot out of the classroom cackling and slammed the door behind him.
"If he had any sense about him what-so-ever." Hermione said more to herself than Oscie and let her voice die out. "So what happened back there? Your face was so twisted and your eyes.they were red!" Oscie hadn't realized the last part about her eyes and shook her head in confusion.
"I'm not sure what happened. I remember thinking I heard footsteps behind me on the way to the library but nobody was there. That probably doesn't mean anything since I'm not even sure if I heard anything but in the library.that was weird. I felt like my blood was thick and couldn't move properly. That was the worst pain I've ever felt in my entire life," Oscie closed her eyes as she remembered the experience.
"Whatever it means it can't be good," Hermione replied. "Maybe Voldemort is trying to kill you and someone was behind you."
"And what did they do? Shoot an invisible spell at me without speaking? I don't think that's it but who knows. Maybe Voldemort has come up with some magic of his own," Oscie remarked. Hermione looked thoroughly concerned and heaved a sigh.
The door to the room opened and both girls jumped since they had been immersed in their own thoughts. Walt Frost was in the doorway looking a little uncomfortable.
"I saw you in here and.well I thought you were going to the hospital wing," he said as he closed the door behind him.
"We took a slight detour," Oscie replied without her usual friendly tone.
"You should go there," he stated.
"For what? To be told there is nothing wrong with me? Because there really is nothing wrong or at least there isn't anymore," Oscie said coolly.
"She was just a little tired," Hermione offered but he didn't bite at that explanation.
"I may not be as smart as you, but I don't even buy that excuse," he said to Hermione who blushed slightly at being told she was intelligent. "Now why don't you want to go to the hospital wing? There is something wrong or else your eyes wouldn't have been red and you wouldn't have been on the ground."
Oscie sighed and looked at him almost pleadingly, "Because I needed to talk to Hermione and tell her what happened and if I went to the hospital wing Madam Pomfrey wouldn't be able to help explain what happened any more than you or Hermione or I could."
"Is there anyway I can help?" he questioned.
"Not unless you know of any spells or incantations or charms or anything that can be done without speaking and without emitting a burst of light," Hermione answered. Walt looked dumbfounded and Hermione shrugged. "We don't know of any either."
"Well if you'll excuse us we should be getting back to our dormitory," Oscie said. "No use in getting any more detentions if I can help it." She and Hermione left Walt in the room and headed for the common room.
When Hermione and Oscie walked into the common room they found Harry and Ron sitting at a table with books but Ron was staring intently at Harry and Harry was rubbing his scar.
"What happened?" questioned Hermione, who had already run over to the boys.
"My scar is just prickling," Harry replied.
"When did it begin hurting?" Oscie asked.
"About ten minutes ago."
When Oscie walked into the Gryffindor common room that night at midnight she found her three friends sitting up talking. They turned to watch her come in and when she sat down she noticed the serious looks on their faces.
"What's wrong?" Oscie asked.
"I just had a vision of Voldemort last night that I was telling them about," Harry replied. "And I know what you're thinking. I didn't do the Occlumency since I was asleep when it happened. I don't think he knew I was there though." "What happened in it?" Oscie questioned.
"There was Lucius Malfoy there and he was talking to Voldemort and Voldemort was saying that he thought all his relatives were dead and Malfoy said it wasn't true and that there was one living at Hogwarts. Then Voldemort got angry and said he wanted the person dead. I woke up and I don't know what else happened," Harry replied. Oscie felt the little color that she had to her skin leave her face.
"What's the matter?" Ron asked, grabbing Oscie's arm to steady her.
"I.I don't feel well is all," she said with a smile to reassure them but it was obvious to the friends that there was more to it.
"Well how was your sister's wedding?" questioned Hermione, changing the subject to try and help Oscie out some. The subject change didn't help her at all and she began to cry into her hands like she had at the café. "Oscie, are you sure you're alright?"
"Yes, it's just that I tripped and on the bottom of her robes that were covered in gold embroidery was a skull with a serpent coming out of the mouth like a tongue! You all know what that means and I just can't take it. She's a Death Eater!" Oscie sobbed. Hermione put her arm around her and helped her to stop crying.
"Did you know anyone else at the wedding?" Ron asked.
"No, but Mr. Nott listed off a few of the guests to me. The Averys, Macnairs, Goyles, and that's all I can remember."
"They were all at the graveyard with Nott," Harry stated. "All are Death Eaters."
"Well if I ever wanted to take out the lot of them I had my chance but I blew it. I should have just blown the building to smithereens," Oscie commented.
"How was it at your sister's house?" Hermione questioned. Oscie sighed heavily and resigned herself to tell her friends the truth. She had been planning to after the fact anyway and this was as good of an opportunity as ever.
"Oscie! You should have told us you were going!" Hermione exclaimed. She was pacing up and down the common room and Oscie was sitting there rubbing the ring that was on her finger.
"At least we know that Lucius was trying to do something to someone. We do have proof of that," Ron stated.
"What proof? The word of a student at Hogwarts against a family like the Malfoys? Do you really think that'll stand up for long?" Hermione yelled. She was very worked up over the whole thing.
"Look, Hermione, I didn't get hurt and I'm sitting here in front of you. I've been surrounded by Death Eaters for the past two days and I've lived to talk about it! I know I should have told you guys about it but you would have told me not to go and that wouldn't have gotten me anywhere. Plus, Lucius' background check on me." Oscie paused. She had left out one part of her family tree when relaying the story.
"What is it?" Harry prompted. Oscie looked at them uneasily.
"Well." Oscie breathed hard and then quickly finished the sentence, "he found out I'm related to Voldemort." There was silence and nobody spoke for at least a minute. Hermione had stopped pacing and was just staring at her. Oscie got up and turned her back to them with her arms crossed.
"He's my dad's cousin," Oscie added. Then a wave of panic crossed her. "You.you don't think he'll try to kill my dad, do you?"
"He said he's only after the one at Hogwarts," Harry replied. Relief washed over Oscie and she didn't even seem to care that she might be killed, at least the family that she had left was safe.
"Don't look relieved! You're still a target!" Hermione exclaimed. She was definitely going ballistic over the situation with the combined trip to the Malfoys and then the news that two of her friends are main targets of Voldemort.
"I've been a target all six years here and I'm still fine," Harry commented.
"That doesn't mean Oscie will stay that way!" Hermione yelled, turning on Harry.
Oscie looked at her watch and then smiled, "Happy Christmas!"
"What?" Hermione exclaimed, thoroughly annoyed with her.
"It's past midnight so Happy Christmas!" she replied. The two boys returned the salutation but Hermione just stared at Oscie in disbelief. "Oh, Hermione, don't worry about it. It's Christmas and we should all be happy!"
"You're right, we should. But in times like these that doesn't always work out. You're always joking about serious situations and can't understand the full impact of all that's going on!" Hermione snapped. Oscie's smile faded and her eyes and ring turned jet black.
"If you truly think I don't understand what's going on then you have another thing coming. Do you think I enjoy having this stuff go wrong or that I think it's all a joke?" Oscie said in a contorted voice that was straining to keep from rising to a yell. "I laugh and joke to keep my sanity. If I didn't smile to the outside then all the pain that is in here would be exposed and what good is a pile of sobbing robes? So don't lecture me on taking situations seriously!"
With those words Oscie turned away from the three and went up to her dormitory. She climbed into bed and realized when she put her hands over her face that her ring was still black, meaning her eyes were as well. After a while she heard the door open and Hermione get into bed but long past that Oscie was wide awake and when morning dawned her eyes were still open staring at the ceiling but unfocused.
Both girls got out of bed without a word and found a pile of gifts at the end of their beds. Oscie picked up her gifts and went down to the common room to open them and wait for Ron and Harry and much to her dismay Hermione followed her, doing the same thing.
"Happy Christmas!" Ron yelled cheerfully as he came running down the stairs with a few presents and Harry followed at his heels. The girls replied merrily to his greeting and they sat together on the couches to open their gifts.
Oscie got a few posters of her favorite quidditch team from Ron, a few boxes of candy from Harry, a journal from Hermione that would show no writing unless you did a spell on it, and an odd looking black leather- bound book that didn't say who it was from. When she touched it she felt as though her fingers were on fire and checked to make sure they weren't. Quickly she opened the book and found written on the first page, 'Sisters should stand together. Join with us or meet your end.' The book then burst into flames on her lap and she threw it across the room.
"What was that?" Ron inquired, staring at the burning book on the stone floor.
"It was Maggie telling me to be a Death Eater," Oscie replied nonchalantly and leaving out the part about her own death and avoiding eye contact with Hermione.
Ron and Harry had both received sweaters from Ron's mom and both had candy and books lying around them on the couch. Hermione had given them both a quill that would holler and squeal if they didn't do their homework while Oscie gave them potions that would help them concentrate, which both seemed very excited about. Ron and Harry had given Hermione some candy and a book about magical objects. Oscie had given her a few hair products to help stop her hair from frizzing and a potion that she said was for studying but was really to help loosen up.
Oscie realized that her parents hadn't bothered with her to send a letter or a package or even and 'I owe you'. Lupin had even sent her something; it was a book of potions and he even sent along a few ingredients that Oscie had never owned before. She had sent him some wolfsbane potion and a new leather briefcase with his initials engraved on it since she remembered seeing his was in taters over the summer.
The three Gryffindors went down to breakfast while Oscie went up to the owlry to send a thank you to her uncle and to tell him about Maggie. As she was going up an owl swooped down and landed on the stair in front of her, holding a bright red letter in his beak. Oscie cringed and then picked up the note and opened it. Immediately the winding staircase was echoing with the loud, cruel voice, "Stay away from him or you'll pay!" The voice was unmistakably Lucius Malfoy's and Oscie sighed as the howler turned into a ball of fire. She stepped over it and continued to the owlry where she wrote her note.
Moony,
Happy Christmas! I absolutely love the book and ingredients! I've never owned eyelashes from a sphinx before or the blood of a barbegazi. I went to my sister's wedding and found out she's a Death Eater. I don't think I've ever felt more miserable on Christmas. I'd say more but I know I can't. Stay safe. Love, Me
The rest of the winter break at Hogwarts went by slowly and uneventfully. The Daily Prophet never had anything in the paper about what Mr. Malfoy had yelled about in his house. Only just recently had Hermione and Oscie begun talking to one another again but they weren't on best friend terms as they had been. All the students had once again returned to Hogwarts and classes had begun. However, life couldn't get worse for Oscie since with the news out that she and Draco were a couple all the Gryffindors wouldn't have anything to do with her and the Slytherins taunted her in the halls. Draco didn't appear to have the same trouble and the Slytherins didn't dare to insult him.
"If I hear one more person say anything even slightly offense I swear I will curse and hex them until they're unrecognizable!" Oscie said through clenched teeth as the friends walked into potions. Draco was already seated in the class and with a sigh Oscie went and sat next to him, ignoring the sneers from the Slytherins and the looks of disgust from the Gryffindors.
"If any of the Slytherins end up in the hospital wing with a mixture of hexes it will be me who will have done it," Oscie seethed. Draco raised his eyebrows.
"You should have been in Slytherin," he drawled.
"Class!" Snape said in his slick voice. "Turn to page 377 and make the potion. It will be due at the end of the period. Miss Whitmore, will you come see me in my office." With that he turned and went into the room adjacent to the classroom. Oscie followed him and when she had entered he shut the door behind her.
"Yes professor?"
"I know about Lupin and where you stayed this summer and how confidential all that you heard and saw is," he said in a low voice. "You do realize who you're.involved with, don't you?"
"I know his father is a Death Eater, if that's what you mean by it," Oscie replied. She knew Snape was working for The Order no matter how shocking it seemed.
"Then you know that your life is at stake?" She nodded. "Well don't think I'm trying to save your life because I'm not. I'm simply concerned about the welfare of the members who could suffer from this involvement of yours."
"I wouldn't sell out those who I'm loyal to," Oscie replied, slightly appalled at the implication that she would do that to her friends. Snape glared at her but even though he was trying to look angry and menacing there was a glint in his eyes that seemed to hold concern. "Why did you really want me in Slytherin?"
"Slytherins are known for their potion making skills," Snape replied. "And I knew about your sister's preference before you did and I also know about your distant relative Lord Voldemort."
She weighted the evidence for a moment and then admitted, "I guess the odds are kind of in favor of Slytherin. It doesn't really matter though since I'm not in a house and all the Gryffindors hate me and the Slytherins abominate me."
"And Lucius Malfoy loathes you," Snape added. Oscie shrugged and nodded her head. "Yet Draco doesn't seem to mind his father's opinion although he respects his father greatly. Seems quite dubious." The look that crossed Snape's face for a moment seemed to be a warning and yet Oscie was unsure if she had really seen it or if it was a figment of her imagination. "Now, please return to your potion and make it properly this time."
"Oh you know I always do," Oscie said with a grin and left before she could get into trouble. Snape followed her into the classroom and when she turned around to see if he was going to say anything about her comment she noticed he had a slight smile on his lips.
Oscie was walking alone to the library one evening to study when she heard the sound of footsteps behind her. She stopped to listen and the noise stopped as well. There was nobody else in sight and so she decided to ignore what she thought she heard and continue along to the library. As she neared the end of the hall she heard two girls talking and stopped at the mention of her name to listen in.
"You know I really don't get Oscie," Lavender stated. "Draco Malfoy? When she first got here I thought she'd be competition for the best guys. I mean a lot of them think she's pretty."
"The weirdest part is that she could have Walt Frost. I heard he liked her last semester and she did nothing about it except ignore him and chase Draco," Parvati replied. "I used to think she fit in with us just fine but now I can't stand the sight of her."
Oscie had heard enough and turned the corner to find the two girls standing there with wide-eyes at the sight of her and the immediately became quiet.
"You know, I wouldn't talk so loud if I were you," Oscie said with a sneer and pointing her wand at them. "It's one thing to dislike someone and another to talk about them. I swore I would hex the next person I heard say anything condescending about me but you're in luck. I don't have the energy to produce the curses I want to use!"
Lavender and Parvati hurried out of sight without uttering a word and Oscie continued to the library in a little bit of a better mood. She spotted Hermione at a table and decided to join her and apologize for the lack of communication when a sharp pain in her chest stopped her in place. It felt as though someone had poured thick oil into her heart and it was being pumped to the rest of her body at a painfully slow rate. The pain was like nothing she had ever experienced and it caught her off guard. She fell to her knees, clutching her chest with her hands. The room began to go black as though the oil in her veins had covered over her eyes as well and she fell to the ground. A few people were talking around her but she couldn't make out their words nor did she care to. The only thing she was truly conscious of was the excruciating pain. Then it stopped. As suddenly as it had begun, it went away leaving her gasping for breath and weak. The room came back to focus and she noticed a few faces above her; Hermione, Madam Pince, Walt Frost, and Ginny.
"Are you alright?" Madam Pince asked frantically as Oscie sat up.
She managed a feeble smile, "You wouldn't believe me if I told you it was just the treacle fudge, would you?" Hermione smiled recognizing she was back to herself and Walt looked confused.
"We best get you to Madam Pomfrey," Madam Pince said. Oscie shook her head as she got to her feet although she wobbled slightly and Walt helped support her.
"I'm really fine. Just a little woozy from the fall," Oscie replied. "I don't need to go to the hospital wing. I'm fine, really!" Madam Pince seemed unfazed.
"Hermione, would you please take her?" she questioned.
"Oh of course," Hermione replied, taking Oscie by the arm and leading her out of the library protesting. "Shush!" Hermione hissed. "We don't have to go to the hospital wing."
"I like the way you think," Oscie replied with a grin as Hermione and she darted into the nearest empty classroom to talk. Peeves the Poltergeist was in there however playing with the papers on the teacher's desk.
"Peeves, would you mind! We need to talk and you're disturbing us," Hermione said in a commanding tone yet well aware that he wouldn't listen. He floated over to the two girls.
"Itsy bitsy buck-tooth Granger," Peeves sang and then cackled. "And teeny weenie whacky Whitmore!" He pelted the two with pencils before he shot out of the classroom cackling and slammed the door behind him.
"If he had any sense about him what-so-ever." Hermione said more to herself than Oscie and let her voice die out. "So what happened back there? Your face was so twisted and your eyes.they were red!" Oscie hadn't realized the last part about her eyes and shook her head in confusion.
"I'm not sure what happened. I remember thinking I heard footsteps behind me on the way to the library but nobody was there. That probably doesn't mean anything since I'm not even sure if I heard anything but in the library.that was weird. I felt like my blood was thick and couldn't move properly. That was the worst pain I've ever felt in my entire life," Oscie closed her eyes as she remembered the experience.
"Whatever it means it can't be good," Hermione replied. "Maybe Voldemort is trying to kill you and someone was behind you."
"And what did they do? Shoot an invisible spell at me without speaking? I don't think that's it but who knows. Maybe Voldemort has come up with some magic of his own," Oscie remarked. Hermione looked thoroughly concerned and heaved a sigh.
The door to the room opened and both girls jumped since they had been immersed in their own thoughts. Walt Frost was in the doorway looking a little uncomfortable.
"I saw you in here and.well I thought you were going to the hospital wing," he said as he closed the door behind him.
"We took a slight detour," Oscie replied without her usual friendly tone.
"You should go there," he stated.
"For what? To be told there is nothing wrong with me? Because there really is nothing wrong or at least there isn't anymore," Oscie said coolly.
"She was just a little tired," Hermione offered but he didn't bite at that explanation.
"I may not be as smart as you, but I don't even buy that excuse," he said to Hermione who blushed slightly at being told she was intelligent. "Now why don't you want to go to the hospital wing? There is something wrong or else your eyes wouldn't have been red and you wouldn't have been on the ground."
Oscie sighed and looked at him almost pleadingly, "Because I needed to talk to Hermione and tell her what happened and if I went to the hospital wing Madam Pomfrey wouldn't be able to help explain what happened any more than you or Hermione or I could."
"Is there anyway I can help?" he questioned.
"Not unless you know of any spells or incantations or charms or anything that can be done without speaking and without emitting a burst of light," Hermione answered. Walt looked dumbfounded and Hermione shrugged. "We don't know of any either."
"Well if you'll excuse us we should be getting back to our dormitory," Oscie said. "No use in getting any more detentions if I can help it." She and Hermione left Walt in the room and headed for the common room.
When Hermione and Oscie walked into the common room they found Harry and Ron sitting at a table with books but Ron was staring intently at Harry and Harry was rubbing his scar.
"What happened?" questioned Hermione, who had already run over to the boys.
"My scar is just prickling," Harry replied.
"When did it begin hurting?" Oscie asked.
"About ten minutes ago."