by Deirdre Blair
Disclaimer: See previous chapters.
Summary: Hotaru and Harry have finally told each other that they may like one another as more than just friends. But recent events won't let this new romance blossom. They must spend time apart, training for the approaching battle. What's more, a new student has enrolled at Hogwarts, but is he friend or foe? And what is his fascination with Hotaru and Draco?
Author's Note: Chapter 8 wasn't my best. But I promise, promise, promise that this one will be so much better. Chapter 8 was my "off" chapter...where nothing really happened...except for the cute little union of Hotaru and Harry. Hehe. But this chapter is just going to be 100% better than the last. Also, I've decided that I might not make this as Draco/Blaise as I thought I was. They might have a scene pretty soon, but I've decided that I won't make them a main pairing. They'll still be listed of course. Very side-pairing...as well as the R/Hr. I've also come to the conclusion that I am addicted to Bold flavoured Chex Mix.
Rating: PG13
Genre: Drama/Romance
Pairing: Hotaru/Harry, Ron/Hermione, Draco/Blaise
Warning: Very mild SLASH.
by Deirdre Blair
Concerns
Previously on Tragic Angel:
"Are you ever going to go back to them, princess?" Trinity asked.
Hotaru glanced at her. "Go back to them? Never."
And then suddenly, she couldn't resist falling foward, her lips meeting his. Tentively at first, and then needy. Her hands found their way to his neck and she pressed herself even more against him. The initial shock wearing off, Harry put one hand on the small of her back and the other on her cheek. Something wet slid across the back of his hand. He didn't notice.
Hotaru looked ready to shout the Killing Curse at Ami Mizuno. "No. I don't need a petty explanation. I saw what you were trying to do." Tears began to shimmer in her eyes again. "You. You pathetic piece of shit. How dare you?!" A glowing symbol appeared on her forehead and there were screams on the other end of the line.
"Of their respective kingdoms," answered Makoto. "We all know of the enemy that must be defeated. The Ultimate Enemy. This goes way beyond Voldemort and the Death Eaters. You know this."
"Y-you're Sailor Saturn? The Goddess of Saturn? The princess?" Harry had a hard time spitting out the words.
Hotaru looked up at him. "Yes," she said, finally speaking the truth. "Yue Takada is my cousin. Setsuna is Sailor Pluto, and Makoto is Sailor Jupiter."
"I guess...I kinda like you, Potter," she replied, blushing herself. She looked back into the lake. "I kinda like you a lot."
Harry blushed even deeper and slid his arm out of her grasp. Feeling a little braver than before, he took Hotaru's small hand into his, entertwining his fingers with hers. "I kinda like you a lot too, Tomoe."
-
"Are you absolutely sure, m'Lord?" asked a panicked Lucius Malfoy.
Voldemort's red eyes became even thinner slits than before. "Was it not your son who relayed this information to you?" he asked, his voice quivvering with rage.
Lucius stood behind his master's chair in a very dark, dimly lit room. "Yes, it was. However, she has been a valuable asset--."
"Lucius, you fool!" Voldemort cried. "She was never on our side to begin with!"
Lucius remained quiet for some time before speaking again, in an almost reluctant voice. "But killing her.... She's become very close to us. Perhaps instead of killing her, we should bring her over to our side, use her power for our purposes."
Voldemort said nothing for a moment. "Let him in!" he ordered.
The door opened to reveal a man in a long black cloak. A black cloth covered his nose and mouth. His face hidden in shadow, only two bright, sky-blue eyes were revealed.
"Lucius, I'd like you to meet Zero."
Lucius tilted his head very slightly.
Zero tilted his head towards Lucius as well.
"What is his purpose here?" Lucius asked Voldemort quietly, his voice holding the slightest amount of disdain.
Voldemort gave a nasty, sinister grin. "I cannot tell even you what his purpose is. However, I can tell you that he is very good at it."
Lucius quirked an eyebrow.
-
When Hotaru returned to the Slytherin Common Room that night, she found that only a select few were still up. It must be later than I thought, Hotaru observed mentally. She walked towards the fireplace and sat on a leather sofa. She sighed with the full intention of relaxing. She could do so nowhere else--not even in her dormitory where four other girls gossiped and carried about. She closed her eyes for a split second before opening them again when she heard three people walking over to her.
It was Draco, Blaise, and Xavier.
Despite her good mood, she greeted them grumpily. "Yes? What is it?" she asked irritably.
They said nothing, just loomed over her with their arms crossed and their eyes cool.
"You know very well that I could not have told you even if I wanted to," she said before they could speak, knowing exactly what was on their minds.
Still, they chose silence.
"If you think you are intimidating me, you're sadly mistaken." She got up but was pushed back down by Xavier. He had no problem doing so. Her eyebrows rose. "Is this how it's going to be? Just because I happen to have one or two secrets, does not mean that I betrayed anybody."
Draco, who stood in the middle, was the only one to speak. "You betrayed us not by avoiding telling us what you are...but about your other intentions."
"My other intentions," Hotaru repeated, knowing exactly what he meant. "I see. You're still on his side, are you? Even after finding out what you are? You're still willing to be his lackies?"
This time, Blaise spoke. "We never said we were still on his side."
Hotaru blinked.
"But you could've told us that you weren't so that we could've openly told you that we weren't."
Hotaru nodded. "Fair enough. I suppose that in that sense, I did betray you, if only slightly. But while you thought I was on his side, I thought you were on his side too. Now, I couldn't have very well told you of my true intentions if I thought you would relay them back to Voldemort, could I?"
Something in Draco's eyes flashed, and Hotaru narrowed her own violet ones.
"You know as well as I do that I could've done no such thing. Why don't we just call this even?" Hotaru asked.
They all exchanged glances, each debating on whether or not they should do so.
"Yes, why don't we?" Draco replied without the consent of Blaise or Xavier. However, they both nodded when he said it aloud.
Eyes still narrowed in suspicion, Hotaru nodded as well. "If that's everything, I'll be off to the library. I have a few books I need to pick up."
As she walked near the entrance, she cast one last analysing glance towards Draco.
-
Makoto, Setsuna, Snape, Dumbledore, and McGonagall sat in Dumbledore's office that night after everyone went back to their common rooms. Dumbledore sat at his desk, looking a little tired. Setsuna and Makoto sat in the two chairs in front of his desk. McGonagall and Snape stood near his desk. All looked extremely stressed and a little fearful. Even Snape had a little perspiration on his upper lip.
"We must begin these training sessions immediately, without further delay. I agree upon that. But to take them away from their classes? Don't you think they still need to learn the lessons set forth by this school?" McGonagall asked Setsuna, Makoto, and Dumbledore.
"We absolutely cannot risk their focus slipping, even for a split second. To put them in classes, we'd be ultimately risking their lives. If they lose their focus after they've opened the gates to their powers, their powers could consume them entirely. They could be killed," Setsuna told her.
McGonagall bit her lip. "It just seems a bit unfair to them. After all, they've worked hard for the past five years to achieve the status they have today. To just come along and take that all away from them...it just seems so unfair to them!"
Makoto stood up, eyes burning with emerald flames. "Unfair to them?! I realise that their fairness is important, but saving this world is the top priority. Don't you think it unfair to everyone that they don't get to live another day in peace? That they either die or spend literally eternity in a world far, far worse than Hell? In the grand scheme of things, I'd have to say that sacrificing their fairness isn't as bad as you think!"
"Makoto! Calm down!" Setsuna snapped.
"Chikuso!" Makoto cried as she walked off, but not out of the office. She stood by the door, her arms crossed, her entire body rigid.
She knew what it was like to sacrifice so many things to save the world. But if it meant saving the lives of so many other people, there was just no other way.
Setsuna looked at McGonagall. "She is right, however."
Dumbledore looked at McGonagall as well. "Calm yourself, Minerva. They are right."
McGonagall looked livid.
"There is another matter at hand here. The loyalty and trustworthiness of some of the students," Setsuna replied.
Snape gave her a knowing glare. "If you are insinuating what I think you are...."
"We are insinuating nothing," Setsuna interrupted. "But we cannot rule it out. It is well-known that Kemen Denton, Cole Zabini, and Lucius Malfoy are all Death Eaters. While we are unsure of their sons' beliefs, we must be watchful of all of them. I'm afraid that one of them might've already informed Voldemort of what happened today."
"It was Draco Malfoy," said a voice from the doorway.
Everyone turned to see Hotaru Tomoe walking in.
"How in the world did you get the password?" McGonagall asked.
Hotaru looked at her as if she were completely and irrefutably moronic. "I'm a senshi."
Snape gave her a curious glare. "You're telling us that Draco Malfoy is the one who is relaying information to the Dark Lord?"
Hotaru nodded. "I'm certain of it. I can't exactly tell you how...but I know the look in one's eyes when they've done something you don't want them to do." She saw that Makoto had chosen to stand instead of sit, but why near the doorway, she didn't know. She shook her head and walked over to Dumbledore's desk. "I had an encounter with Draco, Blaise, and Xavier just a few moments ago. When I told them that I couldn't have trusted them to keep their mouths shut, Draco got a funny look in his eyes. That statement alone unsettled him. I can draw no other conclusion than that he has informed Voldemort."
Dumbledore watched her in analytical silence. "Can you gather no other, less circumstantial evidence? I do not want to have young Mr. Malfoy think we're all suspicious of him, because if he is innocent, he will never again be able to trust us in the slightest."
Hotaru thought for a moment. "There is a way...." She looked at Setsuna. "But I'll have to be alone, completely alone with him for at least one hour tomorrow. Any interruption could cause severe psychological damage...perhaps even death," she looked back at Dumbledore, "but only if you're willing to risk it."
"What is your method?"
Hotaru exhaled deeply as if the mere thought of it exhausted her. She had done it only once, a very long time ago, but had passed out immediately afterward, not to recover for six months after. The person had been in a coma for twice as long. She met with Dumbledore's eyes, her gaze unwavering and every bit as certain. "Mind-reading."
-
"Are you out of your mind?!" cried an hysterical Makoto as they exited from the hallway that led to Dumbledore's office.
Hotaru chuckled. "Terrible pun, Makoto."
Makoto grew furious. "That wasn't funny, Hotaru!" She threw her hands up. "Mind-reading! What in the world possessed you to even suggest such a thing?!"
Hotaru glared. "I've done it before!"
"Oh, yes, I know you have. My brother was the one who you put in a coma because of it! I thought the Council had forbidden you to even think of reading another person's mind. It's too personal, and it could kill if you lose control," she informed. "Or has the Council allowed you once more?"
Hotaru went completely still, every muscle in her body tense. "The Council does not get to decide when and how I use the powers I possess."
"Yes they do. They do for a reason."
Hotaru pushed past Makoto forcefully, knocking the wind out of her as she did so. She stopped and turned slightly towards Makoto, who was trying to breathe again. "I am no longer under the jurisdiction of the Council. If they want to stop me, they'll have to send their mightiest forces. No matter what, I am no longer going to obey their rules."
"It's for the good of mankind, Hotaru!"
Hotaru turned back towards her destination. "No, it's for the good of your ideal mankind," she spat as she walked off, rounding the corner.
The Council Makoto had spoken of was the most influential and strongest power in the entire universe. They were made up of the queens of each solar system, Princess Kakyuu and Serenity among them. Galaxia had been among them before she had been possessed by Chaos, and killed. Hotaru didn't know the other members, as Setsuna was the only one among the senshi of the Milky Way galaxy who could enter the room in which they would gather. They gathered only once a month.
However, after Hotaru had read the mind of Makoto's brother (he had allowed her to, it was purely consential), and after she had placed him in a coma because of it, the Council ruled through Setsuna that she was never again to use her mind-reading powers. The only borne power she was to ever use was healing. She had quite a few others such as mind-reading (obviously) and the ability to kill or give life at her choosing (but only at her ultimate state after the Senshi wars), but healing was the only one that did not cause harm. Hotaru understood, but felt like a child would when her favourite doll is taken away. She was indignified because of the Council's decision, not able to use even the powers the Fates had given her.
Of course, she knew why the real reason why they did it. It was because they were afraid she'd take over the entire universe and not let the rightful one rule. That was absurd. She had thought about, being as ambitious as she was, but she never put those thoughts into actions. But now...well, she didn't have to obey the Council anymore. She could be whatever she wanted to be.
A dark look crossed her features. To be able to take control of the entire universe...that was a rather exciting prospect. She'd need to gather an army first because she knew that the Council would never allow her to. She shook her head. No, this was silly. She was never meant to rule and even though she could probably stay in power for a few days, Fate would never allow her to last. It wasn't her destiny. It was his.
She knew who would rule the world after the final battle. It would be one of two people. Voldemort or Harry Potter, whichever killed the other when the time would come. She felt a shudder, knowing that she was hoping with all her heart Harry would win.
She didn't need to hide it anymore. She really liked Harry, if not more than liked him. She couldn't say she loved him. No, that would cause rise to a whole armada of complications. It was much easier to like him.
Hotaru re-entered the common room, more exhausted than she thought she could ever be. This had to be the most strenuous day she had ever lived through. She ignored the curious, confused looks cast her way and went directly to her dormitory, and then her bed, where she fell into the soft mattress.
She was asleep instantly.
-
Dumbledore read over a letter in his office, McGonagall and Setsuna standing beside him. "A Mister Dolon Gilroy wishes to join Hogwarts. It says he's attended Durmstrang for six years and now wishes to learn at Hogwarts. Seems he's moved and his parents want him close to home," Dumbledore summarised aloud.
"Gilroy.... That name doesn't quite sound familiar," McGonagall mused.
Setsuna remained quiet, afraid if she said something, she'd give it away. She already learned her lesson once not to interfere with Fate, and Dolon's presence was absolutely necessary, even if it would cause devastation.
"What do you think, Setsuna? Should we allow Mister Gilroy to join us so late in the year?"
Setsuna sighed, a bit weary of her duties as Time Guardian and the knowledge that came with it. "We have no choice."
A bit mystified by her answer, both McGonagall and Dumbledore signed off on the student.
I'm so sorry, Setsuna thought to herself. Dumbledore gave her a sympathetic smile. Setsuna instantly put up her guards a bit more, knowing that the Headmaster was reading her mind. Damn bastard! Whoever decided he should be trained in his abilities as a mind reader ought to be drug out into the street and...oh wait, that was Nova. What was she thinking anyway? Setsuna mused in her thoughts as she exited the office and went into her room.
She would not sleep tonight, as she never slept, but watch over the entire world through her Time Mirror.
-
The next morning, Dumbledore had an unexpected announcement. It seemed as if it were the year for transfer students. Dolon Gilroy was the new one this time, and he was introduced at breakfast. When the Sorting Hat was placed on his head, he held a familiar smirk that quite resembled Draco Malfoy's. It came as no surprise that he was placed in Slytherin without any delay.
It did come as a shock, however, that as soon as Dolon's eyes met with Draco's curious ones, Dolon strode over to him and introduced himself as a gentleman would, and sat next to him.
Hotaru and Blaise looked at him in disbelief.
At the table, Dolon had eyes only for Draco, who relished in the attention. Hotaru and Blaise wondered briefly if Draco even knew that Dolon was blatantly flirting with him.
"I don't like him," Blaise whispered to Hotaru immediately.
Hotaru shook her head to agree.
"His name," she said after breakfast was over and they were on their way to the Room of Requirement. "Kind of unsettles me. I don't think it's his real name."
Draco furrowed his brow. "And what's his name have anything to do it him?"
"Well, Dolon was a Trojan spy in ancient times. And Gilroy was a servant of the king. Now, don't you find it a bit odd that that's what his name would be, had he no alterior motives?"
Draco narrowed his eyes. "What are you trying to say?"
Hotaru sighed. "I'm trying to tell you that Dolon is nothing but bad news."
-
In the Room of Requirement, Setsuna, Makoto, and Hotaru stood in front of the others. They all had the identical expression of curiosity on their faces.
"Welcome to the first day of your training," Setsuna said emotionlessly. "We'll start with the basics today--releasing the inner power and trying to tap into it. For some, it'll take all of the energy you possess. For others, it will come naturally and will take little energy. I'm going to split you up into three groups. However, Hotaru will not be able to train you for today. She has other matters to attend to."
Hotaru didn't return the glance Setsuna gave her, but just kept her eyes on Draco.
"In my group: Hermione Granger," Setsuna began. "Lavender Brown, Ginny Weasley, and Dean Thomas. In Makoto's group: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Xavier Denton. In Hotaru's group: Draco Malfoy, Blaise Zabini, and Yue Takada. Now, for today, Hotaru's group will join with mine."
Hotaru nodded as her group went to join Setsuna. She casually walked over to Draco and touched his arm. "Come with me," she answered to his inquiring look. He obeyed silently and the two walked to a room at the back of the Room of Requirement. Hotaru opened the door and shut it when they were both inside.
Harry watched. "Where's she going with Malfoy?" Harry asked to himself.
"It's none of your business. Now, pay attention. What Makoto and I will tell you is very important."
Harry looked up at Setsuna, blushed a little, and nodded. The entire group surrounded Setsuna, while Makoto's group did the same with her on the other side of the room.
"Before you can learn to use your powers, you must first learn to control them, and before that, actually unlock them. Are you ready?" She received a unanimous nod.
When Draco and Hotaru entered the room, and after Hotaru had closed the door and turned on the lights, Draco became suspicious. "What are we doing in here?" he asked.
Hotaru remained silent and then walked over to a pair of chairs facing each other. "Sit," she demanded in a gentle voice.
Draco raised one eyebrow. "I think I'll stand."
Hotaru shook her head. "Don't be silly. I have to tell you something very important. Your legs will get tired if you stand all the while."
Draco took his seat. "What's this about, Tomoe?"
She sat in the seat directly opposite of him. "I have some questions that need answering," she replied, looking him directly in his eyes. "And there is only one way I will get the truth."
Draco started to rise. "If you're talking about Veritaserum..."
"No, it's much more complicated than that." At once, she grabbed his wrist and pulled him to her so that their foreheads were touching.
Soon after, Draco felt a hot burning sensation all over his body, as if his insides were being cremated, as if they were melting. He tried to push Hotaru off of him, but could not. He couldn't even move.
Images flashed through Hotaru's mind. Images of death, of blood, of anger, frustration, and a deeper feeling that Hotaru recognised, but could not understand. They swirled and melded together, pride mingling with uncertainty, guilt mingling with a sense of duty, and frustration at something Hotaru couldn't put her finger on. The complexity of everything inside of Draco, made Hotaru want to break the contact, but also made her want to stay to learn more. There were so many things she could relate to, but yet not fully comprehend. He was an enigma wrapped inside of a mystery.
She found his deepest secrets, but tried not to go further into them. She tried to steer clear. But she also found the answer she had feared, yet had been looking for the entire time. She broke contact immediately, not wanting to risk losing both of their lives.
Due to the severe draining of his energy, Draco passed out then and there. Hotaru, because she had more life energy than him, was able to stumble out of the room.
Setsuna ran over to her and grabbed her in her arms. She had only one question. "Is he?"
Hotaru could only nod and then collapse as the both the complexity of Draco's mind and the sheer drainage of her powers and energy overwhelmed her.
Setsuna looked back at Hermione Granger. "Fetch Madam Pomfrey," she demanded. Hermione said nothing, but obeyed quickly.
The other students looked on in wonder and astonishment. What had exactly gone on? Both Makoto and Setsuna seemed aware of what had transpired, but weren't about to let anyone else know about it. And where was Draco Malfoy? What had gone on to drain them so much? These were only a few of the questions zipping through their minds, though each received no answers.
Ron had looked to Harry, as if he'd know. Harry only shrugged and looked back at Hotaru.
-
Hotaru awoke three days later in the hospital wing. It seemed as if everyone knew the exact time and date that she would wake up, and had decided that they should all gather around her at that time and ask if she's all right. She groggily waved them off, cursing and insulting them like only a Death Eater would. Some hurried away, fearing for their lives; others stayed and watched her, knowing that she was probably experiencing an awful headache.
Hotaru was experiencing just that. But also, a sickening feeling in the pit of her stomach, cotton-mouth, and blurred vision. She tried to shake the blurred vision off, but that only made her headache worse. She opted for lying back in the bed and closing her eyes instead.
"Are you all right, Hotaru?" asked a familiar voice. However familiar it was, Hotaru couldn't recognise it.
"Do I look all right to you?" she snapped aggressively. At this point, she really didn't care. She just wanted to feel better. But she knew that she would not until she had regained all of her energy back--every last ounce of it. That could take days, even weeks. The more power she had, the longer it took to recooperate. Draco Malfoy was probably already walking. Speaking of him.... "How's Draco doing?" she asked anybody in particular.
"How do you think he is, Hotaru?" asked the irritated voice that could only belong to Makoto Kino. "He's on the edge of being comatose. The same thing happened, only this time, the victim was weaker. Imagine the damage you've done!"
Hotaru could hear the emotion in Makoto's voice, and she actually almost sympathised with her, but it wasn't enough sympathy. Quite honestly, she didn't care about Makoto's opinion. Her brother had volunteered for it, had practically begged her to do it.
She could remember it so clearly, as if it were only yesterday. They were really good friends, and Hotaru had just been informed she had mind-reading capabilities. Well, being the ambitious person he was, Makoto's brother persuaded her into reading his mind. He wanted her to learn how. She did, but didn't know when to stop. She ended up putting him into a coma. When he got out of it, he couldn't remember who he was or anything of the sort. He could only remember flashes, but nothing more. Makoto had never really forgiven Hotaru, and when she heard that Hotaru's mind-reading abilities were to be suppressed for all of eternity, she was more than relieved. Afterwards, Makoto had been a bit more civil to the senshi of Death--just as long as "mind-reading" was never mentioned.
"I hardly did any damage. I was more careful this time," Hotaru told her in a quiet voice, hoping that Makoto would quiet her's down as well.
She did no such thing. "Oh, right! And I suppose being comatose isn't damage!"
Hotaru grimaced and clenched her jaw. "Look, you're brother wanted me to do it. He persuaded me to do so, not taking no for an answer. He wanted me to practise on him so that I could hone my skills. It was my first time, and I didn't know what I was doing! It was reckless of me, I know, but I was only literally six years old at the time! But I knew what to do this time. I knew how and when to limit myself to just one thing, and not a broad range of topics. I did not inflict any permanent damage, I assure you."
Makoto said nothing, and Hotaru assumed she had left the room. Judging by the slamming of the doors, she had assumed correctly.
Nobody said anything for quite some time, and after a few moments, Hotaru felt a hand crawl to her own and intertwine it's fingers with her own. The familiar warmth made her believe it was Harry. She didn't have the strength to squeeze his hand, nor did she want to. She wanted only silence and rest--only to be well again. Then maybe she'd be in the mood to be with him. But not now.
"Could I just be alone for a little while?" she asked very quietly. She felt Harry's hand tense and then he let go. She heard footsteps making their way out of the room. Hotaru sighed and let herself go completely. She felt herself dip into a pool of slumber.
-
Dolon Gilroy walked into the hospital wing later that evening, while nearly everyone would be at dinner. He snuck into the room where Hotaru and Draco were, and walked over to Hotaru's bed. He watched her sleep, his sky-blue eyes shimmering with thought. He brushed a few locks of dark violet hair from her face. Her eyebrows furrowed and she squirmed somewhat. But then she was silent and still.
"You are a strong person, Hotaru Tomoe, but still very vulnerable, still very young," he said in a dictated voice, a voice that never gave way to emotion. "There is a creature that sleeps inside you, a creature so dark that it would put the Dark Lord to shame. Everyday it sleeps, it grows stronger. And as it grows stronger, so does its hold over you. Soon you will no longer be able to control it and it will eat you alive until there is nothing left but darkness. Hotaru Tomoe will be forever dead."
As he said this, she stirred again and shut her eyes harder. Her symbol flickered then faded on her forehead.
"Do nightmares haunt your sleep, young one?" he asked. "Do you dream of the creature inside you, of the things it can and may do? How can you not? You are so sensitive to such things. That is why you prefer this dimension and the profession you had. You feed on darkness, whether you want to or not. You are at your best when surrounded by darkness."
He furrowed his brow a little. "Which inevitably brings me to the question, why him? Why have you chosen to be with Harry Potter? He is only light. Your true self, the very essence that makes you who you are--that sets you apart from the others, will die every second you spend with him. Eventually, you will diminish."
Hotaru's mouth opened, and she tried to speak, but nothing came out.
"What? Are you trying to answer me? Can you hear me on some level?" he asked curiously.
"My..." she whispered with much strain. "My...Saviour..."
His eyebrows rose. She seemed to calm down to the point where she looked almost dead.
-
Hotaru's headache, stomachache, cotton-mouth, and blurred vision had been reduced to a very minimum in about four days. Thus, she had been deemed well enough to begin attending the training sessions. She was still very bitter towards everyone, and felt the need to take her illness out on everyone around her. Harry had been smart and given her enough room, hardly even acknowledging her presence. That had been the evening she got out of the hospital wing. It was now the next morning, and Hotaru did feel better at all. This would prove to be a fun lesson. She yawned and walked to the Room of Requirement. A few students, Hermione, Blaise, Xavier, Yue, and Dean, were already there.
They bid her good morning, but she hardly acknowledged them. She just sat in a chair and put her head down, to keep it from spinning.
Draco Malfoy had woken up just yesterday, but had said nothing to anybody. Nobody was really sure the extent of the damages done on him. He had fallen back asleep, but would not be able to get out of bed for another couple of days.
Yue walked up to Hotaru and sat down next to her. "Hotaru."
She groaned and looked up at him. "Yes?" she asked, irritated.
"If you'd like, I could take over today's lesson. I've already got the main gist of what's going on. We haven't gotten to unknown territory yet, so I know what to do," he offered.
A few more students entered the room, Harry Potter among them. He immediately looked over at Yue and Hotaru. Blaise was steadily walking over to her, as well as Xavier. They surrounded her, but did not intrude. She looked up at them. "Really?" she asked. "Are you sure?" Somehow, she could not stay annoyed at them.
Yue smiled. "Of course. The only person I have to teach is Zabini and he's not too much to handle."
Blaise glared at him. "I'm not sure if I should take that as a compliment or an insult. Either way, I'm much more complex than you think."
"I'm sure."
"I am!"
Hotaru put a hand over Blaise's mouth. "Please! Don't yell...I still have an awful headache." She groaned again. "Ugh...it feels as if I've got a hangover.... I haven't felt this bad since that time I decided to get rid of my entire supply of vodka."
While Yue, Xavier, and Blaise laughed, causing Hotaru to groan again, Harry felt a little shocked. She drank? Somehow, he didn't think she did--that she ever could.
"Do you think Hogwarts has a hidden stash of beer? I could use one right now," Hotaru asked.
"Believe me, we've looked. No such luck," Xavier told her.
"Class will begin!" announced Setsuna. Everyone assembled into their groups.
Yue walked up to Setsuna. "I'm going to substitute for Hotaru today. She has already given me permission."
Setsuna nodded. "Today, since you have all successfully learned to tap into your powers, we will being using them. To help you, Yue, Makoto, and I will have to transform into our senshi forms." She looked to Yue and Makoto, who were each ready--Makoto with her henshin stick and Yue with his henshin orb.
"Pluto Crystal Power! Make Up!"
"Jupiter Crystal Power! Make Up!"
Yue didn't need to shout any henshin phrases. But the orb did grow brighter and as soon as all three lights dimmed, Yue, Sailor Jupiter, and Sailor Pluto stood in all their glory.
Hotaru nearly laughed at every boy's obvious once-over of Makoto and Setsuna, and every girl's of Yue. Only, Blaise didn't exactly seem interested in Makoto or Setsuna, but more in her drop-dead-gorgeous cousin. She furrowed her brow.
The lesson commenced, and each student was being taught on the most simple "spell": detection of negative forces.
About fifteen minutes into the lesson, Harry Potter was able to detect every sign of negative energy along with Xavier Denton and Blaise Zabini. Hotaru, getting dreadfully bored, got up and exited the room.
"Oh, and I feel one walking out of this room..." Blaise trailed off.
Everyone looked up, and immediately to the corner where Hotaru had been sitting. She was now missing. Yue looked up at Setsuna and Makoto, who both wore the same identical expression of wonder.
-
Hotaru was at the hospital wing in no time. She knew Draco was awake. Since she had read his mind, she was more atuned to his activities. It wasn't intentionally done, but just a side-effect of mind-reading. She entered the room and walked up to Draco. He was silently reading a Quidditch magazine.
Before she could speak, he snapped at her. "So, what did you do to me?"
She sighed and sat in a chair beside him. "It's called mind-reading. I've been able to do it since I was born. It's...an inherited 'gift'."
"Why?"
"I suspected you of being a spy, and the only way I could really get the truth was through mind-reading. So I should be the one asking you the question, why? You aren't on his side, Draco."
"How dare you call me that?" he spit at her, his eyes glittering maliciously. "You have no right to. You betrayed me. You took advantage of me. I think in all rights, what you did could be considered rape by some people."
Hotaru's eyes went wide. "No! I didn't...." She sighed, knowing he would not listen. "Look, you betrayed me first by telling your father about my secret."
"Two wrongs don't make a right."
She furrowed her brow. "So you admit what you did was wrong?"
He crossed his arms. "Of course it was. But I was only doing what I was supposed to do. You have to understand that had I not told him, someone else would have." He looked around to make sure nobody was in the room, grabbed his wand, and uttered, "Silencio!" so that they would not be heard. "I am as deep in this shit as you or anybody else is. My cover would have been blown to Timbuktu had I not told him. I was trying to tell you without telling Blaise or Denton that day with my eyes. I assumed with all of your magical powers, you'd be able to get it."
"You assumed right," she sighed. "Only, I thought it was guilt. I told Dumbledore to get permission to read your mind. He, with much reluctance, gave it to me. I followed through with it. But I didn't see any evidence that you were really on our side...."
"Of course not!" he cried. "I have been trained to hide many, many things underneath layers and layers of lies. I have to or else risk getting caught."
Hotaru stood and walked to the edge of his bed. "I'm sorry. If I would've known sooner...." She sighed again. "I didn't pry into anything too personal. Only what I needed to find. Those other thoughts beckoned me, even tempted me, but I did not fall into temptation. I swear it."
He looked her squarely in the eyes. After a few moments of silence, he closed them again. "All right, I believe you. But never, never do that to me again. I mean it. That was the worst pain I have ever experienced. Even now I can only dream of the images you stirred up that had been laid to rest. I swear I'll never get a restful night's sleep again."
Hotaru gave him a shy smile. "You will. I promise. Eventually, those images will go back to being dormant. And I promise never to do it again without your permission."
"And know that I will never give it."
She chuckled. "But you should know something before I go. From now on, we will share an almost telepathic link. We'll each know where the other is at all times, how the other is feeling, what the other is doing, and sometimes, if our thoughts become that strong, what the other is thinking. It's a side-effect."
"So that's how I knew you were coming in before you even did so."
She nodded. "Yes. It will only get stronger, too. Right now, it isn't very strong because we are both still very weak. You'll come to in about a few days or less, though. By then, the bond will be so strong that it'll be a bit frightening at first. But, I'm sure we'll get used to it. We're too stubborn not to."
Draco smirked. "All right then."
Hotaru smiled, gave his hand a friendly squeeze, and exited the room.
-
Hotaru walked back into the Room of Requirement, as she hadn't been gone that long. By the time she had re-entered, the last student, Ginny, had been able to detect negative energy. Hotaru knew this because Ginny had pointed out Hotaru's appearance without even looking at her.
Once again, the students gazed at her in wonder. She knew what they were wondering about. They wondered if she was truly evil, if her magical signature was really negative. Of course, she herself wasn't evil. But there was a creature deep inside her that slept. And it had the strongest darkness in the galaxy. The fact that they were able to pick up on it's signature so readily worried her. It meant it was growing stronger, that she was slowly going to begin fading any day now. Scared out of her mind though she was, she would not let this show. She calmly sat back down in a chair and watched the students.
-
Author's Note: End of Chapter 9. Wow. Did that make up for the previous one? I hope so. I kind of liked this one myself. A lot of foreshadowing, revelations, and even more mysteries that need to be solved. I hope it wasn't confusing. As I look back, I think it might be a little bit. But I'm sorry. I'm kind of sick right now and anything I do won't make much sense at this point. I'm recovering though. Okay, so I'm going to leave with that. I hope you enjoyed it and please review! It's about time I've updated too... It's been well over a month, hasn't it?
-Deirdre Blair