HARRY POTTER AND THE SEERS' TRUTH
By Lady Lestrange
Chapter 29
Spelling Bee
10 REVIEWS. Here's the new chapter—I really hate blackmailing you into reviewing, but hey, I'm a Slytherin. It's in my nature, so when there are 10 reviews for this chapter, the next one will magically appear. LOL Love my readers and reviewers. Answers to reviews follow the story.
Disclaimer: The Harry Potter characters and previous situations belong to JK Rowlings. No infringement is meant or implied. No money is made from this Fanfic. THANKS JK.
LADY LESTRANGE
***
(A/N: I've been reading a number of fanfics in installments like this one myself, and find it is sometimes hard to remember exactly what has happened before-In a fic as complex as this one is, I thought having a reminder may be helpful for you. If you want to skip it, just page down FOUR times. --Lady Lestrange)
UP TO THIS POINT: Parvati has been having dreams and visions about the Dark Lord, Harry and a Prophecy Child. So far, they are not sure who the prophecy child is, and it is important for them to find him/her. The Sorting Hat is not sorting, so the students have "little brothers and sisters" to show around. The dream team thinks that The Sorting Hat failing is a plot to hide the Prophecy child from the teachers and anyone who can help insure that he/she stays on the side of light. No one is sure that the brothers
and sisters actually belong to the house they are currently in.
The Hogwarts Express has been attacked. Dark Marks have been in the sky. The floo network is compromised. The Minister of Magic has been turned. Snape is now teaching both Defense and Advanced Defense, but it looks like Advanced Defense is just an excuse to let the Slytherins and Ginny and Edward visit the Dark Lord. Mrs. Figg is teaching potions and we know very little about her so far, except that she was against Dumbledore's suggestion to make Poly Juice Potion.
Beatrice is an animagus, a bunny. Edward's granny looks like she could have given the Dursleys a few pointers on cruelty. Slytherin is a house at war according to Snape, divided between Death Eaters and those who want to stay on the side of light. Harry uses his Invisibility Cloak and finds out when it is ripped, the Invisibility spell ceases. There is an unwelcome addition to Myrtle's bathroom, Olive Hornby. Peeves is his usual annoying self, but the Baron seems to have a little less control over him.
Samara, for some reason, lofts some wicked, powerful curses. She doesn't look like she has total control over them, which isn't really surprising since she's learned magic on her own from a book, that Harry is sure is a dark book. She seems to like Draco, but don't assume this is a romance. It is not. Ginny is still hearing voices in her head. Harry's scar is hurting more, and neither he nor Ginny know what this means. Ginny is closer with Harry this year, but again, not romantically. There is Edward, the new Gryffindor, who seems interested in Ginny, but Ginny really hasn't gotten over Tom.
We find out about Neville's powerful auror parents. We learn that Neville has a memory charm that was put on him as a baby. He's a more powerful wizard than anyone ever thought as evidenced by his yew wand and the way he reacts to Snape's ministrations in trying to remove the memory charm. We might wonder why Snape is trying to do this himself, instead of enlisting the help of Madam Pomfrey. Sirius and Lupin are on "fieldtrips" with the sixth and seventh years.
Of course we can also wonder why Snape is so determined to teach his classes advanced spells like the Patronus, or we can just chalk it up to Snape, being mean. The Fifth year class starts apparition classes and we meet Professor Sinistra. We also visit Hufflepuff, where we see The Wall, and Slytherin house, where we discover, to our amazement, a magic room that Draco shares with Samara, but Samara has a very unslytherin use for the room. Ravenclaw to come next weekend.
The chapter, CHAINED AND CHARMED, takes place at the same time as DANCING IS AN OUT OF BODY EXPERIENCE-when Samara was in Slytherin, dancing. It is Saturday afternoon. Harry and the Gryffindors examine Samara's Dark Book, after they come back from lunch. They find an extreme potion, and decide they need to make a trip to the Chamber of Secrets. Ghastly Ghostly Dinner is when Gryffindor's meet with Samara after her little trip to Slytherin. Samara and Beatrice are persuaded by Edward to help him steal his snake back from his brother Ethan. Things get a little out of hand, and Samara learns more about Slytherin than she ever wanted to know.
Now the Gryffindors are mad at her. Samara wants to make up and be friends with them, but is it possible to befriend both Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy? How far will she go to make up, or will she just find some valuable information to store away for future use? (So, don't you want one of those Tee shirts?)
LIONS AND TIGERS:We see a very stressed out Snape both in Harry's memory of what happened with Snape and Neville and in the actual DADA class. We find out Trelawney doesn't want Samara in her class and Samara decides to take Ancient Runes instead. McGonagall assures Samara that Trelawney has done her a favor. McGonagall further talks to Samara about her experiences in Gryffindor, opening the door to give Samara someone to talk to, if she so chooses. We also learned lots more about animagi in McGonagall's class. Snape dismisses the Gryffifndors and keeps the Slytherins after class. We find out it's because Snape wants them to practice their patronus because the Slytherins are so lousy at the spell. Could it be because there are so few happy memories to chose from? In DRAGON BREATH AND BLUDGER BATS, Ginny and Edward set the Slytherins up with fire mints, and Samara gets extremely angry at them both because they hurt her friends. In an effort to contain her anger, she goes to the Quiddich pitch where she meets Fred and George. After lobbing a few quaffles at them in her anger, they decide to ask her to be a Beater for Gryffindor. She refuses, but later when she talks to Draco, he is not very nice to her, (hey, who said Draco was a nice guy?) so she wonders whether or not she should take the Beater job. In WISH IT REAL; WISH IT NOT we see into one of Ginny's dreams. If you don't remember this dream, go and re-read chapter 28.
AND NOW ON TO THE STORY:
Chapter 29
SPELLING BEE
When Ginny awoke on Thursday morning she was on the floor beside her bed. She had fallen out of bed! Again! It was so embarrassing. She scrambled back onto the bed and looked around at her roommates. Fortunately, it was still early and they were still asleep. Except for a stiff shoulder where it had been laying on the cold, hard floor, she felt more refreshed than she had in weeks. The dreams must have been better last night, she thought. It was strange that she didn't remember them. Usually Tom made her remember every disgusting detail. She closed her eyes again—just for a moment.
Samara's wind-up muggle alarm clock started ringing and when Samara didn't get up to shut it off, Ginny banished the thing to Samara's bed. "I'm awake," Samara muttered as she shut off the alarm, and sat up.
"Damn, it can't be morning yet," complained Lavender. "I feel like I just went to sleep."
Hermione waltzed out of the bathroom. She was completely dressed and ready for class. She tied her tie without looking in the mirror and slung her books over her back like always—"I'll see you later," she said cheerfully, and headed down to breakfast.
"I'm next!" Ginny dove for the bathroom, but Samara was faster, jumping off of her bed and knocking her perpetual rose from its vase.
"Wake me in ten minutes," muttered Lavender as she pulled the sheet over her head.
"Where's Parvati?" asked Ginny, as she reached down to pick up the lavender rose and put it back in its vase. Absently, she buried her nose in its petals, inhaling the sweet fragrance, and trying not to be envious. After all the rose was from Draco.
"Trelawney," Lavender muttered into her pillow.
"What?" Ginny put the vase back on Samara's desk.
"She went to talk to Trelawney again," said Lavender. She sat up in bed and faced Ginny. "Late last night," she said. "I'm worried about her. All the time she's spending with that woman, it's starting to creep me out—"
"I thought you liked Trelawney and Divination," said Ginny.
"I do. But as a class—a teacher—not as someone who is taking away my best friend."
"I think you're over-reacting, Lavender."
"No. I know Parvati admired Trelawney before, but half the words that come out of her mouth lately just sound like she's mimicking Trelawney. Professor Trelawney said this and Professor Trelawney said that—I feel like I'm talking to Trelawney most of the time instead of Parvati—It's like she's possessed—or channeling Trelawney--"
Ginny just looked at Lavender.
"Well Virginia, you know what that's like, don't you?"
"Go away, Tom."
"You know I'm not going anywhere, Ginny Love—"
"And don't call me Ginny Love—"
"Ginny," called Samara. "Next for the shower."
"I'm sorry," she said to Lavender. "Gotta go." She hurried to get ready for class. Samara had already left for breakfast when she got out of the shower.
In the Great Hall, Samara looked for Beatrice. She was sitting with Neville and Lou.
Just then, the post owls started to fly into the room. Samara was surprised that Grandma Lori actually wrote a letter back to her. Aggie flew to her outstretched arm and hooted as if to ask if she had any good food. Samara walked to the table and gave her a bite of bacon before shooing her off to the owlry. Samara immediately opened the letter, while Beatrice, Lou and Neville ate their breakfast and chatted about classes.
Dear Sam,
Samara suddenly felt very homesick. At home, she was "Sam", just one of the guys, as her brothers called her. Here, in the wizarding world she was Samara, and there was a whole new set of rules. She wanted nothing more than to feel Grandma Lori's skinny arms around her and to hear her voice telling her that everything would work out for the best. Samara blinked. If she wasn't careful, she'd end up crying, right here at the breakfast table in the Great Hall.
She looked up, and caught Draco watching her. Immediately, she turned her attention back to Grandma Lori's letter. Ginny's words seemed to echo in her brain: "Do you know what Death Eaters do for fun, Samara? They kill muggles." Samara looked down the table to where Ginny was giggling over something that Edward had said, and then she looked back at her letter.
Dear Sam,
Well, your owl almost frightened me out of my wits. He flew right in the window and sat on the television where I was trying once again to fix the color. I'm so tired of everyone being green. I suppose I'll have to get a new set soon. The color is a mess. At first I thought the owl was just a confused woodland creature and then I remembered he might have a message from that school of yours. He seemed very hungry. I fed him some sausage. He ate an awful lot of it. I hope that it won't make him sick.
Your brothers are being hooligans as usual, but your Mom and Dad are coping. I think they will still be together at Christmas so don't worry. If they don't stay together because of love, I'm sure they'll stick together out of habit and laziness.
I'm very glad that you decided to write to me. I just was re-reading some of the old news clippings from your grandfather's obituary and remembered one reporter saying he died as if by magic. It gave me a chill. So I'm happy to hear that you're liking school, but it seems very lonely here without you. Next time write about your new friends. I will feel better knowing you have found some good chums to share things with. Have you told anyone you see auras? Or have you been silent and secretive like your grandfather used to be? Remember a smile will make you more friends than a frown will and try to say only nice things about people. I doubt that wizards are different from—regular people in that respect.
As far as this boy you told me about, don't be too anxious to tie yourself down to one, no matter how nice he seems, especially since you barely know him. Get to know his friends and family. I know you are a good judge of character, so use those gifts wisely and remember, to whom much is given, much is expected.
Love you. Miss you and looking forward to seeing you at Christmas. I'll tell your Mom and Dad that you are doing fine.
Love,
Grandma Lori
Samara folded the letter and held it close to her heart as if that could make her closer to Grandma Lori. Tell her about her new friends! Ha! Samara glanced over at Beatrice. Well, maybe she had one new friend anyway--
Neville, Lou, Beatrice and Samara walked to the library together for their free period. "I wish Professor Dumbledore would have found someone to replace Hagrid," said Neville. "I miss Care of Magical Creatures. Although I shouldn't complain. I have more time to study my other classes."
"Especially since you have OWL's this year," added Lou.
"What animals did you study?" asked Beatrice.
"Let's see," said Neville, "And he began a litany of animals that Samara could only wonder about."
"Don't forget unicorns," said Ginny as she and Edward caught up with them.
"Hi Ginny," Samara said guardedly.
"Unicorns?" interrupted Lou. "I thought unicorns wouldn't stand still to let boys interact with them at all—"
"They didn't when we had the substitute, Professor Grubbley-Plank. But then, when Hagrid came back, he found baby unicorns and they let boys touch them," said Neville.
"That was the best class Hagrid ever had," said Ginny. "I really don't miss Care of Magical Creatures this year. With Hagrid it was more like care of Magical Monsters: screwts and hippogrifts and dragon eggs and werewolf pups."
"We never studied werewolves or dragons," said Neville, with a frown on his face. "Did you do them last year?"
"Oh that's right," said Ginny, putting a hand over her mouth. "And Ron swore me to secrecy. Don't tell anyone. I slipped. Norbert wasn't common knowledge—"
"Your secret's safe with us," said Beatrice. "Right Samara?"
"Sure," said Samara distractedly as they seated themselves at the library table. She glanced over at the next table, where the trio was trying not to allow anyone else to see what they were working on. It was obviously not homework. "Looks like the trio still has a few secrets," said Samara.
"Oh they're just working on Parvati's prophecy. They seem to think it has some significance in connection with the Sorting Hat not working," said Ginny.
"Did you really believe a hat could tell that much about someone's personality anyway?" asked Samara as Edward came over to join them at their table.
"Hi Eddie—" said Samara brightly.
Edward frowned and pulled a chair between her and Ginny, with a sour look at Samara he said, softly, "I prefer Edward—the name of kings."
Samara giggled. "Oh yeah, you're a king alright," she said, "More like a knave."
Edward laughed with her. "I guess those of us who never saw this Sorting Hat work have a little trouble believing in it."
Mrs. Pince hushed them and they each opened books and started to work on class work. Samara peered over her history book to watch the changing auras of Harry, Ron and Hermione. Whatever they were working on, certainly had them on edge.
Samara asked the librarian for some information on curses and counter curses that she might have missed studying at home. Samara told Ms. Pince they were having a duel today in DADA class and she didn't want to be too far behind. Although Samara walked by their table several times in her search for books, she didn't see anything of what the trio was working on. She told herself it didn't matter--Ms. Pince was very helpful—that's all that mattered. Samara went back to the table with several excellent books, including one which told how to do an impediment curse which slowed down attackers and a shield charm. That was a particularly handy little charm that was supposed to deflect minor curses. Samara didn't want to have to rely solely on her curses to take down an opponent. The less people she sent to the infirmary, the more likely she was to keep some friends.
Sadly, she opened her grandmother's letter and read it again. What friends?
Later that day, Samara found herself once again alone as she went into potions class.
==
After the class had stirred their polyjuice potions and reattached their cauldron lids, Mrs. Figg had the class return to their lab areas. Reluctantly, Harry left his seat by Ron and Hermione and went to sit with Ethan.
"We are going to learn about an herb which we will be using in our next potion. The herb is called Brimstone Mirra
The potion is called Mirra Opening. Open your books to page 49.
The herb: It's a water plant—actually a type of kelp which only grows deep in the ocean, so it is kept in the cold and dark. Its caustic nature is increased, as its temperature is increased, so we will be doing cooling charms on the room. Let's practice that now, just for safety sake."
Everyone could do a cooling charm except for Samara, however, after several tries, she got it. Mrs. Figg dropped the temperature in the room and anyone who did not wear their sweaters under their robes got them now and put them on.
"I told you to wear warm clothing under your robes and bring your Dragon Hide Gloves to this class," complained Mrs. Figg. "Maybe if you shiver through this class, you will remember next time. If you have forgotten your Dragon Hide Gloves, you may accio them. I don't want you to get sap on your hands."
Mrs. Figg continued talking while several students, including Neville and Ron tried to accio their gloves. Ron got his, but Harry was quite sure Hermione accioed Neville's gloves and then slid them across the table to him. After numerous tries, Goyle still did not have his gloves and Mrs. Figg, finally running out of patience asked if anyone knew what they looked like and where they were. Draco raised his hand. "Get them," she said shortly, and Draco accioed Goyle's gloves.
"Mr. Goyle," Mrs. Figg said, "Accio is an essential charm that you should have learned last year. Did your class cover it?"
"Yes," answered Goyle. "But I'm not very good at charms. This is potions, anyway—" he muttered. "Not charms."
"Five points from Slytherin for your cheek, and if you cannot accio any item I tell you to by tomorrow, you will remain for detention."
"But—"
"Accio is not an optional charm—"
"This isn't charms," whined Goyle.
Mrs Figg ignored his whining and turned to the class. "I was hoping to have this for you last week, but the shipment was delayed. I had to reorder it and it arrived yesterday." Mrs. Figg opened a large box and showed the class a bouquet of long blue sticks as thin as quills.
"This is the main ingredient in Mirra Opening Potion. It can be used in place of the reductor charm, but much more powerful, and much more accurate once it is in the potion.
"Are we making explosives?" Harry muttered.
"It appears so," replied Ethan, his face alight with glee.
"The potion doesn't actually explode, Mr. Lestrange and Mr. Potter," said Mrs. Figg. "What it does is eat through the rock, much like an acid would. It converts the rock and itself into an inert phosphorus based fog, which dissipates.
The reason we don't use the sap without the potion is because it would eat straight through the rock and through the floor of the dungeon also. Plus we wouldn't be able to control the liquid on a vertical surface."
"You mean it would drip?" asked Neville.
"Exactly. The potion acts like a glue which keeps it on the surface, exactly where we want it to be, until it evaporates. The gaseous state of the sap is relatively harmless unless it happens to rain."
"What happens if it rains?" asked Hermione.
"Then it explodes," said Mrs. Figg. "That fact prohibited its being used as a drain cleaner, although before that particular use for dragon's blood was discovered, some wizards used brimstone mirra to unclog drains. As long as you wait for the gases to dissipate, it does work. It is much more economical than dragon's blood, but you cannot run water through the pipes for at least 24 hours." Mrs. Figg finished checking that each of the polyjuice caldrons were properly sealed and simmering.
"But we won't have to worry about explosions." She continued. " Professor Dumbledore wants the potion made to clear out the rocks which are blocking several of the old secret entrances to Hogwarts school." She winked at them conspiratorially.
"I'll bet most of you didn't know there were several ways to make an emergency exit out of Hogwarts. Once they are cleared of debris, they will be escape passageways. In the unlikely event that the Hogwarts wards are ever breached, you will not have to rely on apparition skill alone to escape.
So you see, Miss Granger," continued Mrs. Figg. "This potion will be used underground, and there is no chance of it coming in contact with water."
"How many passageways are there?" asked Harry, thinking of his Maurader's Map on which were more than five if you counted the blocked ones, but that's just the ones that the Mauraders knew about. Add in the Chamber of Secrets and who knows what went out of the Slytherin dungeon--
"Oh dear," answered Mrs. Figg. "I don't believe I should tell you that; however, all of them lead out toward Hogsmeade or onto a known roadway, so you needn't worry about being lost. I don't know how much of this information Professor Dumbledore wants to be common knowledge, so I will not answer any more questions about the nature or whereabouts of these passageways. I'm only telling you to reassure those of you who are frightened by the prospect of Death Eaters entering through the floo."
Harry noticed that Malfoy had a particularly disgusting smirk on his face.
"Mrs, Figg," asked Edward. "If the passageways allow exits, what is to keep someone from using the passage to enter Hogwarts?"
"Ancient and powerful wards," said Mrs. Figg. "You need not worry."
Harry frowned thinking of the numerous times he and Fred and George had used the passageways. Nothing ever stopped them from returning from Hogsmeade So where were these so called wards? Even Sirius used the passageway when everyone wanted to keep Sirius out—At least it appeared that Dumbledore wanted to keep Sirius out. Maybe he didn't. Or maybe Dumbledore didn't know about all of the secret passageways and maybe they weren't all warded.
Harry felt a cold fear in the pit of his stomach. Hadn't Dumbledore himself told Karkaroff at the Yule ball last year that there were many secrets about Hogwarts which he hadn't discovered.
But if they were ancient wards, then they might have been placed by the Founders. They knew all of the secrets of Hogwarts. Of course, Salazar made a secret chamber that none of them knew about. What if he made secret passageways too?
For just a moment, Harry thought of telling Dumbledore about the other secret passages, and then he dismissed the thought. If Dumbledore ever decided that Snape was right, he might need one of those passages—even if he had to use one that went out into the Forbidden Forest.
"Mr. Potter?" Mrs. Figg's voice brought Harry back abruptly to the present and the potions classroom.
"Er—"
"Incendio ," muttered Ethan in a strangled voice that could have been holding back laughter.
"That's correct," said Mrs. Figg. "However, if I wanted you to answer, Mr. Lestrange to answer, I would have asked him. Please pay attention, Mr. Potter."
"Once the potion is brewed and cooled, we will add the herb. The potion protects us from its acidic properties unless the potion is heated past 150 degrees Celcius. As you know, we can get to that temperature either by heating the potion or by using a simple spell such as incendio. Even when cold," Mrs. Figg continued, "this herb is toxic. Most people will get a nasty allergic rash in reaction to the cold sap, so do not touch it without your gloves. It is in addition, of course, poison. The caustic nature of both the sap and the potion has also been used by dark wizards to cause a very painful death. I will be weighing the herbs before I give them to you to make sure we don't—lose any," she said, frowning at Draco and Edward who were obviously finding this class quite funny.
Luckily class was almost over and Mrs. Figg didn't take any points from Gryffindor before it was time to go to Defense, but if looks could kill, Draco Malfoy would have been dead already. Apparently, even Draco realized that he had gone too far. Harry and Ron heard him go up to Mrs. Figg after class and apologize for his behavior.
"What a suck up," muttered Ron. "I guess he isn't so sure of his potions grade now that Snape isn't teaching it."
"So are you ready for this duel, Harry?" asked Hermione brightly.
"I suppose so." How bad can it be? He thought. "I reviewed a lot of the spells we looked up when I was studying for the Third Task."
"I just hope Madam Pomfrey's ready for this duel," said Ron as they entered Snape's classroom.
==
"Today we will practice dueling," said Snape. "I know some of you have some experience from second year dueling club although I hesitate to call that a good experience. It may be more of a liability.
First of all dueling is not about how bad the curses are. That's a separate discipline. Dueling is about speed. If you can curse someone with one curse, it is likely that you can hit him with another. Secondly, blocking is of utmost importance."
"Wands out."
"Let's see everyone's standard block."
"Much too slow. Try again."
"Again."
"Again."
"There isn't one of you who is fast enough," Snape complained. "If you are attacked, I sincerely doubt that your attacker will patiently wait for you to remember which block you want to use." Snape shook his head. "Let's just try a simple stunning spell right now," he said. "I don't want to tax your miniscule brains by making you, idiots, actually think of a spell yourself." He hesitated, looking around the classroom."
"Potter, come here."
Why me? Thought Harry as he stood.
"I want you to block my spell, then immediately cast your own stunning spell." Said Snape.
Harry blocked Snape's stunning spell, which he thought was terribly slow, but hesitated about stunning Snape. In that moment, Snape threw a second stunning spell that hit Harry squarely. Harry crumpled.
"You're supposed to block, Potter, you stupid boy!" growled Snape, as if it was Harry's fault he was hit. "Never hesitate," said Snape. "And never take your eyes off of you opponent. Mr. Malfoy," Snape said, "And Mr. Weasley."
"He'll cheat," whispered Ginny to her brother.
Ron nodded.
"I want to see good blocks," said Snape. "Begin on three."
"One. . .
Ron, expecting Malfoy to cheat, was ready to block on two.
Predictably, Malfoy's curse was released on two, but Ron blocked it and said "Calvitium!"
Malfoy blocked.
"Tarantallegra!" said Malfoy.
Ron blocked.
"Furnunculus!" said Ron.
Malfoy blocked. And realizing that simple first level spells were not penetrating Ron's shield, he shouted "Somnus!" a third level spell. It went right through Ron's shield and Ron crumpled, asleep before he hit the ground.
"That's two Gryffindors down," murmured Hermione to Beatrice, who was struggling to breathe and obviously missing her puffer.
"It's probably good Ron didn't hit Draco with that first spell." Huffed Beatrice. "Draco would have killed him."
"Baldness wasn't it?" asked Hermione.
Beatrice nodded.
"Five points to Slytherin," said Snape. "For defeating your opponent. Nicely done, Mr. Malfoy."
"Miss Donnally, would you care to take on Mr. Malfoy?"
"Any day," she said, standing and pulling her wand from her hair.
She knew his eyes never gave away his movements, but his aura didn't lie. It was changing slowly, the blues and violets swirling lazily among the red layers. Over it all was as always a haze of red. They circled each other slowly and cautiously. He was totally relaxed. He expected to win easily. The aura's flicker alerted her to his movement. He feinted to the right and then leaned left and fired off his spell. She blocked and fired immediately, hitting his wand hand with a paralysis spell.
Deftly, he switched hands.
The Slytherins gasped as they realized that already Draco was at a disadvantage, fighting with this non- dominant hand. His right arm hung useless and stiff at his side. He fired several spells in quick succession. She blocked two with the shield charm she had just learned this morning, but the last one turned her hair a deep olive green.
"Don't you know what color Slytherin green is?" she mocked.
Because her hair was black to begin with, it was darker than a true Slytherin green, but he did make the first point.
Samara let Draco see her eyes look quickly to Snape as if to ask if they should stop.
Draco lowered his wand.
In quick succession, she fired off freckles, red hair and a tickling spell. Draco blocked none of them.
The Gryffindors howled with laughter. Of course, so did Draco, much to his chagrin, but the laughter did not reach his steely gray eyes, and the colors of his aura deepened with his concentration. "You won't surprise me again," he said softly.
Ron woke up from his curse in time to see a version of Draco that could have been another Weasley brother. "Wrong color robes," snorted Ron.
"Serpensortia," gasped Draco between gasps of laughter, and a huge snake appeared. His aura never changed. Draco certainly wasn't exerting himself in this duel. Maybe she should give him a little more competition--
"Grandis Mustela!" said Samara and the snake was faced with her mongoose. The two creatures immediately broke into a wild fight which made the giggling Gryffindors move back. Someone stepped on a Slytherin's foot and a fist fight broke out between several Gryffindors and Slytherins.
A moment later, Samara's front teeth grew to three times their normal size.
Behind her, Samara heard Hermione's horrified gasp.
"The better to bite you with!" Samara lisped through the long teeth.
Well, you'd better stop backing away then," panted Draco between giggles. "You'd have to be quite a bit closer to bite me."
By now, both the snake and the mongooose had disappeared due to Draco and Samara's inattention to them.
"Come on-" Draco teased "I think you're afraid to get that close to me. Afraid I'll bite back?"
"Ha!" Samara launched herself at Draco, but he stepped out of her way and with a flick of the wand, she also convulsed into tickle curse induced laughter.
"Viridantis peplum," said Draco turning her robes Slytherin green.
Immediately Draco's robes turned Gryffindor red. "A Weasley---never had--- such new---robes," gasped Draco between laughs. Tears of laughter were now coursing down his cheeks and his face was flushed.
"Are you---com---complementing me?" asked Samara.
"You wish."
Panting and laughing, they circled each other. Twice, Samara's shield charm blocked whatever Draco tried to send her way, but she felt the charm weakening.
"Take 'em off," gasped Samara "My stomach's--hurting—from laughing--On three?"
Draco nodded, his aura lightening as he relaxed.
"One," said Samara. "Two . . .three" She removed Draco's curses.
He turned her face green to match her hair.
"You!" cried Samara.
The Gryffindors were not sure if she was ready to tackle Draco or curse him seriously now. In any case, the Gryfffindors erupted with cries of "unfair!" and "Cheater!" and came to her rescue by jumping on or cursing the nearest Slytherin.
"Occaeco!" said Samara, who had never taken her eyes off of Draco. She cast an invisibility spell on his clothes leaving him standing in boxer shorts- which she transfigured into gold shorts with large red hearts.
Draco looked down at himself and burst into laughter even without a tickling spell, but his aura was roiling. He was suddenly agitated even though he didn't show it in his facial expression.
"Oh Samara," he said. "These are awful. I'd never wear Gryffindor colors."
"I think they're kind of cute," she remarked, as she moved closer to him and simultaneously blocked someone's jelly legs curse that was thrown from behind her.
"Better move out of the line of fire," warned Draco as another spell was hurled in their direction.
They backed against the wall beside Professor Snape who was watching the chaos with the detachment borne of waiting out similar "spelling bees" in Slytherin House. Samara had one hand on her stomach which was hurting from the tickle induced laughter.
"On three, we'll reverse the spells, OK" said Draco, holding his wand in his right hand and leaning his left against his torso, Samara noticed, in attempt to hide the small, but distinctive skull tattoo that marked his forearm.
I don't think so," said Samara. "You cheat."
"Come on Samara," said Draco. "I didn't do any real curses on you," he said reasonably. "Green hair isn't a curse. It's a joke. You know, we could have both hurt each other." Although his aura had mellowed to the dusty rose that she knew so well, he was still agitated.
"True," Samara agreed. "OK then," said Draco. "On three. One. Two. . ."
Draco was hit in the back of the head by something. "What?"
He turned and picked up a lump of flesh."
"Throw it here, Draco. Throw it here," begged Goyle.
"Gimme my NOSE!" snapped Eloise Midgin grabbing the flesh from his hand.
Samara's body, already convulsed with laughter from the tickling spell, couldn't possibly laugh any harder.
Also stiffling laughter, Draco choked out "Three!" Both he and Samara used their wands. Draco used his to reverse Samara's green hair, face and clothes as well as to remove the tickling spell and shrink her teeth. Samara used hers to change Draco's boxers from gold with red hearts to green with lavender roses.
"Opps," said Samara throwing another spell in his direction. "I forgot the thorns."
But Draco was ready for her. With a deft flick of his wrist, he placed a reflective ward which caused her spell to rebound upon herself. She was immediately surrounded by coils of plant life that resembled Devil's Snare, but it had numerous inch long thorns jutting from the stems. Samara couldn't move without impaling herself on the thorns.
"Expelleramus!" He shouted, easily disarming her. "I told you I'd block next time," whispered Draco as he twirled her wand through his fingers. "And I have your wand." He closed his fingers around it, a frown creasing his forehead as he gripped it, and his aura deepening with his intense concentration.
Behind Samara was the rumbling of a strange sound.
"I don't need it to curse you," growled Samara.
Draco leaned close to whisper. "I know."
The rumbling behind them deepened and Samara and Draco both turned to look at Snape. So did most of the class-One by one the students stopped throwing curses at each other and looked at their professor in amazement. They were listening to a sound that no Gryffindor and few Slytherins, could ever remember hearing--The sound of Professor Snape laughing.
"I see you learned how to strengthen the cheering charm," whispered Ginny.
"Me?" said Samara innocently.
After a moment, she glanced over at Draco who was still studying her wand with interest. "Are you going to take these vines off of me and give me back my wand?" she asked. She was beginning to be annoyed as the class began to disperse and she was still trapped in the vines.
Still, Draco ignored her, his attention totally on her wand.
"Draco!"
"I don't know," said Draco, dragging his attention from the wand and leaning close to her. "I think your Devil's Thorn was a little harsh, and anyway, I said before, you look good in green. You're bleeding—just there--"
He touched neck where one of the thorns had poked her and a tiny drop of blood was welling up."
"Oh," said Samara, slowly taking in the sight of Draco still in green boxers, with lavender roses.
"Anyway," Draco drawled. "You're the one that thought up these little—toys—" He ran his finger around one of the thorns. I think you should stay put until you think of a way out—"
"Put your hands a little closer," whispered Samara. "Incendio, should do the trick, I think."
A flash of his red aura and Draco snatched his hand away. Then he smiled, touching her face. "No. I don't think so. You're afraid of fire—"
"Ahem," Interrupted Snape. "Finite Incantum."
Draco and Samara looked around at the now empty class room.
"Class dismissed," said Snape, shooing them both out of the door.
==
Samara stood in the corridor, uncertain of what to say to Draco now that class was over. She felt the beginnings of a blush warm her ears, but she doubted that Draco noticed since her hair was loose and covering her ears. "My wand?" she whispered.
"Sure." He handed it to her.
In the moment when both of their hands touched the wand, Samara felt a jolt of magic flash through her. She was aware that Draco felt it too. His aura was restless, but its color was the silky dusky rose that she recognized. All she had to do was move a little closer. Let her aura touch his—and then---what?"
"Draco," she whispered. "About the Dragon Breath Mints—"
"Forget it."
"But I didn't do it."
"I know."
"You know?"
"Do you think I don't recognize your magic?" he asked. "I know it wasn't you."
"Then you knew all along!" she accused.
"I knew you weren't involved with placing the spell; that was the Weasley twins, but I couldn't be sure you didn't just sit by and let it happen."
"I wouldn't do that," said Samara.
"Oh, no," said Draco. "You would be in the thick of things." Draco studied her for a moment, his slate gray eyes boring into hers. "Come with me," he said at last, stepping forward and wrapping his arm around her waist.
"Where do you want to go?" she asked.
"Slytherin House. We have things to discuss."
"What?" asked Samara
"Will you tell me about your wand?"
"What do you want to know?" she asked.
"Everything," he said.
==
When they arrived at the Slytherin Common room, several sixth years were studying. A few first years were playing exploding snap. Draco walked directly to a green brocade sofa near the smoldering fireplace, waved away its occupants and sat down. Samara sat beside him.
"Your wand is not from Olivanders," he said.
"No," replied Samara. "I made it."
"How?"
"Well," Samara began digging in her bag for her book. "It all started with this book," she said. "Current Achievements in Modern Dark Magic."
"Not exactly current," said Draco eyeing the yellowing pages with interest.
"No," said Samara. "I guess not." She began leafing through the pages to the sections that were most yellowed. "There was something in the book on these pages," she said. "I knew it was magical, but I didn't know what it was. I think it was some sort of plant—"
Draco looked at the stains, and shrugged. "I don't know." He flipped back to the pages on wandless magic and forward to the sections on dark creatures. By now, they had an audience.
"Let me see," said one of the sixth years. "That stain wasn't made by a flower. It was made by a snake or snakeskin."
"Maybe boomslang," said another of the sixth years.
"Definitely a snake," agreed another.
"Oh, everything is snakes with you, Slytherins," laughed Samara.
Samara soon lost track of her book as it was passed from one Slytherin to another. Each exclaiming over its complexity or the power of the spells or the difficulty of the potions.
Finally Alvin Nott, the Fifth Year Prefect, arrived and looked around the crowded common room. "Aren't any of you going to dinner?" he asked.
"Who can eat?" someone muttered. "My mouth still hurts."
"Go and eat if you want to, Alvin. No one will miss you," called one of the second years.
Alvin shrugged and went out of the common room presumably to dinner.
A few of the Slytherins broke off from the crowd.
"I didn't understand a thing in it anyway," said one of the first years. "We might as well go eat. I hope we have ice cream or sherbet."
"Will you bring the book back again?" another asked her on his way out of the door. "I want to copy down a potion."
"Sure," said Samara uncertain of whether or not she would be able to bring it back.
Finally only a few fourth year Slytherins were left, copying with frantic haste. "You can't take it yet," one of them said.
"I'm not," said Samara. "I just want to go to dinner."
"You could pick it up after dinner," one of the fourth year Slytherins suggested.
"No." said Draco. "We'll wait. Hurry up." A few moments later, the fourth year was still writing. "You're done," said Draco, accioing the book and handing it to Samara.
"But I was just—" She looked up at Draco, and stopped talking.
"Let's go," said Draco putting his arm possessively around Samara's waist. She looked up at him. "So, are we friends again?" she asked.
"Is that what you want to be, Samara—friends?" he whispered. The soft resonance of his voice seemed to touch her soul, but his aura was unreadable. "Sit at the Slytherin table at supper," he said suddenly.
"I don't know if I should," said Samara.
"Would you rather sit with Longbottom?"
"Well, there's Beatrice," said Samara. "She's separated herself from the others by sitting with me these last few days. I can't just desert her."
"I think we could find two seats at the Slytherin table," said Draco, his aura inviting her as well as his words.
Samara pondered how she could ask Beatrice to sit with her at the Slytherin table. She shook her head. "I can't. Why don't you sit at the Gryffindor table?"
His aura flashed a hot glowing red.
"Well, maybe not—" said Samara laughing.
"Don't you trust me?"
"Ha!"
==
Review. Review. Review.
(A/N: I've decided to add Eloise Midgin to Ginny's class. The book never says which house she is in, and since I thought of the funny little bit that concerns her here, I had to add her. At this time, she has no particular influence on the plot. I will go back and add her, making Ginny, Colin and Eloise in fourth year.)
Ten reviews to the next chapter.
THANKS TO MY REVIEWERS:
Ilwinterhofal: Sorry Ginny's Dream was a little confused, but don't feel badly. Ginny's confused too! All will be revealed--
Motley: Thanks for reviewing both chapter 20 and 30 to get to those 10 reviews. You must be really anxious for the next chapter. Cool. More Neville coming aand more of Neville's awesome auror parents.
Christina: Thanks for the compliment on how Ginny's character is developing. Actually, if you hadn't noticed, she's not exactly consistent. MUAH-ha-ha-ha.
PyRei: Yes, you have to be careful about what Ginny says. She's not herself these days. As far as how mean the trio has been—well—Samara's a forgiving soul. And Draco, didn't he tell you, "You haven't seen this dragon breathe fire." But you will, dear readers, you will!
Whiteriver: Glad you like it. If you haven't read Whiteriver's fics, go read them—right after you review my fic.
Melbell: Glad you like Ginny and Samara.
Motley: Lots more Ginny/Tom. Special Powers? We'll see.
Slytherin's Silver Snake: Yeah. You're back! Go read Slytherin's Silver Snake's stories. Good stuff.
Trillium: Glad you like Samara. Ravenclaw is coming. Chapter 34
Contraryterri: Glad you like Neville and his parents. Thanks for coming back. Missed you. Please continue to read and review.
Next chapter up in 10 REVIEWS.
Hey, don't complain. You didn't have to pay for this book!
Coming soon: Slytherin games in ADADA; The trio talk about the prophecy child: Draco gets his revenge; More Samara in Ravenclaw.
So how fast do you want them?
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