The Halls of the Blind

Chapter Eight

Pieces


You're incomplete until you're in love; then you're finished.


A/N: Um... I'm gonna do the reviews first...

Faerie Fighter: *snicker* Omg.... *snicker* I literally fell out of my chair when I read that. Q, my friend that helps me with plot suggestions, thought it was funny as well. We're finding a way to give him his sight back... we are, promise.

selua: I skipped over the fight on purpose. It's contents will crop up occasionally. Yes, Draco knows about the object of Harry's affection, just as Harry knows Draco's. They didn't break up the day after they kissed. I skipped over a lot of time in between each scene. The chapter started the second week of school. Then ended with the first quidditch match in November. So, they had been together for almost two months. So, it didn't start and end all in one day. Harry had never told Herm that he and Draco had broken up. See? I would answer a few of your other questions... but those answers are beyond my reach at the moment.

Evelia: *snicker* well, that's a given.... but not in this chapter. Awe, I'm sorry about making you flinch, but I'm glad you understand the reasons for it. *huggles* You're the best, you know that?

The Goddess Artemis: Wow, I only just realized how they could be taken as Gravi muses. But they've been my muses before I ever read Gravi, let alone, heard about it. No, they're not. Shi is Death, and Ryu is Dragon. Hmm... I should put a 'poke' in there somewhere, huh?

SEP: Alright, I'm on it. I'm better at angst, but I can try to throw some romance in there as well.

Ok, those are done. On to the story:


***


Harry negated the Hearing Charm and leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms over his head and popping his back. They were in the library, again. Hermione started joining Harry and Draco the week after the Quidditch match (Slytherin kicked Gryffindor's butt, 210-150). He and Draco were working on Transfiguration, and Hermione was looking through books for something to cure his blindness.


He heard Draco snort after Hermione sat back down. Draco had just told Hermione about his feelings for her earlier that day, but it didn't stop him from commenting on her book choices. " 'Ye Big Book o' Torture'? Great, I suppose I should be wary of pissing you off? Who's it by? Carolyn J. Wilson? That sounds a bit American."


"It's because she is American. Her and her best friend, Halliy-Jayde, came over from America and went to school here," came Ginny's voice. "Hey, Harry."


"You're talking to me..."


"You expect all of us to be like Ron? He's just hurt. He'll come around. The rest of us though, we miss talking to you guys."


Harry smiled. "Then by all means, sit."


Draco rolled his eyes and Hermione hit his arm. "Careful, or I might just read this whole book and find ways to use it on you."


"You're not going to read the whole thing?"


"No, just this chapter."


"'How to fix what you screwed up'. Intriguing."


Ginny smiled. "She's insane. Literally. Her spells and charms only ever work for her."


"You sound like you know her."


"I do. Her and Halliy-Jayde went to school with Bill and Charlie."


Draco snorted. "I think this is what you're looking for Hermione. It's a spell called Echo Location. I think I'll read it out loud. It'll give one or more of us a good laugh." He made a show of clearing his throat, making Harry and Ginny snicker. "Made a poor victim blind when you didn't intend to? Well, here's a nifty spell. This will do indefinitely until you find a spell or potion to fix his vision. (I recommend reading 'Curative Potions' by Halliy-Jayde Marrie Black.)


"And now for the spell:

Eye of newt

toe of frog

turn this pig

into a dog."


Ginny laughed as Harry and Draco snickered. Hermione frowned. "What does this have to do with blindness?"


"Wait, there's more:

Sip of coke

and ear of bat

yes, it's relevant

so take that

Then promptly make your victim drink an entire can of coke*. Hmm... there's a footnote."


"What does it say?"


"*Coke-a-cola does not endorse this spell."


Harry chuckled. "No, I don't think they would."


"What's Coke?"


"And who's Coke-a-cola?"


"Coke is a muggle drink, Ginny. Coke-a-cola, is the company name, Draco, they make it."


"What's it taste like?"


"I'll send an owl to my parents and see if they can send us some," said Hermione, her quill already moving over the parchment. "Let me see that book. I'm wondering if this is just a joke."


Ginny shakes her head. "It's not. It's a charm that works, but I'm not sure that anyone besides her has been successful."


"I can see why."


"You said you know her?"


"Yeah, she's in Egypt with Bill. They work together."


"I do hope you are not planning to bring her here, Miss Granger. This school will descend into chaos, seeing as how she is chaos personified."


"Professor Snape! Well, me might have to. Ginny said most of Carolyn's spells work primarily for her only."


"And they do, most of the time. She's more disastrous than Mister Longbottom. I do not think this school could handle it if she came back here and ran amok. I suggest you find 'Curative Potions' by Halliy-Jayde. She was less disastrous than her friend."


"Is it here in the library?"


"No. Flourish and Blotts should be able to obtain a copy of it though." He turned and walked away. "Do us all a favor, Miss Granger, and burn that book," he said over his shoulder, disappearing out into the hallway.


"Can anyone be that bad?"


"You have no idea, Hermione. Carolyn scares Ron and she's Fred and George's inspiration."


"Well, I can probably get the coke before I can get the other book... Want to try this one anyways? But, if Ginny is right, and her spells only work for her, then we'll have to wait longer."


Harry shrugged. "We can try I guess."


***


Harry sighed. "It's not working, Hermione."


There was a knock on the door, and Harry turned. "Pelikara?"


"A werewolf, little-one."


Harry gaped. "A were-" He turned back. "It's Remus!"


"I'll get it," said Hermione, already walking to the door.


"Hello, Hermione."


"Hello, Remus."


"Is Harry here?"


Hermione nodded, and opened the door wider for Remus.


Harry heard Remus step in and heard the door shut.


They both walked to the middle of the room, and Remus stood in front of Harry. His hand reached out and landed on Harry's shoulder. "Harry."


"Remus...?" He hugged Remus, feeling Remus's arms going around him to return his embrace. Harry pulled away suddenly and beat a fist against Remus's chest. "Where in the bloody nine hells have you been? It's been over three months since I got here, I haven't even gotten an owl from you."


"I'm sorry, Harry. I just got back, and came straight here after Dumbledore had informed me about what had happened. Though, truth be told, it wasn't as much as I'd have liked to know. Snape also told me something interesting. You and Hermione are Slytherin's now, huh?"


"Yeah," Harry mumbled.


"Harry, will you tell me what happened at the Dursley's?"


Harry shook his head and backed away. "No." He sat down on the couch, his hands in his lap, face emotionless.


Remus just looked at him for a moment before nodding and sitting down across for him. "You know you can tell me anything, any time, right?"


Harry smiled and nodded. "Yeah. Hey, maybe you can help. This spell isn't working."


Remus raised an eyebrow, but accepted the change of subject. "What spell?"


Hermione had come over to stand by the coffee table. "Echo Location."


"Please tell me it's not Carolyn's spell."


"It is."


"Why that spell instead of Halliy-Jayde's potion?"


"Her book, 'Curative Potions' won't be here for another week. And I don't know how long it will take to make the potion either."


"And Severus doesn't know the potion?"


Hermione shook her head. "I've asked. He said he's never made it, never had a reason to."


Remus reached out and took the book, reading over the spell. He shook his head. "She'll have to do it."


"And how do we get her to come to Hogwarts?"


"She owes me a favor. If she comes, Bill will have to come as well."


"Why is that?"


"She has a small habit of cursing people on accident. Bill is a curse breaker. They're a nice match. Cute couple as well. I'll send an owl. Could I borrow Hedwig, Harry?"


Harry nodded, "Sure."


***


When Severus Snape walked into Harry's room the next night, he was accosted by the bundle of energy known as Carolyn Wilson after she had a bottle of Coke. She was probably the only person anybody had ever seen give Severus Snape a hug, and live to tell the tale.


"How's my favorite professy-poo? You still are the most huggable prof here!"


Harry almost felt sorry for Severus, almost. At least now he could 'see' where objects and people were. "Hey, Carolyn, give Professor Snape room to breathe. And if it's all the same to you, I'd prefer that he remain alive and breathing."


"But, but-"


"Carolyn," came Bill's soft tenor.


Carolyn pouted at Bill. Then she shrugged, and let go of Snape. She practically skipped over to Bill and latched onto his arm, smiling her little half-smile. Bill nodded to Snape. "Professor."


"Mr. Weasley, maybe you should consult with Halliy-Jayde on how to control your girlfriend."


"I've tried, but Jay just smiles and shakes her head or tells me that I should learn how to by myself."


Carolyn piped up, "Speaking of which, she told me to say hi for her." Carolyn waves. "Hi." Latching back on to Bill's arm, she continued. "And, she was wondering if you could test a few of her theories."


"And why is she unable to do them herself?"


"She's in Romania."


Snape raised an eyebrow.


Carolyn rolled her eyes. "With Charlie."


Harry smiled. "Taming the dragon tamer, interesting." He was ignored, for the most part.


"Very well then. Send them my way when you get them."


"I can just conjure them up now."


And before anyone could protest, she had already said the required spell, only it didn't do what it was supposed to. Carolyn blinked. "Woah. Dude. Uh. Um. I don't think that was supposed to happen. Um, sorry, Professor. I'm real sorry, I didn't mean to." She looked at Bill pleadingly. "Help."


He stared down at the toad that used to be Professor Snape. He snickered. "How many times have you done that now? Seven?"


"Eight," she mumbled.


He waved his wand and Snape was back to his normal self, glaring daggers at Carolyn. In his hands he held a small stack of papers. "Next time, Ms. Wilson, just send them by owl. And what is so funny, Mr. Potter?"


Harry tried to stop laughing, he really did, but he laughed for another minute before he could answer. "She's turned you into a toad eight times? It's no wonder why you didn't want her here."


Snape let out a long suffering sigh, turned and walked back out the door, a slight smile on his face. It was the first time Harry had laughed like that since he came to Hogwarts. He was starting to pick up the pieces.



A/N: Longest chapter so far!! Hope you guys don't mind the bits of humor. And the um... *cough*slefinsertions*cough*. Me and Q are in this. There's gonna be at least one sidefic, Carolyn and Bill... because Q requested it. So I have two requests to work on and the next chapter where things really start getting going between Sev and Harry. Any suggestions? Other than Hot, rompy sex with Sev? *wink*