Dani awoke to a pale light, filtering in from under the door. She looked at
the window which was magicked to look like the outside sky. It was the
crack of dawn. She sighed, and knew she never would be able to get back to
sleep. Dani pulled her uniform on and took out a brush to smooth her hair.
I need a hair cut.. knee-length is long enough. She thought bitterly as it
took her 10 minutes to finish brushing her hair. She crept out of the room
and out of the Slytherin common room. She made her way out of the dungeons
and into the Entrance Hall. Dani opened the doors leading into the Great
Hall. It was completely deserted. Except for one person at the Gryffindor
table. Dani craned her neck to see who it was and soon discovered it was
Remus Lupin. Dani swung around and went over to the Gryffindor table. Remus
appeared shaky and pale.
"Good Morning Remus." Dani said quietly. Remus jumped and twisted his neck
to see who had spoken his name. He smiled weakly.
"Hi Dani. What are you doing up so early?" He looked at his wristwatch. "It's 5:15." Dani shrugged.
"Couldn't sleep, I guess." She said and yawned. Remus smiled. "What are YOU doing up anyway?" She asked pointedly.
"Oh, same reason as you, I guess." He said and Dani noticed the shadows under his eyes. She leaned closer to him.
"Are you alright, Remus? You don't look too hot." Dani asked, concernedly. Remus stretched and pushed his plate forward.
"Meh.. I'm all right. Just not getting enough sleep." Dani nodded.
"Are you going to finish that?" She asked. Remus shook his head. "D'you want to come for a walk? We've still got about-" She checked her watch that hung around her neck on a chain. "-an hour before anyone gets up."
Remus pushed his chair out and stood up. Dani noticed he was trembling. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously and they walked out of the hall. The doors flung open when they reached them and they stepped out onto the grounds.
"Hogwarts looks so pretty in the early morning." Dani breathed. They stepped out onto the dewy ground and strolled over to the lake, carrying bits of toast to feed to the giant squid that inhabited Hogwarts lake. They walked along the edge, throwing the toast in. In the morning light, Remus looked even more thin and pale than usual. They stood standing on the edge, watching their pieces of toast disappear beneath the cold surface of the lake. Remus pulled out his wand and conjured a chair behind them. They sat down and Remus started shivering, even though it was quite warm. Dani peered at him, over her green rimmed oval glasses that she had just put on.
"Are you sure everything is all right? You can tell me anything you know." Dani asked, extremely worried about her friend. Remus shifted uncomfortably.
"Everything is fine, Dani." He said.
"You know, fine means freaked out, paranoid, insecure and emotional."
"Im fine! The- the normal fine!" He said exasperatedly, jumping up. Dani did the same and the chair vanished, due to another flick of Remus' wand. There was a hint of a smile at the corner of Dani's mouth and that made Remus even more frustrated.
"What are you laughing at?!" He cried. Dani was nearly in fits of laughter. Remus turned and stomped away. Dani stopped laughing immediately and jogged up to him.
"I'm sorry, mate. I was only joking." Remus turned on her.
"I'm sick of people laughing at me! James is always laughing at me for being a prefect and good in everything. Sirius and San are always laughing at me for having a book glued to my nose. Peter will do anything James does and if you laugh at me.. I have no one left that cares." Dani stopped abruptly.
"I didn't know you thought like this, Remus.. I'm sorry." Dani muttered. She hated apologising. Remus turned and sighed. He caught her hand in his and held it. Dani looked at him with shock. He had never made any straightforward moves like this before. He twisted the ring on Dani's middle finger, obviously fascinated with the swirly patterns on it. She just stared at the top of his light brown hair. He looked slowly up and smiled. A spark seemed to start between them then. They leaned ever so closer, she could see the tiny lines around his eyes, it all happened too fast. Their lips touched for one moment.. BRING! The bell rang. They drew apart, slightly embarrassed but happy. Remus dropped Dani's hand and smiled.
"Nice ring." He murmured. Dani grinned and rolled her eyes. He appeared embarrassed and she turned from him.
"That's breakfast.. I'm going to go get my timetable ..are you coming?" Dani said, holding her hand out. Remus sighed sarcastically and took it.
"If I must.." He said walking with Dani back to the school. When they reached the open doors, they saw students spilling from different directions in a flurry of black cloaks. Dani spotted Lucius and Snape coming from the dungeons. Lucius cold grey eyes flicked their way and he nudged Snape, whispering something into his ear. Snape blanched, glared and pushed his way through the crowd into the Great Hall. Dani glanced over at the Gryffindor table, still clinging onto Remus' hand. Sirius was facing them, eating with gusto. He looked up from his food and gawked. He tapped James, who was talking to Peter, and they both laughed. Dani blushed and Sirius put his fingers to his lips and let out a loud wolf-whistle. She and Remus parted.
"See you at break." He murmured in Dani's ear. He quickly brushed his lips against her cheek and walked away. She slouched off to the far left table. She felt Lucius' eyes burning into her and she ignored it. She was in a good mood and no one was going to ruin it for her. She happily took a timetable from the pile that read "6th years". She skimmed over it.
Defence Against the Dark Arts- 9:15am
Ancient Runes- 10:30am
Break
Care of Magical Creatures- 11:30pm
Lunch
Potions- 1:05pm.
Transfiguration- 2:25pm
Dani sighed. Not a bad day. She thought, folding her timetable up and putting it in the inside pocket of her cloak. She grasped the clock swinging from her neck and glanced at it. It read 9 o'clock. She tucked it back inside her vest and walked out of the Great Hall, peeking only once at the Gryffindor table where Sirius and James were falling over each other in mock love. Dani rolled her eyes at their immatureness and pursued her path down to the dungeons to get her bag. She spoke the password; Salazar Serpent-Tongue, raced to her dormitory, stuffed her peacock feather quill in her bag, some parchment and the text books she had bought in Diagon Alley before term started. She looked at her clock again and it read 9:07. She ran out of her dormitory, hitching her pants up as she ran. She got out into the dungeon hallway when she heard a familiar drawling voice behind her.
"Going somewhere, O'Leary?" Said Malfoy, his pale face plastered with a smirk. Dani stopped and turned.
"Yeah, it's called class, you fool. And you are not making me late, Lucius." She spat at him, hoisting her bag up further on her shoulder. He plunged a hand into his robes but Dani was ready. She had her wand pointing straight in between Malfoy's eyes. "Don't make me hurt you, Malfoy. I'm really rather tired." She said, in a cold voice. Malfoy considered this position and replaced his wand in his pocket. Dani kept hers poised.
"See you've found yourself a boyfriend." He drawled, trying to remain calm, even if he did have a 13 inch piece of wood ready to jab at him. Dani tightened her grip on her wand. "A Gryffindor.. intriguing."
"So?" She spat, now positively fuming. Malfoy raised an eyebrow.
"You don't know what else he is?" He asked, smirking again. Dani lowered her wand and looked at Malfoy with a queer expression on her face.
"Probably everything your not.. which means; nice, good-looking, smart.. and of course, his father isn't a murderer." Dani said, checking her little clock. 9:12. She shifted the weight of her bag and turned around.
"Where do you think you are going?" She was called after.
"Like I said, you twit, I have class." She ran down the cold corridor and turned up the stairs she knew were a shortcut to the 3rd floor, on which she had Defence Against the Dark Arts. She took the steps two at a time, as far as her short legs would go and finally, she reached the 3rd floor with a minute to go. She sprinted down the corridor and skidded to a halt outside the door just as the bell rang. Dani sauntered into the classroom, taking her usual seat in the back left corner. The classroom was already half-full, the sixteen year olds that occupied the classroom were now awaiting their teacher, Professor Arkidash. Professor Arkidash swept into the room. Dani watched Professor Arkidash take her usual position behind the bench in front of the blackboard. She tapped her wand twice on the altar to silence those that were still chatting. The students fell quiet and they gazed up at Arkidash.
"Welcome back, Sixth years. You have decided to study Defence Against the Dark Arts. This is where we get into the tricky charms and curses like the Patronus Charm. Which is what we are starting with today, so everybody, take out your wands and find someone to work with and a place in the room. The instructions are on the board." Arkidash said in a smooth, clear voice. She took out her own wand and swished it. The desks and chairs were now neatly piled against the wall. Dani reached in for her own wand and was left with the girl nobody wanted to mess with, Morgs Avanga. Dani sighed and walked over to Morgs. Morgs had bright purple hair, with one red stripe and one yellow and had a cybernetic eye. She was a manic-depressive with a split personality and was rather dangerous on the Quidditch pitch. She played beater for Hufflepuff and keeper for Ravenclaw. Dani poked Morgs and she jumped. Morgs turned around and there was a big grin on her messed up face.
"Oh, hello! You're O'Leary aren't you? Spectacular catch in the final last year. I can't wait to get these charms started, let's start now, I'll go first." Morgs said in one breath and far too quickly. But she had already pointed her own wand at Dani. There was a swish and a flick and a cry of Expacto Patonem! And Dani was lifted off her feet and she was now hanging immobile in the air. She struggled to keep her cloak down off her face and her hair was sticking out everywhere. Arkidash was running over. She merely flicked her wand and Dani was back down on the ground, though distinctly ruffled.
"Fool." She murmured at Morgs. Morgs was now staring out the window, twitching and grinning spastically. Dani looked a tad frightened and just went off into a corner to practice the Patronus Charm. She produced only silvery mists at first, but she tried harder, fixing her mind completely on Remus' soft featured face. She smiled at the thought of him and swung her wand around.
"Expecto Patronum!" She cried and a shiny silver wolf burst out of her wand and raced around the room.
"Great work, Miss O'Leary, 10 points to Slytherin." Arkidash called across the room, fixing up a Hufflepuff that had a bleeding nose from his Ravenclaw friend. Dani watched her wolf gallop back around the class to her and it disappeared. She made the wolf erupt from her wand several more times and she sat for the last ten minutes, watching people around her, produce Patronus'. When the loud, shrill bell rang Dani swung her bag over her shoulder and stumped off to the 6th floor for Ancient Runes. She passed a friend of hers, Orlando Wood, in the hallway between the 4th and 5th floor. They walked to Ancient Runes together, also joining them was Redrick Griffiths from Hufflepuff. They walked into the Ancient Runes classroom and Dani took her seat in the back left and corner, where nobody would be sneering at her. She took out some parchment and her peacock feather quill. There was an ink well on her desk and she dipped it in, poising it over her parchment to write down today's Runes. After 75 minutes of scratching a feather on an old piece of paper, Dani's hand was getting a tad sore. When the bell rang for break, Dani packed her stuff quickly and was out the door before anybody else. She slowed her pace down to a stroll and she reached the Entrance Hall, wondering where Remus would meet her. The question was soon solved as Remus rounded the corner with Sirius and James at his side, Peter trailing behind. James and Sirius automatically went into their fits of mock love and Remus blushed. He walked over to Dani, holding his hand out. She took his, carefully not scratching him with her nails. They walked out onto the grounds.
"Are we going out- now?" He asked quietly. Dani looked at him with the queerest expression on her face. She smiled and laughed.
"I don't know.. are we?" She asked back just as quizzically.
"I hope so.. I've liked you for a long time, Dani.. Since 2nd year.. but you were so cold, and arrogant.. I didn't know how to act around you." Remus said softly, holding Dani's hand more tightly. She didn't know how to answer this, and just kept on walking. They stopped before they ran into an enormous tree. Remus paled. He steered Dani away and they walked around the edge of the Forbidden Forest, coming to a halt by the lake again, near a large beech tree. Dani released Remus' hand and sat down, leaning against the trunk of the tree. Remus sank down beside her and they spotted Sirius, James, Peter and Sanuya in the distance, making a beeline for the tree. Sanuya was the first to reach them.
"Look who's getting it on!" She cried, sprawling on the ground. Sirius followed suit.
"Yeah! Give us the gossip!" He said in the same tone as Sanuya' s, which was slightly surprised. Dani grinned embarrassedly. Remus became fascinated with a piece of bark.
"There IS no gossip!" Dani cried throwing a pebble at Sirius.
"Oh, so you just started going out, out of pure boredom, ey?" He asked, jokingly.
"That about summarises it, yeah." Dani said. Remus looked up in horror. She laughed and leaned her fore-head against his shoulder. Sanuya, Sirius and James made noises that resembled a groan cross an 'aww.' Peter remained silent. James put a hand to his head and ran his fingers through it, making it stick on end. Dani saw this out of the corner of her eye and raises an eyebrow.
"Why do you do that to your hair?" She asked quietly. Sirius and Sanuya were discussing something under a nearby tree. James looked over at Dani and asked. "I could ask the same thing about you." He said, eyeing Dani's super long untidy hair.
"Blame that weirdo Morgs.. don't ask." She added. She crawled from Remus' grip and kneeled next to James, looking at him through green rimmed glasses. She leant forward, knocking James' glasses off and reached for his hair. She brushed it forward with her fingers, receiving a disapproving look from James. When she had finished she leant back on her heels, admiring her handiwork.
"There you go." Dani said, crawling back over to Remus and lifting his arm to place around her shoulders. Peter turned to look at James and raised an appraising eyebrow. Sirius and Sanuya had returned to them.
"Good look for you, mate, real hot." He said, winking. Sanuya nodded.
"Does look better. Flat hair DOES suit you." She said, face straight. Dani rolled her eyes and looked out onto the lake. She was tired.. so tired.. A scene flashed in front of her eyes. There was a flash of green light and she saw a body fall to a stone floor. She heard cold laughter and a scream. She saw a tall figure running to the body on the floor. The tall male with light brown hair was sobbing over the girl on the ground, who's piercing green eyes were staring upwards, her black her fanned under her. A person near a door with white-blonde hair was smiling satisfyingly. Malfoy. Dani's dream self looked back to the 2 people on the ground. The girl was still clutching a wand in a pale hand. Herself. Dani screamed and felt a cold hand slapping her face. She opened her eyes with a snap and tried to sit up, but a surprisingly strong hand pushed hard on her chest, forcing her to stay down. She tried again and was once more, forced to stay down. She put her hands over her eyes, feeling cold sweat. Her glasses were laying shattered on the ground. Remus' and Sirius' anxious face hovered above her.
"What- What happened to my glasses?" She stammered. She reached for her wand inside her pocket to repair them and Remus blocked her from returning her glasses to normal
"You went into this weird.. spasm, thing, or something, your eyes rolled in your head and you were thrashing about and screaming. Your glasses fell off and you rolled on them, which explains their state." Sirius said, gesturing towards the broken shards of glass. Dani, again moved a shaking hand towards her wand but Remus seized her arm this time and replaced it on the ground beside her.
"Lie still, Dani!" He ordered. She struggled a little more before laying back in Remus' arms.
"Where's Sanuya and the other two at?" She said, a little more clearly, but her eyes still felt unfocused and she felt dizzy and sick.
"They went to get help.. they should be back by now... speak of the devil." Sirius said turning to greet the three friends. A tiny teacher, Professor Flitwick trailed behind them. Dani stared up with unfocused eyes.
"Feeling alright, Miss O'Leary?" He squeaked. Dani's wacky eyes flicked over to Sanuya who was extremely pale.
"I think so.." She said and tried to get up. Remus pushed her down again and stood up. He towered over Professor Flitwick.
"Sir, I think Dani O'Leary should be excused from her next class. She looks ill, and I think she may need to go to the Hospital Wing." Remus said. Dani glared up at him. Flitwick nodded.
"Righto then Miss O'Leary. Mr Lupin and Miss Kynnata, please escort Miss O'Leary up to the Hospital Wing, a note will be sent around shortly to inform your teachers that you will be late." Flitwick said. The bell rang then and Dani, supported by Remus and San, stood up and stumbled up the front steps to Hogwarts school. The matron, Madame Pomfrey, bustled over Dani, taking her temperature and healing the cut on her shoulder from her glasses. Remus waited in the corner. Sannuya had gone to her class. When they had finished, Madame Pomfrey insisted Dani stay for a rest before the bell went for lunch. Remus put up a good fight to remain with Dani but he lost, and went to his Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson. Dani sank back into the white pillows of her hospital bed. She replayed the scene she had seen in the grounds and eventually fell asleep.. Her sleep was dreamless and she was awoken by the loud shrill bell sounded for lunch time. She looked around and saw her glasses neatly folded up on the bedside table. She smiled and she swung her legs over the bed. She pocketed her glasses and stood up, testing her balance. She found she was able to stand straight without falling over. Madame Pomfrey works wonders.. She thought, walking lightly out of the Hospital Wing. She trotted down the steps, holding onto the banister and reached the great hall, where the warm smells of food reached her. The doors opened and she walked in. Dani was looking at the ground, walking along, when she ran headlong into something soft. She looked up and followed the grey vest until she saw a friendly face smiling down at her. She plastered a fake smile on her face.
"Good Afternoon Podfick. Did you have a good summer?" She said impatiently. Podfick Jolvin was one of her friends from Defence Against the Dark Arts. He was a Ravenclaw and a tad annoying.
"It was peachy, O'Leary. What about you?" He asked back politely.
"Can't complain."
"I saw what happened at break.. hope you feel better." He said. She grinned at him again and turned away. Her smile disappeared and she stretched up on her toes to look for her friends. She couldn't find them so she went over to the Slytherin table. She spooned some salad on her plate and poured some coffee. She sat, eating without appetite, when she saw everybody on the Slytherin table's heads turn. 5 Gryffindors were marching down the aisle towards Dani. She pushed her plate forward and turned darkly fringed emerald eyes on her friends. She got up to join them and ignored the burning looks she received for inviting Gryffindors near the Slytherin table. They walked out of the Great Hall and stopped once they were in a far corner of the Entrance Hall.
"What happened at break, Dani?" James asked quietly. Dani didn't think it would be too smart to say she had predicted her own murder. She remained silent and shifted her eyes to the wall.
"What happened, Dani?" James asked again, a little more loudly. Again she didn't say anything. The others looked on anxiously. James stepped closer to Dani.
"Why can't you just tell us- explain to us, why you had that-that fit!? You scared us all to death and won't explain why?" He demanded, seizing Dani by the shoulders. Dani looked up, tears rolling down her face. Remus stepped up and put his hand on Dani's arm. She bowed her head into the palms of her hands and her body shuddered with sobs. James released her, surprised. Dani swiped at her eyes and stared ahead at James.
"Nothing happened." She whispered hoarsely and broke free of Remus' grip, she ran out of the school, her cloak and hair billowing behind her. She was blind with the tears welling up again in her eyes. She ran to a part of the lake that was hidden in trees. It had a view of the whole of Hogwarts. Dani stood on the edge of the lake, looking out onto the blue surface. Maybe I should just save Malfoy his work. She thought. Then she thought of Remus. Sweet, kind, shy, caring Remus. She had at last found love at Hogwarts and the same with him. James and Sirius wouldn't miss her too much. James had his infatuation with that Lily Evans, Sirius had Sanuya.. Peter.. he was too much amazed with James to care about anybody else. She heard a rustling behind her, and she looked around to see Malfoy walking slowly out of the trees. She turned red-rimmed eyes his way and suddenly felt a surge of fear choke her. Lucius had his wand out and Dani drew hers. Malfoy laughed.
"You think you can take me on in your weakened condition?" He asked, coldly. Dani looked at him with life-long hatred gleaming her green eyes.
"Weakened condition? Im afraid I don't quite follow you." She said sarcastically. Lucius Malfoy smirked.
"Everyone saw you at break. Screaming and writhing on the ground." He said maliciously. Dani took some steps to the left, Malfoy to the right, circling each other.
"Bad luck for you then, Malfoy. You should know Pomfrey works wonders."
"Then why is, that you've been crying?"
"I have not." Dani lied, Malfoy and Dani still circling each other. Lucius sneered.
"Oh no? So could you tell me why there are tear-streaks on your face?" Malfoy asked mockingly. Dani blushed and tightened her grip on the thin piece of wood that was her wand. Dani stopped circling. She was facing the trees, her back to the lake. She lowered her wand.
"Im not doing this. I am not going to hurt myself, for you, Malfoy." She said in a tone not unlike Lucius' own. She pushed herself past Malfoy and heard that familiar swishing noise of wood against wind. She was about to call a spell over her shoulder when she heard a second voice.
"Protego!" The second voice called. Dani had flung her hands over her head and crouched on the ground. She looked up to see Remus and Sirius. Sirius had his wand out. Remus held out a hand to Dani and she grasped it.
"You gave us quite a turn, Dani." Sirius said, kicking the limp form of Malfoy with his foot. "Running out like that, crying.. it's not like you, Dani. You are one of the toughest people I know and to start crying, let alone run out on an argument.. is something you don't normally do."
"How did you know I would be here?" She asked, in a steady voice that shocked Sirius and Remus.
"It's easy.. I always come here when I'm upset.. I figured you would." Remus said quietly, pulling Dani to her feet. "Dani-" Dani looked up. "- can you please tell us what happened at break?"
"You were there, you saw me." Dani said, pocketing her wand and brushing the knees of her pants off.
"But WHY? And why do you always looked so scared whenever Malfoy is near?" Sirius asked, stepping forward. Remus looked away. He knew why she always looked scared. Dani stared determinedly back. Perhaps it was time that Sirius, one of her closest friend, knew.
"Why? Why? Do you want to know why? Malfoy's father, killed my parents! I watched them die, I saw that- that.. prick murder my mother, just when she was beginning to understand me! I saw him torture her and I was screaming and screaming but nobody could hear me! I was yelling 'Stop hurting her, stop hurting my mother, stop hurting her!' and he didn't! He killed her, and he did the same with my father and still nobody heard me scream. I saw him walk away, I saw him laugh, I saw him look my way with those cold grey eyes and smile. I heard him say 'That's what you get for hurting my family.' And I could have murdered him! I could have ripped every limb from his body. But I didn't. I didn't stop him from leaving my house, grinning like a maniac. I could have, oh, I could have, but I never. And now.. Malfoy is following in his footsteps and at break.. I saw him kill me. I saw myself tortured, then killed.. just like my parents.. I think that's a brilliant reason to run away." Dani finished, breathlessly. She glared down at the pale, unconscious face of Lucius Malfoy. There was a minute of silence before Sirius spoke.
"I never- I didn't know.. Was that why you were always warning us not to annoy the Malfoy family?" Dani nodded, angry tears building up in her eyes. She wiped furiously at her eyes, determined not to let Sirius see her weakness. Remus already knew it. Sirius grabbed Dani's wrist, not letting her wipe the tears away. "Just cry, Dani. I take back what I said before. You have every right to." But instead of crying, Dani straightened up and took a deep breath and looked in turn at Sirius and Remus. Remus looked very ill and pale.
"I'm fine." She said in a trying, strong voice.
"Fine means freaked out, paranoid, insecure and emotional." Remus said in a quiet voice, the corners of his mouth twitching. She smiled faintly.
"That sums it up then." She said. She checked her little silver and green clock. Quarter to 1. "We better get back to the castle." She said and turned to walk away.
"What about Malfoy?" Sirius called. She stopped in her tracks. She was tempted to tell them to leave him there. She sighed and conjured up a stretcher. Malfoy looked like he was out cold. "I only did a shield charm.." Sirius said in amazement. Dani pointed at a rock that was where Malfoy's head had been.
"Let me introduce, Source One." She said picking up the rock. It had a few strands of white blonde hair on it, from where Malfoy's head had hit it. She looked at it and hurled it as hard as she could into the lake.
"Oh that felt good." She said, still rather perturbed by her encounter with Malfoy. How much longer is this going to continue before it ends? She thought. Her, Remus and Sirius walked back to the castle with the stretcher that held Malfoy on it between them. They reached the castle and Sirius marched the unconscious Lucius Malfoy to the hospital wing. Dani and Remus both had Potions in Dungeon 3 now, and they reached the dungeon with 10 minutes to spare. The classroom was empty and Dani and Remus dragged their cauldrons together. Dani started unloading parchment, ink and quills. Remus started doing the same and unexpectedly, reached for Dani's hand and squeezed it.
"I don't think I've ever said this, Dani.. but I am so sorry." Dani smiled sadly.
"It's not your fault." She said, squeezing his hand in turn. She smiled again and turned back to organising her work for class. The bell rang and students poured in, including Podfick Jolvin and Morgs Avanga. Dani groaned. The whole classroom would be likely to be doused in some potion by the end of the class if Morgs was in this room. Morgs and Podfick set their cauldrons up near Dani's and Remus'. Morgs grinned her eerie smile at them and Podfick wore his usual vacant expression. Morgs sat down on the bench next to Dani, untucked her tie and flipped it over her shoulder. Morgs' top hat (that she always wore, even on the Quidditch pitch) was tipped on an angle. Dani wondered how it stayed on her head if it was on such a jaunty position as this. Dani smiled weakly at Morgs and Podfick and looked up at the teacher, Professor Kindlewent. He tapped his wand twice on the board and words appeared magically there.
"Follow the instructions and create your potion. Put a sample on my desk when you have finished. You have one hour. Go." Professor Kindlewent said, shortly. Dani raised her eyebrows slightly and started unloading the ingredients used to make the Skinning Solution. She put her glasses on, so she could read the ingredients and started tipping frog spawn and lavender oil into her cauldron. Potions was one of Dani's best subjects. She lit the stove underneath her cauldron with her wand and started simmering the ingredients. Avanga was not having as much luck. The words on the board had said that the potion should be canary yellow. Morgs' was bottle green. Her cauldron started frothing over and Dani practically flattened Remus when she jumped over to avoid the mess. Professor Kindlewent swept over and flicked his wand. The mess disappeared.
"Foolish girl, you added too much dragon blood, didn't you?" He spat, but Avanga wasn't listening she had fascinated herself with a moth that was flying above her head. Jolvin was creating his potion with simplicity that Dani had to admire. When the task was done, Dani ladled some of her potion into a flask and placed it on Kindlewent's desk. Podfick, Orlando, Redrick and Remus followed suit. Redrick Griffith's potion was a lovely purple colour. Potion's was not his forte. Dani took off her glasses and pocketed them. She rubbed her eyes and took out the bands that were holding her hair back. She hated tying her hair up. It was such a pain when it was so long, but the rules clearly stated, that in Potions, long hair is to be worn up at all times. She sighed and put her head on her arms and watch absently as Remus talked to the Professor about some potion or another. Remus turned and walked back to the bench, a grim expression on his face. The bell rang and Kindlewent dismissed the class with a wave of his hand. Dani stuffed the potion ingredients back into her bag and scribbled down the homework; which was 'Explain the uses of dragon blood.' She swung her bag over her shoulder and walked out of the dungeon with Remus. Halfway down the corridor something large and soft collided with the back of Dani's head. Rubbing her skull, she looked around and saw her owl, holding something. The owl flew onto Dani's shoulder and Dani unrolled the piece of paper. She took her glasses out, put them on and read the letter. When she had finished, she crunched it up with one hand and set it alight with her wand tip.
"What was that all about?" Remus asked, watching the smoked ruins fall to the floor.
"Oh, it was just the Daily Prophet confirming my subscription." Dani replied. She stroked her owl, Gany, on the back and watch him soar off. "What do you have next?" She asked quickly. Remus stared at her oddly for a second.
"Charms." Remus said, rubbing at his shadowed eyes. They walked to the first floor, Dani, being so short, almost got knocked over by a 3rd year, that was chasing after a bullfrog. She brushed the hair out of her eyes and turned into the hallway in which she had transfiguration. She waved at Remus, who had gone to join James and Sirius for charms. James had cast her a scared, fleeting look, before he turned the corner. Dani sighed and walked into the class as the bell rang. This was the only class in which Lucius, Severus and Dani shared together. Lucius looked menacingly over at Dani, a slight bump on his forehead. She ignored him and took her seat, once again in the back left corner. The teacher walked in, Professor Mconagall was her name and she tapped her wand on her desk, silencing the class.
"Welcome back, 6th years! I hope to find you well. Today, we'll be transfiguring larger animals into rocks. In pairs, take turns in transfiguring your animal. The animals are in the cages behind my desk. You have 60 minutes." Dani didn't expect that anybody would want to pair with her, so she grabbed a cage containing a German Shepard and dragged it into her corner. She tied her hair back and looked up onto the board where the instructions were.
"Tap the animal twice with your wand. Then say Alantarta." She murmured. She unlocked the cage with a further tap of her wand and put a Freezing Spell on the animal as it leapt out. She rolled up the sleeves of her cloak. Dani took her wand out and tapped the animal with her wand twice.
"Alantarta!" She cried, raising her wand to shoulder height. An icy blue light flew out of her wand and it hit the dog. The dog started shrinking and going a dirty brown colour. It was soon becoming crouched and was now the size of a pillow. The only problem, Dani noticed, is that the rock had a tail. She inspected her work of transfiguration with interest, before she saw Mconagall stride over.
"Nearly there, O'Leary." She said briskly and tapped the rock-dog with her wand and it turned back to a German Shepard. Dani watched Mconagall walk away and Dani turned back to her dog. She patted it on the head absentmindedly and drawing her hand away, found many hairs on her glove. She raised an eyebrow at the dog as it drooled happily. She sighed and raised her wand again. She tapped it twice, closed her eyes, ready to shout the incantation.
"Alant-"
"Can I use the dog too?" A voice cut her off. Dani opened one eye and looked around. Snape was standing there, greasy hair and all. Dani sighed closed her eye and opened both of them, looking around at Snape.
"I don't think I have a choice, do I?" She said bitterly. Snape's lip curled and he drew his wand. Dani jumped out of the way and watched moodily from the corner. Severus tapped the dog with his wand and his oily voice echoed through the room.
"Alantarta!" He cried, raising his wand. The blue light issued out from his wand and Dani watched with interest as the dog shrank to the size of a small chair. Snape had successfully turned the dog into a rock. Dani leaned forward to inspect it and was about to touch it when she heard a whimpering noise. She withdrew her hand and smirked at Snape.
"Interestingly enough, your rock seems to make a noise." She said, softly. Snape flicked black eyes and Dani and muttered the counter-spell that restored the rock to a dog. Snape swished away, muttering darkly. Dani smiled, satisfyingly and returned to changing her dog into a rock and back again. When the timer rang for 60 minutes to be up, Dani locked the dog in its cage. "Locomotor, cage!" She muttered and the cage, dog and all rose up in the air and Dani marched it back to behind the teacher's desk. She lowered it and walked back to her desk. She took out her glasses, put them on, and unloaded parchment, ink and her peacock feather quill. Mconagall wrote their homework on the board which was to compose an essay on the properties that an incantation has in transfiguration. Dani smiled. Mconagall always gave them this homework on their first week back. Dani must have done it a dozen times. She scribbled it down and put the piece of parchment into her already overladen bag. She grabbed the clock swinging from her neck and flicked the lid open. She looked at the time. 5 minutes to go. She sighed and put her head on her folded arms. She looked around blearily and yawned. She stared off into space, thinking of the scene she had witnessed this morning in the period of time she was oblivious to all but her own nightmare. The bell rang. Dani lifted her head off her arms and wiped the spot on her cloak where she had drooled a little, as she tended to do. She flung her bag over her shoulder and trooped out of the classroom, nearly running headlong into her Head of House; Professor Kindlewent. He appeared rushed and spoke to Dani quickly.
"I've appointed you Slytherin Quidditch captain, O'Leary. Congratulations and I hope you bring Slytherin House to another victory this year." He said and hurried off. Dani appeared surprised at first and then happy. She did a silent jig. This turned her awful day upside down. She ran down the hall, bag swinging from her arm and she stopped in time to see Morgs emerging from Muggle Studies. Dani delighted in this and did a sort of sideways dance.
"Guess whose going down this year? Ravenclaw, cause I'm captain and I'm gonna kick your birdie arses!" She cried. Morgs appeared stunned for a second.
"Good luck!" She called after Dani. Dani did not stop but kept on running, determined to find the other Slytherin Quidditch members and inform them of her being captain. She ran past Trossi and a Slytherin chaser called Trigr on the stairs. She grabbed them by the arm, still running.
"Quidditch practice, 4:30. I know it's a short notice but Kindlewent just told me I'm new captain. Can you tell the others.. I'm captain!" Dani repeated, excitedly, running down the stars backward and knocking the Slytherin first year called Nick over. She picked him up under the elbow. "Sorry mate." She said, pushing his bag into his arms. He looked down at her with an odd expression on his face and watched Dani run down the rest of the stairs two at a time.
"What IS wrong with her?" He asked Trossie and she shrugged.
"Hi Dani. What are you doing up so early?" He looked at his wristwatch. "It's 5:15." Dani shrugged.
"Couldn't sleep, I guess." She said and yawned. Remus smiled. "What are YOU doing up anyway?" She asked pointedly.
"Oh, same reason as you, I guess." He said and Dani noticed the shadows under his eyes. She leaned closer to him.
"Are you alright, Remus? You don't look too hot." Dani asked, concernedly. Remus stretched and pushed his plate forward.
"Meh.. I'm all right. Just not getting enough sleep." Dani nodded.
"Are you going to finish that?" She asked. Remus shook his head. "D'you want to come for a walk? We've still got about-" She checked her watch that hung around her neck on a chain. "-an hour before anyone gets up."
Remus pushed his chair out and stood up. Dani noticed he was trembling. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously and they walked out of the hall. The doors flung open when they reached them and they stepped out onto the grounds.
"Hogwarts looks so pretty in the early morning." Dani breathed. They stepped out onto the dewy ground and strolled over to the lake, carrying bits of toast to feed to the giant squid that inhabited Hogwarts lake. They walked along the edge, throwing the toast in. In the morning light, Remus looked even more thin and pale than usual. They stood standing on the edge, watching their pieces of toast disappear beneath the cold surface of the lake. Remus pulled out his wand and conjured a chair behind them. They sat down and Remus started shivering, even though it was quite warm. Dani peered at him, over her green rimmed oval glasses that she had just put on.
"Are you sure everything is all right? You can tell me anything you know." Dani asked, extremely worried about her friend. Remus shifted uncomfortably.
"Everything is fine, Dani." He said.
"You know, fine means freaked out, paranoid, insecure and emotional."
"Im fine! The- the normal fine!" He said exasperatedly, jumping up. Dani did the same and the chair vanished, due to another flick of Remus' wand. There was a hint of a smile at the corner of Dani's mouth and that made Remus even more frustrated.
"What are you laughing at?!" He cried. Dani was nearly in fits of laughter. Remus turned and stomped away. Dani stopped laughing immediately and jogged up to him.
"I'm sorry, mate. I was only joking." Remus turned on her.
"I'm sick of people laughing at me! James is always laughing at me for being a prefect and good in everything. Sirius and San are always laughing at me for having a book glued to my nose. Peter will do anything James does and if you laugh at me.. I have no one left that cares." Dani stopped abruptly.
"I didn't know you thought like this, Remus.. I'm sorry." Dani muttered. She hated apologising. Remus turned and sighed. He caught her hand in his and held it. Dani looked at him with shock. He had never made any straightforward moves like this before. He twisted the ring on Dani's middle finger, obviously fascinated with the swirly patterns on it. She just stared at the top of his light brown hair. He looked slowly up and smiled. A spark seemed to start between them then. They leaned ever so closer, she could see the tiny lines around his eyes, it all happened too fast. Their lips touched for one moment.. BRING! The bell rang. They drew apart, slightly embarrassed but happy. Remus dropped Dani's hand and smiled.
"Nice ring." He murmured. Dani grinned and rolled her eyes. He appeared embarrassed and she turned from him.
"That's breakfast.. I'm going to go get my timetable ..are you coming?" Dani said, holding her hand out. Remus sighed sarcastically and took it.
"If I must.." He said walking with Dani back to the school. When they reached the open doors, they saw students spilling from different directions in a flurry of black cloaks. Dani spotted Lucius and Snape coming from the dungeons. Lucius cold grey eyes flicked their way and he nudged Snape, whispering something into his ear. Snape blanched, glared and pushed his way through the crowd into the Great Hall. Dani glanced over at the Gryffindor table, still clinging onto Remus' hand. Sirius was facing them, eating with gusto. He looked up from his food and gawked. He tapped James, who was talking to Peter, and they both laughed. Dani blushed and Sirius put his fingers to his lips and let out a loud wolf-whistle. She and Remus parted.
"See you at break." He murmured in Dani's ear. He quickly brushed his lips against her cheek and walked away. She slouched off to the far left table. She felt Lucius' eyes burning into her and she ignored it. She was in a good mood and no one was going to ruin it for her. She happily took a timetable from the pile that read "6th years". She skimmed over it.
Defence Against the Dark Arts- 9:15am
Ancient Runes- 10:30am
Break
Care of Magical Creatures- 11:30pm
Lunch
Potions- 1:05pm.
Transfiguration- 2:25pm
Dani sighed. Not a bad day. She thought, folding her timetable up and putting it in the inside pocket of her cloak. She grasped the clock swinging from her neck and glanced at it. It read 9 o'clock. She tucked it back inside her vest and walked out of the Great Hall, peeking only once at the Gryffindor table where Sirius and James were falling over each other in mock love. Dani rolled her eyes at their immatureness and pursued her path down to the dungeons to get her bag. She spoke the password; Salazar Serpent-Tongue, raced to her dormitory, stuffed her peacock feather quill in her bag, some parchment and the text books she had bought in Diagon Alley before term started. She looked at her clock again and it read 9:07. She ran out of her dormitory, hitching her pants up as she ran. She got out into the dungeon hallway when she heard a familiar drawling voice behind her.
"Going somewhere, O'Leary?" Said Malfoy, his pale face plastered with a smirk. Dani stopped and turned.
"Yeah, it's called class, you fool. And you are not making me late, Lucius." She spat at him, hoisting her bag up further on her shoulder. He plunged a hand into his robes but Dani was ready. She had her wand pointing straight in between Malfoy's eyes. "Don't make me hurt you, Malfoy. I'm really rather tired." She said, in a cold voice. Malfoy considered this position and replaced his wand in his pocket. Dani kept hers poised.
"See you've found yourself a boyfriend." He drawled, trying to remain calm, even if he did have a 13 inch piece of wood ready to jab at him. Dani tightened her grip on her wand. "A Gryffindor.. intriguing."
"So?" She spat, now positively fuming. Malfoy raised an eyebrow.
"You don't know what else he is?" He asked, smirking again. Dani lowered her wand and looked at Malfoy with a queer expression on her face.
"Probably everything your not.. which means; nice, good-looking, smart.. and of course, his father isn't a murderer." Dani said, checking her little clock. 9:12. She shifted the weight of her bag and turned around.
"Where do you think you are going?" She was called after.
"Like I said, you twit, I have class." She ran down the cold corridor and turned up the stairs she knew were a shortcut to the 3rd floor, on which she had Defence Against the Dark Arts. She took the steps two at a time, as far as her short legs would go and finally, she reached the 3rd floor with a minute to go. She sprinted down the corridor and skidded to a halt outside the door just as the bell rang. Dani sauntered into the classroom, taking her usual seat in the back left corner. The classroom was already half-full, the sixteen year olds that occupied the classroom were now awaiting their teacher, Professor Arkidash. Professor Arkidash swept into the room. Dani watched Professor Arkidash take her usual position behind the bench in front of the blackboard. She tapped her wand twice on the altar to silence those that were still chatting. The students fell quiet and they gazed up at Arkidash.
"Welcome back, Sixth years. You have decided to study Defence Against the Dark Arts. This is where we get into the tricky charms and curses like the Patronus Charm. Which is what we are starting with today, so everybody, take out your wands and find someone to work with and a place in the room. The instructions are on the board." Arkidash said in a smooth, clear voice. She took out her own wand and swished it. The desks and chairs were now neatly piled against the wall. Dani reached in for her own wand and was left with the girl nobody wanted to mess with, Morgs Avanga. Dani sighed and walked over to Morgs. Morgs had bright purple hair, with one red stripe and one yellow and had a cybernetic eye. She was a manic-depressive with a split personality and was rather dangerous on the Quidditch pitch. She played beater for Hufflepuff and keeper for Ravenclaw. Dani poked Morgs and she jumped. Morgs turned around and there was a big grin on her messed up face.
"Oh, hello! You're O'Leary aren't you? Spectacular catch in the final last year. I can't wait to get these charms started, let's start now, I'll go first." Morgs said in one breath and far too quickly. But she had already pointed her own wand at Dani. There was a swish and a flick and a cry of Expacto Patonem! And Dani was lifted off her feet and she was now hanging immobile in the air. She struggled to keep her cloak down off her face and her hair was sticking out everywhere. Arkidash was running over. She merely flicked her wand and Dani was back down on the ground, though distinctly ruffled.
"Fool." She murmured at Morgs. Morgs was now staring out the window, twitching and grinning spastically. Dani looked a tad frightened and just went off into a corner to practice the Patronus Charm. She produced only silvery mists at first, but she tried harder, fixing her mind completely on Remus' soft featured face. She smiled at the thought of him and swung her wand around.
"Expecto Patronum!" She cried and a shiny silver wolf burst out of her wand and raced around the room.
"Great work, Miss O'Leary, 10 points to Slytherin." Arkidash called across the room, fixing up a Hufflepuff that had a bleeding nose from his Ravenclaw friend. Dani watched her wolf gallop back around the class to her and it disappeared. She made the wolf erupt from her wand several more times and she sat for the last ten minutes, watching people around her, produce Patronus'. When the loud, shrill bell rang Dani swung her bag over her shoulder and stumped off to the 6th floor for Ancient Runes. She passed a friend of hers, Orlando Wood, in the hallway between the 4th and 5th floor. They walked to Ancient Runes together, also joining them was Redrick Griffiths from Hufflepuff. They walked into the Ancient Runes classroom and Dani took her seat in the back left and corner, where nobody would be sneering at her. She took out some parchment and her peacock feather quill. There was an ink well on her desk and she dipped it in, poising it over her parchment to write down today's Runes. After 75 minutes of scratching a feather on an old piece of paper, Dani's hand was getting a tad sore. When the bell rang for break, Dani packed her stuff quickly and was out the door before anybody else. She slowed her pace down to a stroll and she reached the Entrance Hall, wondering where Remus would meet her. The question was soon solved as Remus rounded the corner with Sirius and James at his side, Peter trailing behind. James and Sirius automatically went into their fits of mock love and Remus blushed. He walked over to Dani, holding his hand out. She took his, carefully not scratching him with her nails. They walked out onto the grounds.
"Are we going out- now?" He asked quietly. Dani looked at him with the queerest expression on her face. She smiled and laughed.
"I don't know.. are we?" She asked back just as quizzically.
"I hope so.. I've liked you for a long time, Dani.. Since 2nd year.. but you were so cold, and arrogant.. I didn't know how to act around you." Remus said softly, holding Dani's hand more tightly. She didn't know how to answer this, and just kept on walking. They stopped before they ran into an enormous tree. Remus paled. He steered Dani away and they walked around the edge of the Forbidden Forest, coming to a halt by the lake again, near a large beech tree. Dani released Remus' hand and sat down, leaning against the trunk of the tree. Remus sank down beside her and they spotted Sirius, James, Peter and Sanuya in the distance, making a beeline for the tree. Sanuya was the first to reach them.
"Look who's getting it on!" She cried, sprawling on the ground. Sirius followed suit.
"Yeah! Give us the gossip!" He said in the same tone as Sanuya' s, which was slightly surprised. Dani grinned embarrassedly. Remus became fascinated with a piece of bark.
"There IS no gossip!" Dani cried throwing a pebble at Sirius.
"Oh, so you just started going out, out of pure boredom, ey?" He asked, jokingly.
"That about summarises it, yeah." Dani said. Remus looked up in horror. She laughed and leaned her fore-head against his shoulder. Sanuya, Sirius and James made noises that resembled a groan cross an 'aww.' Peter remained silent. James put a hand to his head and ran his fingers through it, making it stick on end. Dani saw this out of the corner of her eye and raises an eyebrow.
"Why do you do that to your hair?" She asked quietly. Sirius and Sanuya were discussing something under a nearby tree. James looked over at Dani and asked. "I could ask the same thing about you." He said, eyeing Dani's super long untidy hair.
"Blame that weirdo Morgs.. don't ask." She added. She crawled from Remus' grip and kneeled next to James, looking at him through green rimmed glasses. She leant forward, knocking James' glasses off and reached for his hair. She brushed it forward with her fingers, receiving a disapproving look from James. When she had finished she leant back on her heels, admiring her handiwork.
"There you go." Dani said, crawling back over to Remus and lifting his arm to place around her shoulders. Peter turned to look at James and raised an appraising eyebrow. Sirius and Sanuya had returned to them.
"Good look for you, mate, real hot." He said, winking. Sanuya nodded.
"Does look better. Flat hair DOES suit you." She said, face straight. Dani rolled her eyes and looked out onto the lake. She was tired.. so tired.. A scene flashed in front of her eyes. There was a flash of green light and she saw a body fall to a stone floor. She heard cold laughter and a scream. She saw a tall figure running to the body on the floor. The tall male with light brown hair was sobbing over the girl on the ground, who's piercing green eyes were staring upwards, her black her fanned under her. A person near a door with white-blonde hair was smiling satisfyingly. Malfoy. Dani's dream self looked back to the 2 people on the ground. The girl was still clutching a wand in a pale hand. Herself. Dani screamed and felt a cold hand slapping her face. She opened her eyes with a snap and tried to sit up, but a surprisingly strong hand pushed hard on her chest, forcing her to stay down. She tried again and was once more, forced to stay down. She put her hands over her eyes, feeling cold sweat. Her glasses were laying shattered on the ground. Remus' and Sirius' anxious face hovered above her.
"What- What happened to my glasses?" She stammered. She reached for her wand inside her pocket to repair them and Remus blocked her from returning her glasses to normal
"You went into this weird.. spasm, thing, or something, your eyes rolled in your head and you were thrashing about and screaming. Your glasses fell off and you rolled on them, which explains their state." Sirius said, gesturing towards the broken shards of glass. Dani, again moved a shaking hand towards her wand but Remus seized her arm this time and replaced it on the ground beside her.
"Lie still, Dani!" He ordered. She struggled a little more before laying back in Remus' arms.
"Where's Sanuya and the other two at?" She said, a little more clearly, but her eyes still felt unfocused and she felt dizzy and sick.
"They went to get help.. they should be back by now... speak of the devil." Sirius said turning to greet the three friends. A tiny teacher, Professor Flitwick trailed behind them. Dani stared up with unfocused eyes.
"Feeling alright, Miss O'Leary?" He squeaked. Dani's wacky eyes flicked over to Sanuya who was extremely pale.
"I think so.." She said and tried to get up. Remus pushed her down again and stood up. He towered over Professor Flitwick.
"Sir, I think Dani O'Leary should be excused from her next class. She looks ill, and I think she may need to go to the Hospital Wing." Remus said. Dani glared up at him. Flitwick nodded.
"Righto then Miss O'Leary. Mr Lupin and Miss Kynnata, please escort Miss O'Leary up to the Hospital Wing, a note will be sent around shortly to inform your teachers that you will be late." Flitwick said. The bell rang then and Dani, supported by Remus and San, stood up and stumbled up the front steps to Hogwarts school. The matron, Madame Pomfrey, bustled over Dani, taking her temperature and healing the cut on her shoulder from her glasses. Remus waited in the corner. Sannuya had gone to her class. When they had finished, Madame Pomfrey insisted Dani stay for a rest before the bell went for lunch. Remus put up a good fight to remain with Dani but he lost, and went to his Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson. Dani sank back into the white pillows of her hospital bed. She replayed the scene she had seen in the grounds and eventually fell asleep.. Her sleep was dreamless and she was awoken by the loud shrill bell sounded for lunch time. She looked around and saw her glasses neatly folded up on the bedside table. She smiled and she swung her legs over the bed. She pocketed her glasses and stood up, testing her balance. She found she was able to stand straight without falling over. Madame Pomfrey works wonders.. She thought, walking lightly out of the Hospital Wing. She trotted down the steps, holding onto the banister and reached the great hall, where the warm smells of food reached her. The doors opened and she walked in. Dani was looking at the ground, walking along, when she ran headlong into something soft. She looked up and followed the grey vest until she saw a friendly face smiling down at her. She plastered a fake smile on her face.
"Good Afternoon Podfick. Did you have a good summer?" She said impatiently. Podfick Jolvin was one of her friends from Defence Against the Dark Arts. He was a Ravenclaw and a tad annoying.
"It was peachy, O'Leary. What about you?" He asked back politely.
"Can't complain."
"I saw what happened at break.. hope you feel better." He said. She grinned at him again and turned away. Her smile disappeared and she stretched up on her toes to look for her friends. She couldn't find them so she went over to the Slytherin table. She spooned some salad on her plate and poured some coffee. She sat, eating without appetite, when she saw everybody on the Slytherin table's heads turn. 5 Gryffindors were marching down the aisle towards Dani. She pushed her plate forward and turned darkly fringed emerald eyes on her friends. She got up to join them and ignored the burning looks she received for inviting Gryffindors near the Slytherin table. They walked out of the Great Hall and stopped once they were in a far corner of the Entrance Hall.
"What happened at break, Dani?" James asked quietly. Dani didn't think it would be too smart to say she had predicted her own murder. She remained silent and shifted her eyes to the wall.
"What happened, Dani?" James asked again, a little more loudly. Again she didn't say anything. The others looked on anxiously. James stepped closer to Dani.
"Why can't you just tell us- explain to us, why you had that-that fit!? You scared us all to death and won't explain why?" He demanded, seizing Dani by the shoulders. Dani looked up, tears rolling down her face. Remus stepped up and put his hand on Dani's arm. She bowed her head into the palms of her hands and her body shuddered with sobs. James released her, surprised. Dani swiped at her eyes and stared ahead at James.
"Nothing happened." She whispered hoarsely and broke free of Remus' grip, she ran out of the school, her cloak and hair billowing behind her. She was blind with the tears welling up again in her eyes. She ran to a part of the lake that was hidden in trees. It had a view of the whole of Hogwarts. Dani stood on the edge of the lake, looking out onto the blue surface. Maybe I should just save Malfoy his work. She thought. Then she thought of Remus. Sweet, kind, shy, caring Remus. She had at last found love at Hogwarts and the same with him. James and Sirius wouldn't miss her too much. James had his infatuation with that Lily Evans, Sirius had Sanuya.. Peter.. he was too much amazed with James to care about anybody else. She heard a rustling behind her, and she looked around to see Malfoy walking slowly out of the trees. She turned red-rimmed eyes his way and suddenly felt a surge of fear choke her. Lucius had his wand out and Dani drew hers. Malfoy laughed.
"You think you can take me on in your weakened condition?" He asked, coldly. Dani looked at him with life-long hatred gleaming her green eyes.
"Weakened condition? Im afraid I don't quite follow you." She said sarcastically. Lucius Malfoy smirked.
"Everyone saw you at break. Screaming and writhing on the ground." He said maliciously. Dani took some steps to the left, Malfoy to the right, circling each other.
"Bad luck for you then, Malfoy. You should know Pomfrey works wonders."
"Then why is, that you've been crying?"
"I have not." Dani lied, Malfoy and Dani still circling each other. Lucius sneered.
"Oh no? So could you tell me why there are tear-streaks on your face?" Malfoy asked mockingly. Dani blushed and tightened her grip on the thin piece of wood that was her wand. Dani stopped circling. She was facing the trees, her back to the lake. She lowered her wand.
"Im not doing this. I am not going to hurt myself, for you, Malfoy." She said in a tone not unlike Lucius' own. She pushed herself past Malfoy and heard that familiar swishing noise of wood against wind. She was about to call a spell over her shoulder when she heard a second voice.
"Protego!" The second voice called. Dani had flung her hands over her head and crouched on the ground. She looked up to see Remus and Sirius. Sirius had his wand out. Remus held out a hand to Dani and she grasped it.
"You gave us quite a turn, Dani." Sirius said, kicking the limp form of Malfoy with his foot. "Running out like that, crying.. it's not like you, Dani. You are one of the toughest people I know and to start crying, let alone run out on an argument.. is something you don't normally do."
"How did you know I would be here?" She asked, in a steady voice that shocked Sirius and Remus.
"It's easy.. I always come here when I'm upset.. I figured you would." Remus said quietly, pulling Dani to her feet. "Dani-" Dani looked up. "- can you please tell us what happened at break?"
"You were there, you saw me." Dani said, pocketing her wand and brushing the knees of her pants off.
"But WHY? And why do you always looked so scared whenever Malfoy is near?" Sirius asked, stepping forward. Remus looked away. He knew why she always looked scared. Dani stared determinedly back. Perhaps it was time that Sirius, one of her closest friend, knew.
"Why? Why? Do you want to know why? Malfoy's father, killed my parents! I watched them die, I saw that- that.. prick murder my mother, just when she was beginning to understand me! I saw him torture her and I was screaming and screaming but nobody could hear me! I was yelling 'Stop hurting her, stop hurting my mother, stop hurting her!' and he didn't! He killed her, and he did the same with my father and still nobody heard me scream. I saw him walk away, I saw him laugh, I saw him look my way with those cold grey eyes and smile. I heard him say 'That's what you get for hurting my family.' And I could have murdered him! I could have ripped every limb from his body. But I didn't. I didn't stop him from leaving my house, grinning like a maniac. I could have, oh, I could have, but I never. And now.. Malfoy is following in his footsteps and at break.. I saw him kill me. I saw myself tortured, then killed.. just like my parents.. I think that's a brilliant reason to run away." Dani finished, breathlessly. She glared down at the pale, unconscious face of Lucius Malfoy. There was a minute of silence before Sirius spoke.
"I never- I didn't know.. Was that why you were always warning us not to annoy the Malfoy family?" Dani nodded, angry tears building up in her eyes. She wiped furiously at her eyes, determined not to let Sirius see her weakness. Remus already knew it. Sirius grabbed Dani's wrist, not letting her wipe the tears away. "Just cry, Dani. I take back what I said before. You have every right to." But instead of crying, Dani straightened up and took a deep breath and looked in turn at Sirius and Remus. Remus looked very ill and pale.
"I'm fine." She said in a trying, strong voice.
"Fine means freaked out, paranoid, insecure and emotional." Remus said in a quiet voice, the corners of his mouth twitching. She smiled faintly.
"That sums it up then." She said. She checked her little silver and green clock. Quarter to 1. "We better get back to the castle." She said and turned to walk away.
"What about Malfoy?" Sirius called. She stopped in her tracks. She was tempted to tell them to leave him there. She sighed and conjured up a stretcher. Malfoy looked like he was out cold. "I only did a shield charm.." Sirius said in amazement. Dani pointed at a rock that was where Malfoy's head had been.
"Let me introduce, Source One." She said picking up the rock. It had a few strands of white blonde hair on it, from where Malfoy's head had hit it. She looked at it and hurled it as hard as she could into the lake.
"Oh that felt good." She said, still rather perturbed by her encounter with Malfoy. How much longer is this going to continue before it ends? She thought. Her, Remus and Sirius walked back to the castle with the stretcher that held Malfoy on it between them. They reached the castle and Sirius marched the unconscious Lucius Malfoy to the hospital wing. Dani and Remus both had Potions in Dungeon 3 now, and they reached the dungeon with 10 minutes to spare. The classroom was empty and Dani and Remus dragged their cauldrons together. Dani started unloading parchment, ink and quills. Remus started doing the same and unexpectedly, reached for Dani's hand and squeezed it.
"I don't think I've ever said this, Dani.. but I am so sorry." Dani smiled sadly.
"It's not your fault." She said, squeezing his hand in turn. She smiled again and turned back to organising her work for class. The bell rang and students poured in, including Podfick Jolvin and Morgs Avanga. Dani groaned. The whole classroom would be likely to be doused in some potion by the end of the class if Morgs was in this room. Morgs and Podfick set their cauldrons up near Dani's and Remus'. Morgs grinned her eerie smile at them and Podfick wore his usual vacant expression. Morgs sat down on the bench next to Dani, untucked her tie and flipped it over her shoulder. Morgs' top hat (that she always wore, even on the Quidditch pitch) was tipped on an angle. Dani wondered how it stayed on her head if it was on such a jaunty position as this. Dani smiled weakly at Morgs and Podfick and looked up at the teacher, Professor Kindlewent. He tapped his wand twice on the board and words appeared magically there.
"Follow the instructions and create your potion. Put a sample on my desk when you have finished. You have one hour. Go." Professor Kindlewent said, shortly. Dani raised her eyebrows slightly and started unloading the ingredients used to make the Skinning Solution. She put her glasses on, so she could read the ingredients and started tipping frog spawn and lavender oil into her cauldron. Potions was one of Dani's best subjects. She lit the stove underneath her cauldron with her wand and started simmering the ingredients. Avanga was not having as much luck. The words on the board had said that the potion should be canary yellow. Morgs' was bottle green. Her cauldron started frothing over and Dani practically flattened Remus when she jumped over to avoid the mess. Professor Kindlewent swept over and flicked his wand. The mess disappeared.
"Foolish girl, you added too much dragon blood, didn't you?" He spat, but Avanga wasn't listening she had fascinated herself with a moth that was flying above her head. Jolvin was creating his potion with simplicity that Dani had to admire. When the task was done, Dani ladled some of her potion into a flask and placed it on Kindlewent's desk. Podfick, Orlando, Redrick and Remus followed suit. Redrick Griffith's potion was a lovely purple colour. Potion's was not his forte. Dani took off her glasses and pocketed them. She rubbed her eyes and took out the bands that were holding her hair back. She hated tying her hair up. It was such a pain when it was so long, but the rules clearly stated, that in Potions, long hair is to be worn up at all times. She sighed and put her head on her arms and watch absently as Remus talked to the Professor about some potion or another. Remus turned and walked back to the bench, a grim expression on his face. The bell rang and Kindlewent dismissed the class with a wave of his hand. Dani stuffed the potion ingredients back into her bag and scribbled down the homework; which was 'Explain the uses of dragon blood.' She swung her bag over her shoulder and walked out of the dungeon with Remus. Halfway down the corridor something large and soft collided with the back of Dani's head. Rubbing her skull, she looked around and saw her owl, holding something. The owl flew onto Dani's shoulder and Dani unrolled the piece of paper. She took her glasses out, put them on and read the letter. When she had finished, she crunched it up with one hand and set it alight with her wand tip.
"What was that all about?" Remus asked, watching the smoked ruins fall to the floor.
"Oh, it was just the Daily Prophet confirming my subscription." Dani replied. She stroked her owl, Gany, on the back and watch him soar off. "What do you have next?" She asked quickly. Remus stared at her oddly for a second.
"Charms." Remus said, rubbing at his shadowed eyes. They walked to the first floor, Dani, being so short, almost got knocked over by a 3rd year, that was chasing after a bullfrog. She brushed the hair out of her eyes and turned into the hallway in which she had transfiguration. She waved at Remus, who had gone to join James and Sirius for charms. James had cast her a scared, fleeting look, before he turned the corner. Dani sighed and walked into the class as the bell rang. This was the only class in which Lucius, Severus and Dani shared together. Lucius looked menacingly over at Dani, a slight bump on his forehead. She ignored him and took her seat, once again in the back left corner. The teacher walked in, Professor Mconagall was her name and she tapped her wand on her desk, silencing the class.
"Welcome back, 6th years! I hope to find you well. Today, we'll be transfiguring larger animals into rocks. In pairs, take turns in transfiguring your animal. The animals are in the cages behind my desk. You have 60 minutes." Dani didn't expect that anybody would want to pair with her, so she grabbed a cage containing a German Shepard and dragged it into her corner. She tied her hair back and looked up onto the board where the instructions were.
"Tap the animal twice with your wand. Then say Alantarta." She murmured. She unlocked the cage with a further tap of her wand and put a Freezing Spell on the animal as it leapt out. She rolled up the sleeves of her cloak. Dani took her wand out and tapped the animal with her wand twice.
"Alantarta!" She cried, raising her wand to shoulder height. An icy blue light flew out of her wand and it hit the dog. The dog started shrinking and going a dirty brown colour. It was soon becoming crouched and was now the size of a pillow. The only problem, Dani noticed, is that the rock had a tail. She inspected her work of transfiguration with interest, before she saw Mconagall stride over.
"Nearly there, O'Leary." She said briskly and tapped the rock-dog with her wand and it turned back to a German Shepard. Dani watched Mconagall walk away and Dani turned back to her dog. She patted it on the head absentmindedly and drawing her hand away, found many hairs on her glove. She raised an eyebrow at the dog as it drooled happily. She sighed and raised her wand again. She tapped it twice, closed her eyes, ready to shout the incantation.
"Alant-"
"Can I use the dog too?" A voice cut her off. Dani opened one eye and looked around. Snape was standing there, greasy hair and all. Dani sighed closed her eye and opened both of them, looking around at Snape.
"I don't think I have a choice, do I?" She said bitterly. Snape's lip curled and he drew his wand. Dani jumped out of the way and watched moodily from the corner. Severus tapped the dog with his wand and his oily voice echoed through the room.
"Alantarta!" He cried, raising his wand. The blue light issued out from his wand and Dani watched with interest as the dog shrank to the size of a small chair. Snape had successfully turned the dog into a rock. Dani leaned forward to inspect it and was about to touch it when she heard a whimpering noise. She withdrew her hand and smirked at Snape.
"Interestingly enough, your rock seems to make a noise." She said, softly. Snape flicked black eyes and Dani and muttered the counter-spell that restored the rock to a dog. Snape swished away, muttering darkly. Dani smiled, satisfyingly and returned to changing her dog into a rock and back again. When the timer rang for 60 minutes to be up, Dani locked the dog in its cage. "Locomotor, cage!" She muttered and the cage, dog and all rose up in the air and Dani marched it back to behind the teacher's desk. She lowered it and walked back to her desk. She took out her glasses, put them on, and unloaded parchment, ink and her peacock feather quill. Mconagall wrote their homework on the board which was to compose an essay on the properties that an incantation has in transfiguration. Dani smiled. Mconagall always gave them this homework on their first week back. Dani must have done it a dozen times. She scribbled it down and put the piece of parchment into her already overladen bag. She grabbed the clock swinging from her neck and flicked the lid open. She looked at the time. 5 minutes to go. She sighed and put her head on her folded arms. She looked around blearily and yawned. She stared off into space, thinking of the scene she had witnessed this morning in the period of time she was oblivious to all but her own nightmare. The bell rang. Dani lifted her head off her arms and wiped the spot on her cloak where she had drooled a little, as she tended to do. She flung her bag over her shoulder and trooped out of the classroom, nearly running headlong into her Head of House; Professor Kindlewent. He appeared rushed and spoke to Dani quickly.
"I've appointed you Slytherin Quidditch captain, O'Leary. Congratulations and I hope you bring Slytherin House to another victory this year." He said and hurried off. Dani appeared surprised at first and then happy. She did a silent jig. This turned her awful day upside down. She ran down the hall, bag swinging from her arm and she stopped in time to see Morgs emerging from Muggle Studies. Dani delighted in this and did a sort of sideways dance.
"Guess whose going down this year? Ravenclaw, cause I'm captain and I'm gonna kick your birdie arses!" She cried. Morgs appeared stunned for a second.
"Good luck!" She called after Dani. Dani did not stop but kept on running, determined to find the other Slytherin Quidditch members and inform them of her being captain. She ran past Trossi and a Slytherin chaser called Trigr on the stairs. She grabbed them by the arm, still running.
"Quidditch practice, 4:30. I know it's a short notice but Kindlewent just told me I'm new captain. Can you tell the others.. I'm captain!" Dani repeated, excitedly, running down the stars backward and knocking the Slytherin first year called Nick over. She picked him up under the elbow. "Sorry mate." She said, pushing his bag into his arms. He looked down at her with an odd expression on his face and watched Dani run down the rest of the stairs two at a time.
"What IS wrong with her?" He asked Trossie and she shrugged.