Well here you go, all thanks to Kari! You're the greatest!
Chapter fourteen: Midnight Rendezvous
Since her last meeting with Bane, she had been forbidden to enter the forest, by Professor Dumbledore, himself. For the rest of her detention, she spent it after dinner, helping Hagrid around the school. She didn't mind, since she enjoyed Hagrid's company, and she learned everything there was to know about the creatures living in the forest.
Her craving to learn is what brought her to Hagrid's hut during every break she had. Her wanting to learn all that she could, is what pulled her out of bed early in the morning, and kept her out late at night. It wasn't the fact that she wanted to find out more about the Sorcerer's Stone, or Nicolas Flamel. She wanted to learn, and from what she could see, Hagrid knew what he was talking about. Anything beyond that never crossed her mind, when she entered the hut, and sat down at the table.
But as Bunny sat up in bed early one morning, she realized that it was getting late. The year was coming to an end, in only a couple of weeks.
It was early May, and the sun wasn't up yet, but the flowers outside her window were strong. She threw off her covers, startling the black cat at the foot of her bed, awake. Luna stood, and stretched lazily. "Off to Hagrid's?"
Bunny absently nodded, her mind on other things, as she climbed out of bed, and started to dress. Luna never came with her, after the time she made the mistake of bringing her once to detention. It seemed that Hagrid was allergic to cats.
Luna never seemed to mind, since she liked to be in Mina's care. Supposedly the other Hufflepuff gave her more attention, than her owner did.
Bunny drank from the glass on the small table near the window. Setting the cup down, she bent over, and slipped on her black shoes.
Dressed, and almost ready to go, Bunny grabbed her bobby pins, on her way out. "See you at breakfast Luna." She hurried down the stairs, as she tied her blonde hair into buns. It was an old hairstyle her mother used to do with her hair, when she had been younger. Now three years after the last time her mother had done her hair, she finally started to do it herself. Never before, until this year. Maybe it had to do with the fact that she was in her mother's old school, and that she felt closer to her mother now, than she ever did, since she died.
The pigtails falling from the twin buns, the size of tennis balls, fell to the middle of her back.
Slipping out of the portrait, and down the narrow corridor, she started up the small flight of stairs. Glancing at the stairs leading to the dungeons, she sighed.
She was never one to side with the enemy, but then again, never before had she had an enemy. Making a small pray, Bunny started down the stairs.
Her and Snape were not on speaking terms. Him, because of what happened that night nearly four months ago, and her, because whenever she opened her mouth to speak, he docked points from her house.
And to think Harry, and Ron thought she had sided with Snape.
"Yea, right." She wrinkled her nose, as she passed Snape's office. "Creep."
"Talking to yourself now?"
Bunny paused in mid step, as her head snapped to attention. The last person she wanted to run into alone in a dark narrow hallway stood before her. But then again, he was the very person she had been looking for.
Again, she wasn't one to side with the enemy. But because she couldn't talk to Professor Snape, she would have to go with second best. "Malfoy." She forced a smile, her body stiff with resentment.
The pale haired boy looked around him amused, "Oh are you talking to me now?" His lips twitched, the corner lifting into a smirk.
Bunny held the smile in check, ignoring his rotten jokes. At least his goon squad wasn't around. Speaking of which.
"You're actually alone? Where are Crabbe and Goyle? Or your little fan club?" She was curious as to what happened to his meaty bodyguards, and the group of first year Slytherins that always laughed at his stupid jokes. She usually never saw him without them, but there was always a first for everything.
The boy shrugged his shoulders, his manner aloof. But he didn't seem to be thrilled to be alone in her company. Which she understood well, considering only the two of them knew that the rumor he spread was a lie.
"Are you here for a reason, besides being annoying?"
Bunny felt her smile drop, and she didn't try and tack it back into place. It was no use, trying to be nice to a born and raised snob. "Fine I'll cut to the chase, I need to talk to you."
One fine blond eyebrow rose, his cool blue eyes looking her over. She flushed, her face scrunching up in embarrassment. She recognized the look, as the one he gave her back in Olivander's shop.
It made her extremely uncomfortable. And Draco Malfoy knew it.
"The little rabbit needs my help? Am I hearing correctly? Do my ears deceive me?" He cupped his hands around his ears, as if he was trying to hear something. Bunny felt heat rise to her cheeks as her anger raised a notch.
The white haired Slytherin chuckled, as he pushed passed her. Turning, Bunny made to follow him. She grabbed him by the robes, forcing the taller boy to stop, and face her. Poking him in the chest, she asked, through clench teeth, "Want me to give another black eye to match the one I gave you back in February?"
He reeled back, his eyes narrowed into slits, as he glared at her. "Better be careful Moon. Professor Snape is right down the hall." He jerked his thumb over his shoulder, pointed at the door slightly cracked open.
Bunny scoffed, "Do you think I care? Here you go, insulting me, when all I want to do is, ask you a question!" She lifted her voice slightly, and the boy standing in front of her, hissed, "Shut up!"
He must have realized she wasn't about to lower her voice, because he whirled around on her. Was he thinking she was going to let him run away?
"Get back here Malfoy!"
She raced after him, chugging up the stairs after him. "I'm not through talking with you!" He threw over his shoulder, an arrogant reply, "Well I am."
Bunny rounded him, blocking he path to the entrance hall. "Oh no you don't!" She slammed the end of her index finger into his chest, right over his heart. Pocking him for every word she said, she shouted, "You are undoubtedly the most gutless, unthoughtful, bigheaded, pusillanimous coward, I have ever met!"
He slapped her hand out of the way, and replied hotly, "Why don't you say it a little louder shorty, I don't think they hear you back in London."
Bunny saw red, and let her fist fly, "Who are you calling short!" He barely dodged her punch, and she was thrown off balance when her fist met air. She let out a yelp, tipping forward. From her standpoint, she could see the bottom of the stairs.
Before she could topple down them, Draco grabbed her by the back of her robes, and jerked her back to the flats of her feet. "You are such a klutz. Pray tell, what is pusilla- whatever it is. I'm assuming nothing good."
Bunny flushed, "If you think I'm going to tell, you've got another thing coming. Look it up if you want to know."
From behind her, she heard someone shout angrily, "No, Ron!"
Bunny caught site of Harry, Hermione and Ron heading down the stairs to the Great Hall for breakfast.
Draco crossed his arms over his chest, causing her to direct her full attention to the Slytherin boy. "You owe me, I saved your life." Bunny snorted, ready to give him a piece of her mind, when he suddenly covered her mouth with his hand. Furious, she was about to scream, when she realized, he wasn't even looking, or paying attention to her.
Turned to see what he was looking at, she saw the three Gryffindors standing right outside the Great Hall doors.
"We've got lessons, we'll get into trouble, and that's nothing to what Hagrid's going to be in, when someone finds out what he's doing-"
Harry clamped a hand over Hermione's mouth, and hissed, "Shut up!" The three looked at them, and Harry looked real nervous suddenly.
Bunny wrinkled her brows, what was Hermione talking about?
She looked back at Draco, to see he seemed pleased about something. What had he heard, that made him want to shut her up like that? She wrenched his hand away from her mouth, and asked, "What was that for?"
The white haired boy smirked, "Never mind Moon, we're even. What was it you wanted to ask me anyway?" Bunny blanched, "I, err." She drew a blank, "I forgot."
He faintly nodded, his mind on something else, as he moved around her. "Then ask me later when you remember." He then followed Harry and the others into the Great Hall for breakfast.
Bunny stared after him. What could have changed his mind like that? It had to be something about Hagrid.
She would have to see him after class. She wouldn't have time now.
?????
Once the bell rang, Bunny didn't hesitate on leaving. Collecting her things, she was out the door before anyone else. Leaving the school in no time at all, she hurried to Hagrid's hut near the Forbidden forest. Stopping at the door, she knocked hard on the wooden plank.
Silence greeted her, and it lasted long enough to where she was about to knock again. But she stopped when she heard Hagrid call out, "Who is it?" Without answering, Bunny pushed the door open, but hesitated slightly, from stepping in any further. She could literally see the heat waves in the air of the small hut.
"Oh it's you."
He was standing near the fire, looking at her from over his massive shoulder. "Hagrid?" She shut the door behind her, and made a sound of distress. "Its a little hot don't you think?" She made a motion of waving her hand before her face, mimicking a fan.
Hagrid beamed, "Sorry, would open a window, but can't." He pointed to the black egg on the table.
She paled several shades, despite the heat. "Hagrid, please tell me that not what I think it is?" She walked towards the table, till she stood in front of it. A bead of sweat rolled down her cheek. "I didn't see that yesterday." She looked up at him, her face serious. Is this what Hermione had meant?
Hagrid grinned, standing next to her, "I won it last night." Bunny glanced at him, "But Hagrid, you can't have that here! You're going to get yourself in trouble!"
She nearly jumped out of her skin, when she heard a knock at the door. Needing something to do, she paced the length of the hut, trying to calm her jumbled nerves. She cared for the gamekeeper, and didn't want anything to happen to him. But how could they keep something like this a secret?
Malfoy surely knew. "Hagrid, you have to get rid of it, Mal-" She stopped, her eyes landing on the three standing in the doorway.
Hagrid greeted them eagerly, "It's nearly out."
Bunny let out a squeak of protest, and drew the attention of all three Gryffindors. Hermione gasped, "Hagrid, how could you tell her, she'll tell Professor Snape, and have you kicked out of here." Both Harry and Ron looked at her, their faces filled with horror.
Hagrid shook his head, "Now Hermione, tha's note very nice ter say. Bunny wouldn't do a thing like that." She nodded in agreement, her face set into a scowl. "Why would I go to Snape?" Her eyes moved to the two boys. "Still think I'm picking sides? Well if any of you care, Snape has taken a hundred points off of Hufflepuff, because of me."
Ron raised an eyebrow in interest, and Harry snorted, his face flushed from the heat in the room. Hermione didn't seem to be convinced. "And why would he do that?"
Hagrid frowned, looking at the four of them. Bunny answered, in the same tone Hermione had asked her the question in, "Well lets see, he took twenty points, because I ran him over, five for talking back to him, took fifteen points, when I was late to class, and that was because Peeves egged me on the way there, ten points because I opened my mouth to answer a question, five points because I raised my hand to answer a question, fifteen more points, when I shouted an answer only because he took points when I just raised my hand, and twenty points because I got kicked out of the Forbidden forest, and had to have Professor Dumbledore change the detention that Snape gave me."
Hagrid's frown deepened, "Just 'cause what happened." he trailed off, not wanting to mention the incident in front of the others. Bunny nodded, and followed him to the table. "If you don't believe me, go check it out in the Great Hall. Hufflepuff is now in forth place because of me."
She sat down next to Hagrid, and the three Gryffindors followed suit.
Ron looked away from the black egg, to look at her. "Did you really run into him?" Bunny's lips twitched. "Yes. Mowed him right over." She smacked the palm of her hand against her fist. "I was running from Mina, because I have something I can blackmail her with."
Hermione covered her mouth with her hand to stifle a chuckle. She cleared her throat, trying to compose herself. "Ahem, what did you do to."
A scraping sound, caught their attention, the group looked down at the egg. It suddenly split open, and a black baby dragon toppled out of its shell.
It sneezed, and Bunny jolted back in her seat, when sparks flew out of the end of its nose. "This is a hazard waiting to happen."
Hagrid seemed to melt at the sight of the dragon. He reached out to the pet it, and it snapped at his finger. Bunny pressed herself further into her seat.
"Bless him, he knows his mommy." She looked at him incredulously, before her eyes flew to Harry across the table from her. She mouthed, 'Mommy?' The boy shrugged, his green eyes darting back to the dragon.
Hermione never took her eyes off of the creature on the bed. "Hagrid, how fast do Norwegian Ridgebacks grow, exactly?"
Bunny looked at him, wondering the same thing. But Hagrid didn't answer. He was staring at the window in alarm. He suddenly scrambled to his feet, moving to the curtain-covered window. "Hagrid what's wrong?"
Hagrid pointed outside, "Someone was lookin' through the gap in the curtains."
Harry got up, and walked to the other window to look out as well. "Its Malfoy."
Bunny pushed back her chair, and stood. She should have known, should have warned them that Malfoy had overheard Harry and the others talking. "I-I need to go." She stumbled towards the door, giving Hagrid a knowing look, before slipping outside.
Bunny breathed in deeply, when she stepped out into the cool air. It was terribly hot inside the hut. She could barely breath. Making a detour on her way to the school, she ran to the lake. Stopping at the shore, she swooped down, and cupped her hands below the surface. Drinking the water she brought it to her lips. It felt great going down, and she never felt more energized.
Turning to head back, she wondered what Malfoy would do, now that he knew about the dragon. Most likely something horrible.
No wonder he had been so up beat suddenly, his mood had done a one-eighty on her.
She had only taken a step in the direction of castle, when a sound made her head whip up.
"Oh no I'm going to be late!" She then dashed across the grounds to make it to potions class on time.
?????
She spotted a familiar mop of red hair in the sea of bodies that had collected in the hallway around her. Lifting her hand up, she called out, "Ron, oy Ron?"
He seemed oblivious of her shouts, as he continued to the Gryffindor common room. Frowning, she pushed and shoved her way through the crowed, still calling out his name.
Lavender Brown, a first year Gryffindor gave out a shout, when Bunny stepped on her foot
"Oh I'm sorry." She paused in her trek after the red haired boy to face the girl. "I'm sorry." The girl gave her a frown, and a shake of her head, before she turned to her friend, who Bunny recognized as Parvati Patil, another Gryffindor.
Turning from the two, she searched the heads, for a certain one, but came up empty. She snapped her fingers, muttering, "Rats." She really wanted to talk to him, but it would now have to wait.
"Moon?"
Hearing her name, she half turned, to find a raven-haired girl, with deep amethyst eyes. She looked exotic in the dark uniform, her calm demeanor giving off vibes of power.
Feeling intimidated, Bunny clenched and unclenched her hands at her sides. The girl always made her feel smaller than her usually shortness. It wasn't the fact she was a Slytherin, but because of who she was.
"Lestrange."
She nodded in the girl's direction, not meeting her eyes. She had heard the rumors, had read the books. Lestrange, her parents were in Azkaban Prison, for what they had done. Neville was terrified of the girl, most likely because of what had happened to his parents.
The Lestranges had been a nasty couple, who tortured people in the name of their master, Lord Voldemort.
The girl next to her smiled thinly catching wind of Bunny's weariness. As she thought of it, she had never really seen Lestrange hanging out with anyone. Sure she followed around Malfoy, but never contributed with his gang of hooligans.
Bunny had seen her a couple of times, usually finding a seat in the back corner of the classroom, or alone at the library table across the room, from where Bunny sat.
Looking away from the girl, she noted the people around her. They all avoided them, moving out of their way to not to touch her. They were all afraid, terrified, to frightened to try and befriend her.
She glanced back at Lestrange, and realized the girl didn't flinch, didn't seem effected by the fact, that Susan Bones had stopped short, backtracked, and then went around Bunny instead.
She was used to this.
Bunny caught the girl's eye, and could see the pain in her soul.
She was used to it, but hated it.
Lestrange dropped her eyes, and spoke softly, "Be careful." She started to turn, but Bunny caught her by the arm. The girl look back at her, startled by the touch. Her dark eyes dropped to the hand holding her there.
Smiling warmly, Bunny asked, "Wait. What do you mean?"
The raven-haired girl looked up, "You need to be careful." Her voice was detached, filled with a void. Bunny frowned, "Be carefully of what?" She released the girl's arm, letting her hand fall at her side.
Lestrange shook her head, "Nothing." She took a step in the other direction, but Bunny called her back, "Now wait. You can't just tell me to be careful, and then not say of what."
There was a long sigh, from the dark haired Slytherin. Then she spoke in her usual calm tone, "All I can say, is be careful Moon."
Bunny frowned, as the girl started down the hall, leaving her to stand there. "Hey." she paused, her brows drawing together, "Rei, its Bunny, not Moon."
Rei glanced over her shoulder, wild bangs falling into her mysterious eyes. A smile tugged at her lips, and she drawled, "Right." Turning back around, she lost herself in the crowd.
Smiling, the blonde haired girl turned back to where she had last seen Ron. She saw him, coming around the corner, and coming towards her. "Ron!"
She raced towards him, able to reach him, since there were less people now. "Oy Ron you okay?" She stopped in front of him, the smile on her face faltering. Looking down to see what he was staring at, she gasped, "What happened?"
Ron grimaced, "Norbert bit me." Bunny frowned, "who?" She grabbed his hand to inspect it. She peered down at the gash, which had taken a nice shade of green, "Ron why haven't you had Madam Pomfrey look at this?" Bunny lifted her eyes from his hand to look him in the eye. Even though his skin was pale, his cheeks had taken a hint of pink. "And you're burning up. Come on."
Being careful, she started to lead him to the hospital wing.
Ron flushed brighter, "Well, err, I was just about to go down there. The dragon bit me." She glanced back at him, "He did? What did you do?" The red haired boy scowled, "What do you mean, what did I do? I was feeding the bloody thing, and it tried to take my hand off. Hagrid told me off for frightening it, and now you?" He threw up his free hand in aggravation.
Bunny giggled, "Sorry Ron. But you better think up a story to tell Pomfrey. Its illegal to have a dragon." Ron nodded, his frown deepening. "I could tell her I was bitten by a dog."
She rolled her eyes, "Yea right. The only dog here is Fang, and he's Hagrid's dog. Be better off saying a dragon attacked you. Fang doesn't have a single ounce of courage in him to attack." Ron sighed, "Okay, okay."
At the hospital wing, Bunny knocked on the door. A minute later, Madam Pomfrey swung the door open. "Dear what happened here?"
Before Bunny could say anything, Ron blurted out, "I was bitten by a dog." The blonde shot him a heated look, before she glanced at the nurse. The woman wasn't buying it, and Bunny felt her insides go cold.
"All right, come in then. Moon, you go on to class, I'll take care of Weasley." Bunny nodded, and waved to Ron, before she shut the door to the infirmary. Stuffing her hands into the pocket of her robes, she started towards Charms class.
?????
Folding the corner of the page she was reading, Bunny sighed. She closed the book, and stared at the cover apprehensively.
At hearing the girl's sigh, Mina lifted her head from where it laid, to see what was troubling her friend. "Didn't you finish that book, two weeks ago?"
Bunny looked up from the cover, and smiled sheepishly. "Uh, yes I did." She quickly stuffed the book under her pillow, before rolling over onto her back. Sitting up, she was startled by Mina's question, "It doesn't have a title does it? It because it's about him, isn't it."
She hugged the pillow tightly to her chest her glossy nails digging into the fabric. A small smile played in her face, before she whispered beneath her breath, "About the Dark Lord."
An inaudible sound escaped her lips, before Bunny hissed angrily, "Mina, hold your tongue!" She glanced around wearily hoping no one had heard the girl's slip of tongue.
Mina rolled her eyes dramatically, "Hogs posh!"
Bunny frowned, "You mean Hogs wash." The blonde bit out, "That's what I said! I don't know how the lot of you can be so afraid of that wretched man's name! Blimey, you think being wizards and witches you would have some sort of a backbone in yeh." She shoved herself off her bed, and moved across the room, so that she stood in front of Bunny. "No one in my family has ever been afraid of Voldemort, and I damn well will not either, no matter how powerful he is."
Bunny shuddered at the name, chills crawling up and down her spine. She had read his story at least twenty times, to when he was first recognized, till he was defeated. Catching her breath, she asked, "And who is your family?" She didn't remember ever reading one witch or wizard not being afraid to speak that man's name. Only two people, one because he did not understand the full extent of the evil wizard's true darkness, and the other, because he was much stronger than the evil wizard.
Mina smirked with satisfaction as she replied smoothly, "Why I'm the great niece of Albus Dumbledore." Bunny's mouth fell open, "You're related to- to the headmaster!" The blonde in front of her giggled, "Well duh silly. I am a pure blood, and there are only a few of us left."
The door to the girl's dormitory swung open, "You're not going to believe who's outside our common room right now." Hannah Abbot stood at the stairs, her face flushed, and her hair askew. Her chest rose and fell from every battered breath that escaped her lips.
Mina asked confused, "Who?"
The girl squealed, jumping around with great excitement, "Harry Potter!" She clapped her hands wildly, her eyes filling with tears. "And he wants to talk to you!" She danced about, her finger pointed directly at the two girls. Bunny pointed at Mina while the other blonde pointed at her. Together they chorused, "her?"
Bunny looked at Mina, and Mina looked at her. "Me?"
Hannah shook her head, and pointed right at Bunny, "No you! I can't believe this! You're acting so calm!" She fell onto her bed with a dreamy sigh. Bunny felt horrified, wondering if she had acted the same way when she had met Harry.
When she reached the painting leading out of the Hufflepuff common room, Bunny felt her cheeks still burning. Her heart was beating so hard in her chest she could barely breathe. Pushing the door open, she was greeted with the sight of the Gryffindor boy.
His black hair was unkempt, and she almost smiled when she caught him trying to flatten it. He turned at the sound of the door opening, and his bright green eyes landed on her. "Hi."
He looked away, reaching up and scratched the back of his neck nervously. Bunny fidgeted at where she stood, her face so hot it brought tears to her eyes. Forcing herself to look up, she was ashamed to admit, that her eyes landed on the scar first, before dropping to his face.
He must have caught her fleeting glance, for he pressed his hand to the lightning bolt mark, forcing his bangs to cover it more. "I err, I need to talk to you." He turned and started to leave her standing in the common room doorway. Quickly, she shut the portrait, and hurried after him. "About what?"
She matched his pace, and stuffed her hands into the pockets of her skirt. She had forgotten her robes on her bed, which also meant she had left her wand.
"Did you, well have you talked with Malfoy?" He glanced at her, his eyes only flickering onto her for a brief second, before dancing away nervously. Bunny frowned, her mind still distracted by the thought of leaving her wand. "Malfoy? Why would I talk to-"
She cut herself off, as she stopped abruptly from her walk. Harry also stopped, and turned to look back at her. Closing her eyes, she fought to control her rising anger, before she opened them too look at him. "You have nerve asking me- I cant believe you-" Bunny cried out in frustration, her hands rising to her chest, and fingers tightened into fists.
The urge to scream was strong, but she wouldn't let herself break down like that, not again. Not when things were starting to go right.
Harry sighed heavily, "Look I didn't mean it like that." Bunny scoffed, "Well it sure sounded like you were." He shook his head, "No, I was hoping you had talked to him about." he glanced up and down the corridor, "about Norbert."
Bunny flushed, "Oh." She looked down at her feet, "No I haven't." She suddenly felt like a heel. Lately, she had been so busy trying to study for the up coming exams, she had forgotten about Hagrid and his Dragon. "I'm sorry Harry, I totally forgot." Her hands formed fists at her sides, how could she do something like that?
He shrugged, "It's all right. Ron, Hermione and I have a plan to help Norbert. So don't worry about it." When she looked up, he was smiling at her. "What kind of plan?" Harry shook his head, "I can't say. But we have it all taken care of." He tilted his head slightly, as if he wanted to add a something.
Sort of.
There was something wrong, something that had to do with Malfoy. The plan the three Gryffindors had made, had a flaw, and somehow the Slytherin boy had something to do with it.
"Okay I understand. So was that all you wanted to ask me?" She stared hopefully at him, praying that there was something more. She wanted to be his friend, but he seemed less willing to do so.
He frowned, before he answered, "Well there is something." Reaching into his robes, he pulled out a folded note. He held it out to her, "Don't read it till later okay." Bunny stared at the slip of paper wearily. "What is it?"
Hadn't she seen a movie, or read a book, about notes? Maybe heard a song? She racked her brain, but came up empty. This was all new to her.
Taking the paper, she clutched it tightly in her palm. "Err, thanks." He shrugged uneasily, "Uh, your welcome. Well I got to go, I promised Ron I would visit him." He waved, as he turned from her, and started up the stairs.
She stared at the stairs, till she could hear his feet on the marble staircase. Waiting a breath of a second, she bolted up the flight of steps. Skipping passed the marble staircase; she tore down the stairs leading to the dungeon. Down there she hurried to the Slytherin common room.
Reaching the space on the wall, she pounded hard on it. "Open up this minute!" She pounded hard, till her hand felt raw. "Rei! Rei!
There was crash from inside, before the door swung open. Bunny visibly paled at the sight of the Quidditch captain of the Slytherin team. Marcus Flint. "Dammit woman!" His eyes were hard as ice, as they bore down on her. "What the bloody hell is all this racket for, first year!" His lips curled into a sneer.
Bunny knew she was shaking, but she was able to muster, "I need to talk to Lestrange."
He was the worst Slytherin, and she had far been lucky of never running into him. He scowled down at her, his body towering over her smaller form. He made no move to get Rei, or say anything. He didn't even slam the door in her face.
Swallowing, Bunny ducked beneath his arm, and slipping into the room. "Rei!" She glanced at all the Slytherin students sitting in the armchairs. They had stopped chatting to look at her. "Rei."
Out of the corner of her eyes, she caught sight of Draco, and his group. The white haired boy smirked, "She's not here." His eyes hardened, "as a matter of fact, she went looking for something."
Bunny nodded, "Thank you!" She whirled around, ready to leave, but found herself trapped. Flint had shut the exit, and was blocking her sight of the door.
"I-"
Fear filled her heart, as she watched the other members of the Slytherin house stand around her. Breathing in deeply, she held her breath, as she asked, "Can you please step aside?" The air whooshed from her lungs, when he chuckled. The blood drained from her body, as he stepped towards her.
She didn't even have her wand on her. Tears flooded her eyes, as she took a frightened step back. She bumped into something, knocking an end table over. Gasping, she jumped back, the sound setting her nerves into overdrive.
The group around her laughed, and Flint taunted, "Like a frightened little rabbit."
Bunny scowled at him, her fear shoved out of the way as anger seized her. What kind of witch was she, if she backed away now? What did she prove by letting her fear get the best of her?
If she wanted to prove that she could be worth something, then she was going to have to stand up to her enemy, armed or unarmed.
How could she defend herself with a wand? Sure she could try and punch him, but that highly wasn't plausible. He was bigger and beefier.
Breathing ruthlessly through her nose, she bit out, "Don't call me that." Only her mother would be able to call her rabbit.
Flint chuckled as he glanced at Montague, and Pucy, two more Slytherin Quidditch players. Out of all the players of the Slytherin team, most of them didn't have skills; it was just size and strength. Most of them were bigger than her, even the girls.
Taking another route, she asked, "Can I please leave? I need to find Lestrange." The Quidditch captain shook his head, "No first year. You interrupted us." A smirk formed on his already twisted face. Bunny felt her heart plummet to her toes.
She couldn't defend herself against these boys. She was only dressed in her school skirt and blouse. No vest, no robes, and certainly no wand. Where was Snape when you need him? At least he would give her a wand to defend herself. He wouldn't allow an unfair fight take place. No matter how much of a creep he was.
Suddenly Flint slipped his wand out from his robes and pointed it at her heart. "Lets have a little fun shall we?" Bunny took a step back, her heart hammering against her rib cage, trying to break free. Fear seemed to swallow her whole, and the fear was more powerful now, than when she had nearly drowned.
He flicked his wrist, the wand moving in front of her. She gasped, jerking back, her hands flying up to protect herself.
"Stupefy!"
She would have screamed if she had the chance, but her mouth refused to open, to utter a sound. There was a loud thump, but it wasn't her body hitting the ground. She blinked, staring through the gap between her shielding arms. Flint lay unconscious at her feet.
Her arms dropped, and she noted everyone had backed up.
"I recommend none of you muttering a spell at her. Or you'll be answering to me." She recognized the voice, and Bunny didn't have to look to see who had saved her. "Disobey me, and you'll be answering to my father."
She turned then, to look at Draco Malfoy. Why would he do that? His pale eyes narrowed at her, "You owe me Hufflepuff. Now get out of here, before I change my mind."
She shot the boy a glare, "I don't owe you anything!"
"Hey what's going on in here?" Bunny turned to the raven-haired girl in relief. She rushed to her, grabbing the girl's hand, and pulling her back out the door. "Boy that was close." She didn't allow herself to rest until the door to the common room was closed, and they were climbing the stairs. "I went looking for you, and Flint trapped me inside."
"And Malfoy saved you?" At her nod, Rei frowned. "How odd. Well, I went looking for you too. I found this in Malfoy's belongings." She slipped a piece of parchment from her robes, and held them out. Bunny took it, and then she unfolded it. Her blue eyes scanned the writing closely. "But that's tonight! And Malfoy knows. He's going to get them in trouble, that's why he's been so giddy lately."
She tapped her chin in thought. "The tallest tower?"
Rei nodded, "where we have Astronomy class." Bunny nodded, "It must be. I'll have to follow them, and make sure Malfoy doesn't get in their way."
Her companion's face creased with worry, "How do you plan on doing that?" Dropping her head, Bunny replied sadly, "I don't know."
?????
It sure was dark out in the halls. It was almost midnight, and the others would be on their way to the tallest tower soon.
Rubbing her hands up and down her arms, she shivered. She did not owe Malfoy anything she scolded herself. Not after all he had done to her, and her friends.
Reaching the stairs leading up at the end of the corridor, she hurried up them. Halfway up, her shoulder bumped into a suit of armor. It hit the floor with a loud clang that echoed down the stairs, and throughout the hall.
The color drained from her face, Filch or Mrs. Norris would surely have heard that. Bolting up the stairs with renewed strength, she ran without trying to distinguish her feet hitting the steps. "Mr. Malfoy!"
Bunny hesitated, her heart pounding, her breath labored. She didn't owe him anything, right? Glancing over her shoulder, she felt obligated to help him. But she was only here, to stop him from getting Harry and the others into trouble right? So she couldn't help him.
Turning back around, she forced herself to ignore Professor McGonagall's angry shouts, and Malfoy's pleading.
She didn't owe him anything! She reached the top with record speed that would have shocked her Professors. All she needed was the thought of Filch and Mrs. Norris at her heels to get her moving like that. Shivering from the cold, she crossed her arms protectively over her chest. A cold breeze hit her in the back, and it did nothing to keep her warm.
A sound from behind her jostled her from her spot. Ducking behind a statue, she peered out from over the wing of a gargoyle. She watched as Harry, and Hermione appeared, with a large cage.
What a relief!
"Malfoy's got detention! I could sing!" Hermione was practically dancing with joy, as she hopped up and down next to Harry. Bunny had to frown, but a smile threatened to break out on her face. Harry quickly replied, "Don't."
Bunny slid down to the ground quietly, not wanting them to hear her. She remained hidden behind the statue, for whatever reason, she wasn't sure. Hugging her robes closer, she kept watch over the two, with the cage, that held a growing dragon. It must have tripled in size, since she last saw it.
Ten minutes passed, and four brooms appeared above them. Watching apprehensively, she watched as the group dropped down. "Oy you must be Charlie's brother's friends."
Bunny sighed, rubbing at her eyes, as she watch them hook Norbert up to the harness. Once he was in their control, Harry and Hermione shook hands with the group, before the four took flight. She watched them from her spot, as they flew off, becoming nothing but a speck in the dark sky.
Paling, Bunny scrambled to her feet, when she noted the two had disappeared down the stairs. Hurrying across, she stood at the top of the stairs.
She went to take a step after them, but something held her back. There was something wrong, when she had seen the top of Hermione's thick brown hair disappear into the stairway. Slowly she turned, and found crumpled on the floor, Harry's Invisibility cloak.
"Uh oh." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well there you go!!!!! I hope u enjoyed this chapter. I was sooooo impressed with myself. I got the whole Norbert thing behind me. GAH! YES! I thought I would never get through it. My book is nearly worn out on that chapter. Reading reread, hehe I know it by heart I swear!
Brightness: LOL I do need to be chained to the keyboard. I'm getting so far behind I could hit myself.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed. ( Don't forget to read my sequel What Lies in a Destiny when u have time. I'm sure you'll get a few laughs. Or at least I hope ;-)
Polls!
Harry/Bunny: 56
Ron/Bunny: 33
Ron/Ami: 5
Ron/Hermione: 3
Draco/Bunny: 30
Draco/Lita: 8
Fred or George/Bunny: 1
Fred of George/Mina: 3 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chaser: 9
Keeper: 2
Beater: 2
Well enjoy! Tata for now LP signing out
Chapter fourteen: Midnight Rendezvous
Since her last meeting with Bane, she had been forbidden to enter the forest, by Professor Dumbledore, himself. For the rest of her detention, she spent it after dinner, helping Hagrid around the school. She didn't mind, since she enjoyed Hagrid's company, and she learned everything there was to know about the creatures living in the forest.
Her craving to learn is what brought her to Hagrid's hut during every break she had. Her wanting to learn all that she could, is what pulled her out of bed early in the morning, and kept her out late at night. It wasn't the fact that she wanted to find out more about the Sorcerer's Stone, or Nicolas Flamel. She wanted to learn, and from what she could see, Hagrid knew what he was talking about. Anything beyond that never crossed her mind, when she entered the hut, and sat down at the table.
But as Bunny sat up in bed early one morning, she realized that it was getting late. The year was coming to an end, in only a couple of weeks.
It was early May, and the sun wasn't up yet, but the flowers outside her window were strong. She threw off her covers, startling the black cat at the foot of her bed, awake. Luna stood, and stretched lazily. "Off to Hagrid's?"
Bunny absently nodded, her mind on other things, as she climbed out of bed, and started to dress. Luna never came with her, after the time she made the mistake of bringing her once to detention. It seemed that Hagrid was allergic to cats.
Luna never seemed to mind, since she liked to be in Mina's care. Supposedly the other Hufflepuff gave her more attention, than her owner did.
Bunny drank from the glass on the small table near the window. Setting the cup down, she bent over, and slipped on her black shoes.
Dressed, and almost ready to go, Bunny grabbed her bobby pins, on her way out. "See you at breakfast Luna." She hurried down the stairs, as she tied her blonde hair into buns. It was an old hairstyle her mother used to do with her hair, when she had been younger. Now three years after the last time her mother had done her hair, she finally started to do it herself. Never before, until this year. Maybe it had to do with the fact that she was in her mother's old school, and that she felt closer to her mother now, than she ever did, since she died.
The pigtails falling from the twin buns, the size of tennis balls, fell to the middle of her back.
Slipping out of the portrait, and down the narrow corridor, she started up the small flight of stairs. Glancing at the stairs leading to the dungeons, she sighed.
She was never one to side with the enemy, but then again, never before had she had an enemy. Making a small pray, Bunny started down the stairs.
Her and Snape were not on speaking terms. Him, because of what happened that night nearly four months ago, and her, because whenever she opened her mouth to speak, he docked points from her house.
And to think Harry, and Ron thought she had sided with Snape.
"Yea, right." She wrinkled her nose, as she passed Snape's office. "Creep."
"Talking to yourself now?"
Bunny paused in mid step, as her head snapped to attention. The last person she wanted to run into alone in a dark narrow hallway stood before her. But then again, he was the very person she had been looking for.
Again, she wasn't one to side with the enemy. But because she couldn't talk to Professor Snape, she would have to go with second best. "Malfoy." She forced a smile, her body stiff with resentment.
The pale haired boy looked around him amused, "Oh are you talking to me now?" His lips twitched, the corner lifting into a smirk.
Bunny held the smile in check, ignoring his rotten jokes. At least his goon squad wasn't around. Speaking of which.
"You're actually alone? Where are Crabbe and Goyle? Or your little fan club?" She was curious as to what happened to his meaty bodyguards, and the group of first year Slytherins that always laughed at his stupid jokes. She usually never saw him without them, but there was always a first for everything.
The boy shrugged his shoulders, his manner aloof. But he didn't seem to be thrilled to be alone in her company. Which she understood well, considering only the two of them knew that the rumor he spread was a lie.
"Are you here for a reason, besides being annoying?"
Bunny felt her smile drop, and she didn't try and tack it back into place. It was no use, trying to be nice to a born and raised snob. "Fine I'll cut to the chase, I need to talk to you."
One fine blond eyebrow rose, his cool blue eyes looking her over. She flushed, her face scrunching up in embarrassment. She recognized the look, as the one he gave her back in Olivander's shop.
It made her extremely uncomfortable. And Draco Malfoy knew it.
"The little rabbit needs my help? Am I hearing correctly? Do my ears deceive me?" He cupped his hands around his ears, as if he was trying to hear something. Bunny felt heat rise to her cheeks as her anger raised a notch.
The white haired Slytherin chuckled, as he pushed passed her. Turning, Bunny made to follow him. She grabbed him by the robes, forcing the taller boy to stop, and face her. Poking him in the chest, she asked, through clench teeth, "Want me to give another black eye to match the one I gave you back in February?"
He reeled back, his eyes narrowed into slits, as he glared at her. "Better be careful Moon. Professor Snape is right down the hall." He jerked his thumb over his shoulder, pointed at the door slightly cracked open.
Bunny scoffed, "Do you think I care? Here you go, insulting me, when all I want to do is, ask you a question!" She lifted her voice slightly, and the boy standing in front of her, hissed, "Shut up!"
He must have realized she wasn't about to lower her voice, because he whirled around on her. Was he thinking she was going to let him run away?
"Get back here Malfoy!"
She raced after him, chugging up the stairs after him. "I'm not through talking with you!" He threw over his shoulder, an arrogant reply, "Well I am."
Bunny rounded him, blocking he path to the entrance hall. "Oh no you don't!" She slammed the end of her index finger into his chest, right over his heart. Pocking him for every word she said, she shouted, "You are undoubtedly the most gutless, unthoughtful, bigheaded, pusillanimous coward, I have ever met!"
He slapped her hand out of the way, and replied hotly, "Why don't you say it a little louder shorty, I don't think they hear you back in London."
Bunny saw red, and let her fist fly, "Who are you calling short!" He barely dodged her punch, and she was thrown off balance when her fist met air. She let out a yelp, tipping forward. From her standpoint, she could see the bottom of the stairs.
Before she could topple down them, Draco grabbed her by the back of her robes, and jerked her back to the flats of her feet. "You are such a klutz. Pray tell, what is pusilla- whatever it is. I'm assuming nothing good."
Bunny flushed, "If you think I'm going to tell, you've got another thing coming. Look it up if you want to know."
From behind her, she heard someone shout angrily, "No, Ron!"
Bunny caught site of Harry, Hermione and Ron heading down the stairs to the Great Hall for breakfast.
Draco crossed his arms over his chest, causing her to direct her full attention to the Slytherin boy. "You owe me, I saved your life." Bunny snorted, ready to give him a piece of her mind, when he suddenly covered her mouth with his hand. Furious, she was about to scream, when she realized, he wasn't even looking, or paying attention to her.
Turned to see what he was looking at, she saw the three Gryffindors standing right outside the Great Hall doors.
"We've got lessons, we'll get into trouble, and that's nothing to what Hagrid's going to be in, when someone finds out what he's doing-"
Harry clamped a hand over Hermione's mouth, and hissed, "Shut up!" The three looked at them, and Harry looked real nervous suddenly.
Bunny wrinkled her brows, what was Hermione talking about?
She looked back at Draco, to see he seemed pleased about something. What had he heard, that made him want to shut her up like that? She wrenched his hand away from her mouth, and asked, "What was that for?"
The white haired boy smirked, "Never mind Moon, we're even. What was it you wanted to ask me anyway?" Bunny blanched, "I, err." She drew a blank, "I forgot."
He faintly nodded, his mind on something else, as he moved around her. "Then ask me later when you remember." He then followed Harry and the others into the Great Hall for breakfast.
Bunny stared after him. What could have changed his mind like that? It had to be something about Hagrid.
She would have to see him after class. She wouldn't have time now.
?????
Once the bell rang, Bunny didn't hesitate on leaving. Collecting her things, she was out the door before anyone else. Leaving the school in no time at all, she hurried to Hagrid's hut near the Forbidden forest. Stopping at the door, she knocked hard on the wooden plank.
Silence greeted her, and it lasted long enough to where she was about to knock again. But she stopped when she heard Hagrid call out, "Who is it?" Without answering, Bunny pushed the door open, but hesitated slightly, from stepping in any further. She could literally see the heat waves in the air of the small hut.
"Oh it's you."
He was standing near the fire, looking at her from over his massive shoulder. "Hagrid?" She shut the door behind her, and made a sound of distress. "Its a little hot don't you think?" She made a motion of waving her hand before her face, mimicking a fan.
Hagrid beamed, "Sorry, would open a window, but can't." He pointed to the black egg on the table.
She paled several shades, despite the heat. "Hagrid, please tell me that not what I think it is?" She walked towards the table, till she stood in front of it. A bead of sweat rolled down her cheek. "I didn't see that yesterday." She looked up at him, her face serious. Is this what Hermione had meant?
Hagrid grinned, standing next to her, "I won it last night." Bunny glanced at him, "But Hagrid, you can't have that here! You're going to get yourself in trouble!"
She nearly jumped out of her skin, when she heard a knock at the door. Needing something to do, she paced the length of the hut, trying to calm her jumbled nerves. She cared for the gamekeeper, and didn't want anything to happen to him. But how could they keep something like this a secret?
Malfoy surely knew. "Hagrid, you have to get rid of it, Mal-" She stopped, her eyes landing on the three standing in the doorway.
Hagrid greeted them eagerly, "It's nearly out."
Bunny let out a squeak of protest, and drew the attention of all three Gryffindors. Hermione gasped, "Hagrid, how could you tell her, she'll tell Professor Snape, and have you kicked out of here." Both Harry and Ron looked at her, their faces filled with horror.
Hagrid shook his head, "Now Hermione, tha's note very nice ter say. Bunny wouldn't do a thing like that." She nodded in agreement, her face set into a scowl. "Why would I go to Snape?" Her eyes moved to the two boys. "Still think I'm picking sides? Well if any of you care, Snape has taken a hundred points off of Hufflepuff, because of me."
Ron raised an eyebrow in interest, and Harry snorted, his face flushed from the heat in the room. Hermione didn't seem to be convinced. "And why would he do that?"
Hagrid frowned, looking at the four of them. Bunny answered, in the same tone Hermione had asked her the question in, "Well lets see, he took twenty points, because I ran him over, five for talking back to him, took fifteen points, when I was late to class, and that was because Peeves egged me on the way there, ten points because I opened my mouth to answer a question, five points because I raised my hand to answer a question, fifteen more points, when I shouted an answer only because he took points when I just raised my hand, and twenty points because I got kicked out of the Forbidden forest, and had to have Professor Dumbledore change the detention that Snape gave me."
Hagrid's frown deepened, "Just 'cause what happened." he trailed off, not wanting to mention the incident in front of the others. Bunny nodded, and followed him to the table. "If you don't believe me, go check it out in the Great Hall. Hufflepuff is now in forth place because of me."
She sat down next to Hagrid, and the three Gryffindors followed suit.
Ron looked away from the black egg, to look at her. "Did you really run into him?" Bunny's lips twitched. "Yes. Mowed him right over." She smacked the palm of her hand against her fist. "I was running from Mina, because I have something I can blackmail her with."
Hermione covered her mouth with her hand to stifle a chuckle. She cleared her throat, trying to compose herself. "Ahem, what did you do to."
A scraping sound, caught their attention, the group looked down at the egg. It suddenly split open, and a black baby dragon toppled out of its shell.
It sneezed, and Bunny jolted back in her seat, when sparks flew out of the end of its nose. "This is a hazard waiting to happen."
Hagrid seemed to melt at the sight of the dragon. He reached out to the pet it, and it snapped at his finger. Bunny pressed herself further into her seat.
"Bless him, he knows his mommy." She looked at him incredulously, before her eyes flew to Harry across the table from her. She mouthed, 'Mommy?' The boy shrugged, his green eyes darting back to the dragon.
Hermione never took her eyes off of the creature on the bed. "Hagrid, how fast do Norwegian Ridgebacks grow, exactly?"
Bunny looked at him, wondering the same thing. But Hagrid didn't answer. He was staring at the window in alarm. He suddenly scrambled to his feet, moving to the curtain-covered window. "Hagrid what's wrong?"
Hagrid pointed outside, "Someone was lookin' through the gap in the curtains."
Harry got up, and walked to the other window to look out as well. "Its Malfoy."
Bunny pushed back her chair, and stood. She should have known, should have warned them that Malfoy had overheard Harry and the others talking. "I-I need to go." She stumbled towards the door, giving Hagrid a knowing look, before slipping outside.
Bunny breathed in deeply, when she stepped out into the cool air. It was terribly hot inside the hut. She could barely breath. Making a detour on her way to the school, she ran to the lake. Stopping at the shore, she swooped down, and cupped her hands below the surface. Drinking the water she brought it to her lips. It felt great going down, and she never felt more energized.
Turning to head back, she wondered what Malfoy would do, now that he knew about the dragon. Most likely something horrible.
No wonder he had been so up beat suddenly, his mood had done a one-eighty on her.
She had only taken a step in the direction of castle, when a sound made her head whip up.
"Oh no I'm going to be late!" She then dashed across the grounds to make it to potions class on time.
?????
She spotted a familiar mop of red hair in the sea of bodies that had collected in the hallway around her. Lifting her hand up, she called out, "Ron, oy Ron?"
He seemed oblivious of her shouts, as he continued to the Gryffindor common room. Frowning, she pushed and shoved her way through the crowed, still calling out his name.
Lavender Brown, a first year Gryffindor gave out a shout, when Bunny stepped on her foot
"Oh I'm sorry." She paused in her trek after the red haired boy to face the girl. "I'm sorry." The girl gave her a frown, and a shake of her head, before she turned to her friend, who Bunny recognized as Parvati Patil, another Gryffindor.
Turning from the two, she searched the heads, for a certain one, but came up empty. She snapped her fingers, muttering, "Rats." She really wanted to talk to him, but it would now have to wait.
"Moon?"
Hearing her name, she half turned, to find a raven-haired girl, with deep amethyst eyes. She looked exotic in the dark uniform, her calm demeanor giving off vibes of power.
Feeling intimidated, Bunny clenched and unclenched her hands at her sides. The girl always made her feel smaller than her usually shortness. It wasn't the fact she was a Slytherin, but because of who she was.
"Lestrange."
She nodded in the girl's direction, not meeting her eyes. She had heard the rumors, had read the books. Lestrange, her parents were in Azkaban Prison, for what they had done. Neville was terrified of the girl, most likely because of what had happened to his parents.
The Lestranges had been a nasty couple, who tortured people in the name of their master, Lord Voldemort.
The girl next to her smiled thinly catching wind of Bunny's weariness. As she thought of it, she had never really seen Lestrange hanging out with anyone. Sure she followed around Malfoy, but never contributed with his gang of hooligans.
Bunny had seen her a couple of times, usually finding a seat in the back corner of the classroom, or alone at the library table across the room, from where Bunny sat.
Looking away from the girl, she noted the people around her. They all avoided them, moving out of their way to not to touch her. They were all afraid, terrified, to frightened to try and befriend her.
She glanced back at Lestrange, and realized the girl didn't flinch, didn't seem effected by the fact, that Susan Bones had stopped short, backtracked, and then went around Bunny instead.
She was used to this.
Bunny caught the girl's eye, and could see the pain in her soul.
She was used to it, but hated it.
Lestrange dropped her eyes, and spoke softly, "Be careful." She started to turn, but Bunny caught her by the arm. The girl look back at her, startled by the touch. Her dark eyes dropped to the hand holding her there.
Smiling warmly, Bunny asked, "Wait. What do you mean?"
The raven-haired girl looked up, "You need to be careful." Her voice was detached, filled with a void. Bunny frowned, "Be carefully of what?" She released the girl's arm, letting her hand fall at her side.
Lestrange shook her head, "Nothing." She took a step in the other direction, but Bunny called her back, "Now wait. You can't just tell me to be careful, and then not say of what."
There was a long sigh, from the dark haired Slytherin. Then she spoke in her usual calm tone, "All I can say, is be careful Moon."
Bunny frowned, as the girl started down the hall, leaving her to stand there. "Hey." she paused, her brows drawing together, "Rei, its Bunny, not Moon."
Rei glanced over her shoulder, wild bangs falling into her mysterious eyes. A smile tugged at her lips, and she drawled, "Right." Turning back around, she lost herself in the crowd.
Smiling, the blonde haired girl turned back to where she had last seen Ron. She saw him, coming around the corner, and coming towards her. "Ron!"
She raced towards him, able to reach him, since there were less people now. "Oy Ron you okay?" She stopped in front of him, the smile on her face faltering. Looking down to see what he was staring at, she gasped, "What happened?"
Ron grimaced, "Norbert bit me." Bunny frowned, "who?" She grabbed his hand to inspect it. She peered down at the gash, which had taken a nice shade of green, "Ron why haven't you had Madam Pomfrey look at this?" Bunny lifted her eyes from his hand to look him in the eye. Even though his skin was pale, his cheeks had taken a hint of pink. "And you're burning up. Come on."
Being careful, she started to lead him to the hospital wing.
Ron flushed brighter, "Well, err, I was just about to go down there. The dragon bit me." She glanced back at him, "He did? What did you do?" The red haired boy scowled, "What do you mean, what did I do? I was feeding the bloody thing, and it tried to take my hand off. Hagrid told me off for frightening it, and now you?" He threw up his free hand in aggravation.
Bunny giggled, "Sorry Ron. But you better think up a story to tell Pomfrey. Its illegal to have a dragon." Ron nodded, his frown deepening. "I could tell her I was bitten by a dog."
She rolled her eyes, "Yea right. The only dog here is Fang, and he's Hagrid's dog. Be better off saying a dragon attacked you. Fang doesn't have a single ounce of courage in him to attack." Ron sighed, "Okay, okay."
At the hospital wing, Bunny knocked on the door. A minute later, Madam Pomfrey swung the door open. "Dear what happened here?"
Before Bunny could say anything, Ron blurted out, "I was bitten by a dog." The blonde shot him a heated look, before she glanced at the nurse. The woman wasn't buying it, and Bunny felt her insides go cold.
"All right, come in then. Moon, you go on to class, I'll take care of Weasley." Bunny nodded, and waved to Ron, before she shut the door to the infirmary. Stuffing her hands into the pocket of her robes, she started towards Charms class.
?????
Folding the corner of the page she was reading, Bunny sighed. She closed the book, and stared at the cover apprehensively.
At hearing the girl's sigh, Mina lifted her head from where it laid, to see what was troubling her friend. "Didn't you finish that book, two weeks ago?"
Bunny looked up from the cover, and smiled sheepishly. "Uh, yes I did." She quickly stuffed the book under her pillow, before rolling over onto her back. Sitting up, she was startled by Mina's question, "It doesn't have a title does it? It because it's about him, isn't it."
She hugged the pillow tightly to her chest her glossy nails digging into the fabric. A small smile played in her face, before she whispered beneath her breath, "About the Dark Lord."
An inaudible sound escaped her lips, before Bunny hissed angrily, "Mina, hold your tongue!" She glanced around wearily hoping no one had heard the girl's slip of tongue.
Mina rolled her eyes dramatically, "Hogs posh!"
Bunny frowned, "You mean Hogs wash." The blonde bit out, "That's what I said! I don't know how the lot of you can be so afraid of that wretched man's name! Blimey, you think being wizards and witches you would have some sort of a backbone in yeh." She shoved herself off her bed, and moved across the room, so that she stood in front of Bunny. "No one in my family has ever been afraid of Voldemort, and I damn well will not either, no matter how powerful he is."
Bunny shuddered at the name, chills crawling up and down her spine. She had read his story at least twenty times, to when he was first recognized, till he was defeated. Catching her breath, she asked, "And who is your family?" She didn't remember ever reading one witch or wizard not being afraid to speak that man's name. Only two people, one because he did not understand the full extent of the evil wizard's true darkness, and the other, because he was much stronger than the evil wizard.
Mina smirked with satisfaction as she replied smoothly, "Why I'm the great niece of Albus Dumbledore." Bunny's mouth fell open, "You're related to- to the headmaster!" The blonde in front of her giggled, "Well duh silly. I am a pure blood, and there are only a few of us left."
The door to the girl's dormitory swung open, "You're not going to believe who's outside our common room right now." Hannah Abbot stood at the stairs, her face flushed, and her hair askew. Her chest rose and fell from every battered breath that escaped her lips.
Mina asked confused, "Who?"
The girl squealed, jumping around with great excitement, "Harry Potter!" She clapped her hands wildly, her eyes filling with tears. "And he wants to talk to you!" She danced about, her finger pointed directly at the two girls. Bunny pointed at Mina while the other blonde pointed at her. Together they chorused, "her?"
Bunny looked at Mina, and Mina looked at her. "Me?"
Hannah shook her head, and pointed right at Bunny, "No you! I can't believe this! You're acting so calm!" She fell onto her bed with a dreamy sigh. Bunny felt horrified, wondering if she had acted the same way when she had met Harry.
When she reached the painting leading out of the Hufflepuff common room, Bunny felt her cheeks still burning. Her heart was beating so hard in her chest she could barely breathe. Pushing the door open, she was greeted with the sight of the Gryffindor boy.
His black hair was unkempt, and she almost smiled when she caught him trying to flatten it. He turned at the sound of the door opening, and his bright green eyes landed on her. "Hi."
He looked away, reaching up and scratched the back of his neck nervously. Bunny fidgeted at where she stood, her face so hot it brought tears to her eyes. Forcing herself to look up, she was ashamed to admit, that her eyes landed on the scar first, before dropping to his face.
He must have caught her fleeting glance, for he pressed his hand to the lightning bolt mark, forcing his bangs to cover it more. "I err, I need to talk to you." He turned and started to leave her standing in the common room doorway. Quickly, she shut the portrait, and hurried after him. "About what?"
She matched his pace, and stuffed her hands into the pockets of her skirt. She had forgotten her robes on her bed, which also meant she had left her wand.
"Did you, well have you talked with Malfoy?" He glanced at her, his eyes only flickering onto her for a brief second, before dancing away nervously. Bunny frowned, her mind still distracted by the thought of leaving her wand. "Malfoy? Why would I talk to-"
She cut herself off, as she stopped abruptly from her walk. Harry also stopped, and turned to look back at her. Closing her eyes, she fought to control her rising anger, before she opened them too look at him. "You have nerve asking me- I cant believe you-" Bunny cried out in frustration, her hands rising to her chest, and fingers tightened into fists.
The urge to scream was strong, but she wouldn't let herself break down like that, not again. Not when things were starting to go right.
Harry sighed heavily, "Look I didn't mean it like that." Bunny scoffed, "Well it sure sounded like you were." He shook his head, "No, I was hoping you had talked to him about." he glanced up and down the corridor, "about Norbert."
Bunny flushed, "Oh." She looked down at her feet, "No I haven't." She suddenly felt like a heel. Lately, she had been so busy trying to study for the up coming exams, she had forgotten about Hagrid and his Dragon. "I'm sorry Harry, I totally forgot." Her hands formed fists at her sides, how could she do something like that?
He shrugged, "It's all right. Ron, Hermione and I have a plan to help Norbert. So don't worry about it." When she looked up, he was smiling at her. "What kind of plan?" Harry shook his head, "I can't say. But we have it all taken care of." He tilted his head slightly, as if he wanted to add a something.
Sort of.
There was something wrong, something that had to do with Malfoy. The plan the three Gryffindors had made, had a flaw, and somehow the Slytherin boy had something to do with it.
"Okay I understand. So was that all you wanted to ask me?" She stared hopefully at him, praying that there was something more. She wanted to be his friend, but he seemed less willing to do so.
He frowned, before he answered, "Well there is something." Reaching into his robes, he pulled out a folded note. He held it out to her, "Don't read it till later okay." Bunny stared at the slip of paper wearily. "What is it?"
Hadn't she seen a movie, or read a book, about notes? Maybe heard a song? She racked her brain, but came up empty. This was all new to her.
Taking the paper, she clutched it tightly in her palm. "Err, thanks." He shrugged uneasily, "Uh, your welcome. Well I got to go, I promised Ron I would visit him." He waved, as he turned from her, and started up the stairs.
She stared at the stairs, till she could hear his feet on the marble staircase. Waiting a breath of a second, she bolted up the flight of steps. Skipping passed the marble staircase; she tore down the stairs leading to the dungeon. Down there she hurried to the Slytherin common room.
Reaching the space on the wall, she pounded hard on it. "Open up this minute!" She pounded hard, till her hand felt raw. "Rei! Rei!
There was crash from inside, before the door swung open. Bunny visibly paled at the sight of the Quidditch captain of the Slytherin team. Marcus Flint. "Dammit woman!" His eyes were hard as ice, as they bore down on her. "What the bloody hell is all this racket for, first year!" His lips curled into a sneer.
Bunny knew she was shaking, but she was able to muster, "I need to talk to Lestrange."
He was the worst Slytherin, and she had far been lucky of never running into him. He scowled down at her, his body towering over her smaller form. He made no move to get Rei, or say anything. He didn't even slam the door in her face.
Swallowing, Bunny ducked beneath his arm, and slipping into the room. "Rei!" She glanced at all the Slytherin students sitting in the armchairs. They had stopped chatting to look at her. "Rei."
Out of the corner of her eyes, she caught sight of Draco, and his group. The white haired boy smirked, "She's not here." His eyes hardened, "as a matter of fact, she went looking for something."
Bunny nodded, "Thank you!" She whirled around, ready to leave, but found herself trapped. Flint had shut the exit, and was blocking her sight of the door.
"I-"
Fear filled her heart, as she watched the other members of the Slytherin house stand around her. Breathing in deeply, she held her breath, as she asked, "Can you please step aside?" The air whooshed from her lungs, when he chuckled. The blood drained from her body, as he stepped towards her.
She didn't even have her wand on her. Tears flooded her eyes, as she took a frightened step back. She bumped into something, knocking an end table over. Gasping, she jumped back, the sound setting her nerves into overdrive.
The group around her laughed, and Flint taunted, "Like a frightened little rabbit."
Bunny scowled at him, her fear shoved out of the way as anger seized her. What kind of witch was she, if she backed away now? What did she prove by letting her fear get the best of her?
If she wanted to prove that she could be worth something, then she was going to have to stand up to her enemy, armed or unarmed.
How could she defend herself with a wand? Sure she could try and punch him, but that highly wasn't plausible. He was bigger and beefier.
Breathing ruthlessly through her nose, she bit out, "Don't call me that." Only her mother would be able to call her rabbit.
Flint chuckled as he glanced at Montague, and Pucy, two more Slytherin Quidditch players. Out of all the players of the Slytherin team, most of them didn't have skills; it was just size and strength. Most of them were bigger than her, even the girls.
Taking another route, she asked, "Can I please leave? I need to find Lestrange." The Quidditch captain shook his head, "No first year. You interrupted us." A smirk formed on his already twisted face. Bunny felt her heart plummet to her toes.
She couldn't defend herself against these boys. She was only dressed in her school skirt and blouse. No vest, no robes, and certainly no wand. Where was Snape when you need him? At least he would give her a wand to defend herself. He wouldn't allow an unfair fight take place. No matter how much of a creep he was.
Suddenly Flint slipped his wand out from his robes and pointed it at her heart. "Lets have a little fun shall we?" Bunny took a step back, her heart hammering against her rib cage, trying to break free. Fear seemed to swallow her whole, and the fear was more powerful now, than when she had nearly drowned.
He flicked his wrist, the wand moving in front of her. She gasped, jerking back, her hands flying up to protect herself.
"Stupefy!"
She would have screamed if she had the chance, but her mouth refused to open, to utter a sound. There was a loud thump, but it wasn't her body hitting the ground. She blinked, staring through the gap between her shielding arms. Flint lay unconscious at her feet.
Her arms dropped, and she noted everyone had backed up.
"I recommend none of you muttering a spell at her. Or you'll be answering to me." She recognized the voice, and Bunny didn't have to look to see who had saved her. "Disobey me, and you'll be answering to my father."
She turned then, to look at Draco Malfoy. Why would he do that? His pale eyes narrowed at her, "You owe me Hufflepuff. Now get out of here, before I change my mind."
She shot the boy a glare, "I don't owe you anything!"
"Hey what's going on in here?" Bunny turned to the raven-haired girl in relief. She rushed to her, grabbing the girl's hand, and pulling her back out the door. "Boy that was close." She didn't allow herself to rest until the door to the common room was closed, and they were climbing the stairs. "I went looking for you, and Flint trapped me inside."
"And Malfoy saved you?" At her nod, Rei frowned. "How odd. Well, I went looking for you too. I found this in Malfoy's belongings." She slipped a piece of parchment from her robes, and held them out. Bunny took it, and then she unfolded it. Her blue eyes scanned the writing closely. "But that's tonight! And Malfoy knows. He's going to get them in trouble, that's why he's been so giddy lately."
She tapped her chin in thought. "The tallest tower?"
Rei nodded, "where we have Astronomy class." Bunny nodded, "It must be. I'll have to follow them, and make sure Malfoy doesn't get in their way."
Her companion's face creased with worry, "How do you plan on doing that?" Dropping her head, Bunny replied sadly, "I don't know."
?????
It sure was dark out in the halls. It was almost midnight, and the others would be on their way to the tallest tower soon.
Rubbing her hands up and down her arms, she shivered. She did not owe Malfoy anything she scolded herself. Not after all he had done to her, and her friends.
Reaching the stairs leading up at the end of the corridor, she hurried up them. Halfway up, her shoulder bumped into a suit of armor. It hit the floor with a loud clang that echoed down the stairs, and throughout the hall.
The color drained from her face, Filch or Mrs. Norris would surely have heard that. Bolting up the stairs with renewed strength, she ran without trying to distinguish her feet hitting the steps. "Mr. Malfoy!"
Bunny hesitated, her heart pounding, her breath labored. She didn't owe him anything, right? Glancing over her shoulder, she felt obligated to help him. But she was only here, to stop him from getting Harry and the others into trouble right? So she couldn't help him.
Turning back around, she forced herself to ignore Professor McGonagall's angry shouts, and Malfoy's pleading.
She didn't owe him anything! She reached the top with record speed that would have shocked her Professors. All she needed was the thought of Filch and Mrs. Norris at her heels to get her moving like that. Shivering from the cold, she crossed her arms protectively over her chest. A cold breeze hit her in the back, and it did nothing to keep her warm.
A sound from behind her jostled her from her spot. Ducking behind a statue, she peered out from over the wing of a gargoyle. She watched as Harry, and Hermione appeared, with a large cage.
What a relief!
"Malfoy's got detention! I could sing!" Hermione was practically dancing with joy, as she hopped up and down next to Harry. Bunny had to frown, but a smile threatened to break out on her face. Harry quickly replied, "Don't."
Bunny slid down to the ground quietly, not wanting them to hear her. She remained hidden behind the statue, for whatever reason, she wasn't sure. Hugging her robes closer, she kept watch over the two, with the cage, that held a growing dragon. It must have tripled in size, since she last saw it.
Ten minutes passed, and four brooms appeared above them. Watching apprehensively, she watched as the group dropped down. "Oy you must be Charlie's brother's friends."
Bunny sighed, rubbing at her eyes, as she watch them hook Norbert up to the harness. Once he was in their control, Harry and Hermione shook hands with the group, before the four took flight. She watched them from her spot, as they flew off, becoming nothing but a speck in the dark sky.
Paling, Bunny scrambled to her feet, when she noted the two had disappeared down the stairs. Hurrying across, she stood at the top of the stairs.
She went to take a step after them, but something held her back. There was something wrong, when she had seen the top of Hermione's thick brown hair disappear into the stairway. Slowly she turned, and found crumpled on the floor, Harry's Invisibility cloak.
"Uh oh." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well there you go!!!!! I hope u enjoyed this chapter. I was sooooo impressed with myself. I got the whole Norbert thing behind me. GAH! YES! I thought I would never get through it. My book is nearly worn out on that chapter. Reading reread, hehe I know it by heart I swear!
Brightness: LOL I do need to be chained to the keyboard. I'm getting so far behind I could hit myself.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed. ( Don't forget to read my sequel What Lies in a Destiny when u have time. I'm sure you'll get a few laughs. Or at least I hope ;-)
Polls!
Harry/Bunny: 56
Ron/Bunny: 33
Ron/Ami: 5
Ron/Hermione: 3
Draco/Bunny: 30
Draco/Lita: 8
Fred or George/Bunny: 1
Fred of George/Mina: 3 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chaser: 9
Keeper: 2
Beater: 2
Well enjoy! Tata for now LP signing out