Chapter Ten
Treasure awoke the next morning in her own bed, wrapped in a Slytherin robe that was not her's. She lifted her head and found a note lying at her feet.
Mon copine*,
I could not find your clothes, so I put you in one of my old Slytherin practice robes so I could get you to your own bed. I didn't want to even think of what might have happened of the guys found you walking up in my bed. By the way, you are beautiful when you sleep.
You were so good last night and, mon belle fille*, that may have been your first trip to heaven, but it sure as hell wont be your last. I cannot wait until our next encounter.
For now, I think we need to keep our relationship on the down low, just until you tell a certain Seeker about us. I don't want to see her getting hurt by finding out the wrong way. She is a sweet girl and, as far as I understand, has quite a lust for me. I don't want your friendship ruined.
Je suis toujours ici toi*,
Phoenix Flint
Treasure smiled and got ready for breakfast. She carefully folded Phoenix's robes and placed them in her trunk. The day was beginning as normally as it could as she walked into the common room to meet with Chris. Phoenix was there as well, obviously waiting for her. Chris smiled when her best friend walked in.
"Hey, Treasure," Chris exclaimed, "How was Beater training?"
Treasure shrugged, "It was fine – we got a lot done, didn't we Phoenix?"
"Yeah," Phoenix yawned.
"Ready for breakfast," Treasure asked both of them and they nodded.
The Great Hall was crowded as usual with merry chatting and laughter. As soon as Treasure sat, Hermione tapped her on the shoulder and, for the first time, Granger saw what Hermione had become.
I cant wait for is to meet again, Granger thought, Revenge will be a bitch.
"Yes, mother," Treasure asked.
"Are you feeling okay, sweetie? I told Chris to tell you that I wanted to see you and you never came," Hermione said.
"I am sorry. I got the message, it's just that I got busy and it slipped my mind."
"Then, please come by after dinner. I would really like to talk to you."
Treasure nodded, "Yes, momma."
Hermione left and Treasure turned back to her friends.
"When is our first practice, Phoenix," she asked.
"Probably tomorrow night," he replied, stuffing his face with hash browns, "We sill have a few kinks to work out of the Beater plays, but tomorrow in action would be the best way for us to visualize how we want them. It is our sole responsibility to protect our team and bash the other one in. I want us to have a strong advantage. This year, I feel, is that year."
"Speaking of Quidditch, Ani owled me last night and told me that she got Seeker, Arthur Potter got Keeper and both your brother and Amelia Longbottom got Chaser," Chris said, "Other than that, it is the same team from last year. I just thought I would tell you, Phoenix, so you can strategize around that. It is tradition for Slytherin and Gryffindor to start off the Quidditch season."
"It is also tradition for them to close it as well," Treasure added.
"Thank you for the information, Chris," Phoenix told her, "I have already set up for a Ravenclaw spy to watch their next practice and to tell me everything that went on."
"What did you have to pay for that," Treasure asked.
"Two Galleons, a few rare Wizard cards and a pack of stink pellets," Phoenix grinned, "It's a pretty good deal if you ask me. I have had to trade a lot more for to get things done that wasn't as important as this."
Treasure laughed, "Phoenix, you make a wonderful team captain, if I do say so myself."
"Are you just figuring that out," he asked with a playful glint in his eye.
"Are you guys planning to go to Defense Against the Dark Arts," Chris asked, "because if you are, I think we ought to get a move on."
Treasure nodded and stood. She immediately felt dizzy and grabbed onto the edge of the table as Granger took charge.
This is your captain speaking, she thought as Treasure's body regained its balance, you might experience some slight jolting as we take off, but once we take to the air, I can promise a smooth ride.
"Are you okay Treasure," Chris asked, placing her hand on her friend's shoulder.
"I am fine," Granger assured her with a grin, "Just tripped, that's all."
Surprisingly, Granger behaved herself all through Defense Against the Dark arts. Hermione didn't address Treasure at all, which gave her no reason to misbehave. Granger at least got to study the woman – to see what she might do that would hurt Hermione the most. However, the answer was clear: Granger could still hurt her, in the same way she was hurt before. The memory, she could tell, still haunted Hermione, and to bring that back would hurt her worse than being a part of her in the first place. The class period was a mere study session.
A study session, Granger thought as she gave Treasure back the control of her body and mind so she could get some rest, my counterpart always loved to study.
During lunch, Treasure walked up to Chris and asked to see her alone. She and Chris walked up to the practice pitch and Treasure thought of what she was going to reveal to her friend – and what was going to stay under wraps for the time being.
"What is it that you need to speak to me about," Chris asked.
Treasure opened her mouth several times to speak, but only looked as though she were a fish out of water, searching for air. She sighed, kept her eyes on the ground, and finally spoke:
"Its about Phoenix."
Chris looked to her friend, immediately interested, "What about him? Did he say anything to you about me? Is there something happening that I should be expecting?"
"I don't know how to tell you this exactly, but," Treasure took a deep breath and said quickly, "last night when Phoenix and I were working, he asked me to be his girlfriend and I accepted."
Chris' reaction was not one that Treasure expected. In fact, she looked very happy.
"Treasure," she exclaimed, "That's wonderful! I am glad that you have him! Wow, what a snag…however," her expression turned solemn, "did anything happen between the two of you last night?"
"Chris, there is no lying to you. Yes…last night, we made love to each other. We had been planning to since he cornered me in the Owlery and I spent dinner in my father's classroom, raiding his cabinets and brewing a contraceptive potion. We didn't work at all – is was something Phoenix said so that you wouldn't get suspicious about him inviting me up to his room."
"Why didn't you tell me the truth in the first place?"
"I didn't want you to get hurt."
"I am your best friend, Treasure," Chris assured her, placing her hand on her companion's shoulder, "If he doesn't have feelings for me, I wouldn't bring you down by moping about it. That is not what friends are for and I wouldn't want you to call me a friend, or anyone a friend, who wasn't happy for you just because they thought that this boy was theirs and nobody else's."
"Thanks."
"So," Chris said, grinning, "how is he anyways?"
"Absolutely astounding does not even begin to describe it."
The two friends laughed, and Granger sat in the back, laughing for a different reason.
'Yes, bring her closer,' Granger snickered, 'Set Miss Riddle up for what I have in store for you and for this world – just wait until I unleash the Divine Plan.'
Dinner ended fifteen minutes earlier. Chris, Treasure and Ani were hanging out in Ani's room in Gryffindor tower when Chris remembered something.
"Treasure, your mum wanted to see you tonight!"
Treasure gasped, "That is right! I'd better get over there!"
With a wave good-bye and a promise to see them later, she scampered off towards the house and, once she reached it, walked inside.
"Mum," Treasure called.
"In the kitchen, dear!"
She walked in and saw her mother filling her father's coffee cup and her father was reading the Daily Prophet, though, put it down once she had walked in.
"Yes, momma?"
"I just wanted to ask you a few questions," Hermione assured her in a soft tone, "Sit down. Would you like anything to drink?"
Treasure took a seat across from her father and shook her head, "No, thank you. What would you like to ask me?"
"Why weren't you at dinner last night?"
Therefore, began a game of Twenty Questions.
"I was tired," Treasure lied, "I was getting some rest for the sleep I had lost that morning due to Quidditch try outs. Oh, and Daddy, I made the team as a Beater, isn't that great?"
A proud smile spread across his face, "Another Quidditch star in the family. Congratulations, my Treasure. I am sure Phoenix is pleased to have you on the team. By the way, how is Phoenix?"
"Just fine," Treasure replied, "He asked me out last night and I accepted."
"Treasure," Hermione began, becoming serious once again, "I went to check on you last night in your room and you were not there. Why?"
The defendant gulped, "Phoenix needed me to help him with some Beater plays. He is a Beater too, you know. We were up until really late. Making plays is much harder than it looks."
Severus leaned forward and looked into his daughter's eyes. He was about to ask something, which he was afraid to ask – he hadn't told Hermione about this, but it had to be asked. The proud smile had been wiped off his face and had been replaced by pure seriousness.
"Treasure, after dinner, I found that some of my personal potion ingredients were either shuffled around or missing – particularly ingredients used for a contraceptive potion."
Hermione, shocked by this news, turned quickly to Treasure. With an outstretched hand, she grabbed her eldest child's wrist with such a force that Hermione's knuckles were turning white.
"Ow, mother, that hurts," Treasure cried as she tried to release her arm.
"Did you have sex with Phoenix last night?"
With each tug from Treasure to free her wrist, the grip only grew tighter.
"Mother," Treasure pleaded.
"Answer me!"
Treasure's eyes flashed red with anger and she looked menacingly up at her mother, "I told you to get off of me you whore!"
Hermione stumbled back in shock of Treasure's outburst. She herself was surprised and placed her hand over her mouth. Those words came from her mouth, but were not her's at all. Severus stood and walked in front of his daughter to put his hands gently on her shoulders. Treasure, feeling threatened that he was planning to hit her, jumped up immediately.
"Don't touch me," Treasure exclaimed.
"I am not going to hurt you. I want to find out what is wrong. This subject should not have been approached this way."
Severus reached out a hand and she smacked it away.
"I told you not to touch me, Snape!"
The words rolled from her mouth so effortlessly that she didn't even think of them before they were out. They came quickly, like a whip, that stung Severus so, that it made him back against the far wall, away from her. He closed his eyes in pain; the way that she spat the last word – Snape – was too familiar and it hurt more than anyone could know. Treasure came to her senses and saw her father's suffering. Tears welled up in her eyes and she ran out of the house, not daring to even look back. ~+~
*Mon copine = My Girlfriend
*Mon belle fille = My beautiful girl
*Je suis toujours ici toi = I am always with you
The deal with Granger is this: like in "The Fortress Within" when Hermione and Granger took turns with the body, Granger is taking turns with Treasure, but Treasure has no clue of this. When Treasure's eyes flash red that means Granger is taking over Treasure's speech. Granger once spoke something that was in single italics (''). That means that she was speaking it, but no one could hear it but herself. When Granger thinks, Treasure doesn't hear it. It is like they are two separate people, but with the same body. If you don't get what I just tried to explain, I'm sorry. I am doing the best I can.
I hope you are enjoying the story! ~M.A. Raie