I'm so sorry for the long delay! I mean at last I have two new reviewers and what happens? My inspiration says bye-bye... Well, looks like I have to rely on my own brilliant mind to be my only muse... *sarcasm involved* If anybody out there has a good muse for me, please send it to me!!!
The only Ruby-muse which hasn't failed me yet is my pencil which is responsible for my drawing work. If you would like to check it out please click the link in my profile, then "Galerie"à Zeichnungen à Ruby Goes To Hogwarts. When you click Harry Potter instead you can find my imaginations of Oliver… Tell me when something isn't working...
Feel free to review.
Enjoy.
~*~
The shawl around Ruby's neck turned into a color of deep red and even began to glow. Ruby could hardly suppress her anger. Her hand reached into her pocket in the search for her wand.
Before Wood who obviously didn't know what the color of her scarf meant could say anything Witty who knew the shawl burst out "Ruby, stop! I have told him everything! He has..."
In that moment Ruby had pulled out her wand and pointed it at Wood whose smile faded immediately. Witty shrieked and the Gryffindor Keeper backed away remembering what Ruby had predicted the last time she had spoken to him.
Witty hastily babbled "Ruby, listen! It's christmas! Oliver has presents for us. But I won't get mine until..."
"Silencio!"
Ruby had pointed her wand away from Wood (who had looked very relieved at once) and towards Witty instead. The little fairy tried to speak but no sound escaped her mouth. Ruby would have laughed at the sight hadn't she been so angry. She didn't face Wood again but took the diminutive face of her fairy between thumb and forefinger.
"Now *you* will listen! I told you not to come near that Gryffindor again." Ruby carefully avoided saying his name "But as I see you value christmas presents more than me. Fine then. You can take your present from him. And you can have mine, too, whatever it is." The fairy looked at Ruby with wide eyes, for Ruby's voice resembled a lot Ruby's father's when he was angry. Witty's lower lip began to tremble. Oliver also sensed the outraged trace in her voice and a deep frown spread over his forehead. "And after you enjoyed your presents you come back to Hufflepuff House to get your stuff and have a move on to Gryffindor! I don't have a pet anymore."
That said Ruby pushed a stunned Wood out of the way which was unnecessary as the passageway was wide enough for five people walking next to each other and stomped off. She could hear Wood mutter the counter curse, then Witty's sobs filled the corridors ecoing spookily from the stone walls. Ruby could feel tears welling up herself and the scarf turned a shade of grey but she forced her thoughts on how mad she was on Wood and the things he had said to her. Witty had betrayed her and ending the friendship was the only thing reasonable – or wasn't it?
Reaching the Ivy Ruby shouted "Slug Slime" then entered the Common Room to face the other remaining Hufflepuffs looking at her to find out why she had shouted the password so angrily. Seeing the expression on her face and the way she still held her wand they quickly turned back to busying themselves with their presents. Ruby entered her dormitory and sat down on her bed. Slowly the anger faded away and she began to see her surroundings clearly again. What had she done? Why was she so choleric at times? It brought nothing than trouble!
Had it been necessary to cancel the friendship to Witty?
Then Ruby saw the yellow Smiley her friends had sent her and remembered the lost Riders Breakfast. That really had been a bloody Christmas Day! Her stomach growled but was surpassed by a knock on the door. Ruby looked up collected herself and replied "Come in!"
It was Alice, the Hufflepuff Prefect from sixth year. She looked concerned. "Is the first wave of anger over? Ready to talk?" Ruby shrugged "What happened? Was detention so bad?"
"You have no idea!"
Alice sat down on the next bed facing Ruby "Where's your fairy? I thought she had set out to meet you..." Ruby growled to give a sign that mentioning Witty wasn't a good idea now. Alice arched a surprised brow. "Trouble in paradise?" she tried a joke but failed miserably. Ruby didn't even reply but turned away and lay down flat on her back. Sulking she stared at the yellow canopy over her as if she was trying to burn a hole into it. Why couldn't Alice just leave her alone? But the black-haired sixth-year didn't get the hint. Or didn't want to get it.
"I'm Prefect. It's my job to care for my students..." she tried but was cutt off by Ruby's glare and furious reply.
"I'm no stupid first-year with homesickness, y'know!"
But Alice merely grinned. The Prefect's calmness was disturbing. "Wanna talk with Franklin rather?" The question connected with the sly grin on the sixth-year's face told clearly what Alice thought.
That was too much for Ruby. "NO!" she screamed then left the dorm room Alice at her heels. "Where are you going?"
"What's it to you?"
"We Prefects are to have a look on you."
"Fine then! I'm going to Madame Pomfrey, I'm not well!" and with that Ruby left the room through the Ivy. Where could she go? Why not really the hospital wing? Huffing she made her way there. When she entered the infirmary she saw Madame Pomfrey leaning over the only patient, a tiny first-year who looked like he had had too much christmas dinner. Ignoring the nurse and her greenish looking patient Ruby chose the first bed which was farest away from them to throw herself on. She crossed her arms over her chest and stared at the high ceiling. The matron knew what was the best medicine for anger and left her in peace and thoughts of her own. It was already dark when she finally came to Ruby to light the oil lamp on her bedside table. Ruby was a lot calmer by now and had been in a doze even. She blinked at the sudden light and leaning on her elbows she looked around. The first-year boy was sleeping snoring slightly. Madame Pomfrey seated herself on a stool with a high back and smiled at her.
"Better now?"
Ruby hesitated shortly then nodded.
"So what happened being so bad you stormed in here and lay down without a word of hello?"
Ruby was about to give a rude reply but then hesitated again. Why not telling the matron everything? She was an experienced adult who could perhaps help her. Though it must have been long ago Madame Pomfrey surely had been young once, too... She bit her lip but then let everything out. She babbled very fast and the nurse looked like she had difficulties to follow. But Ruby didn't care. It was just a great relief to talk to somebody more neutral than her fellow students. When she ended the nurse bore a deep frown.
"That's all?"
Ruby's composure fell. "What d'you mean? Isn't it bad enough? My whole life is a complete mess and all you have to say is 'That's all'?"
The matron smiled knowingly. "You're young and innocent." Ruby felt a growl spring up in her stomach at the words 'young and innocent'. She was 15 after all, and no kid anymore. "These problems look so big to you! But after all they are nothing. You will see, your exams won't be as bad as you're frightening them to be. You are an intelliegnt young lady! And what is so bad about everybody connecting you and Mr. Abbott? You are friends, after all!" Ruby sent her a sideway glance but replied nothing. She began to think. "It's a pity you can't see your friends anymore, sure, but what would be so bad about making new friends at this school? Nobody here has leprosy, y'know – and even if so I could heal it within two days!" she added with a tone that made Ruby involuntarily smile "Forgive me what I say next but forget that guy from your old school! Even if he was less idle with writing would you enjoy a relationship based only on letters and occasional visits during holidays?" Ruby was about to shout a determined 'yes' but the nurse droned on without interruption "And about Mr. Wood and your fairy: cancelling the friendship isn't a very mature reaction is it? Don't forget you aren't the only fifteen-year-old with feelings and emotions going berserk..." and without waiting for an answer she rose from her seat and bustled away into her office.
Her voice had been practical, her speech had been short. But it had caused pure havoc in Ruby's mind and thoughts.That needed a good sorting out!
~
When Ruby woke up the next morning she still was in the infirmary. She didn't know when she had fallen asleep but she knew that she still wasn't over with her thinking. Suddenly remembering her being due in the laundry that day a wave of shock came over her and she hastily struggled to get out of the bed and the hospital wing. She slammed the door so loud that the sick first-year woke up with a start. But Ruby didn't notice it, she already was running down the marble staircase, jumped over several fake steps, took the secret passagway on the third corridor and finally arrived in the Entrance Hall panting but still five minutes too early. She grinned through her puffs: looked like she finally had managed to remember the Hogwarts ways.
McGonagall was already waiting and without a sign of approving she simply led Ruby through a gap next to the point glasses (A/N: is that the right word? Damn, where are my English HP-books when I need them?) and down a dark passageway. Gloomily Ruby noticed she was again led down into the cellars. Why couldn't the school's staff rooms be in some higher places? In a high tower with a great sight over the grounds for example… After some crossings and bends they finally reached a simple door with a simple doorknob. No secret passages, no magic, just a plain way and door. Nobody was really keen to get into the laundry Ruby guessed. McGonagall opened the door and they entered a wide room with a damp floor. The room was filled with heaps of steam looking like mysterious fog. Through that hazy air Ruby could see huge wooden tubs and strange apparatusses to dry the clothes. Between the tuby and heaps of black robes Ruby could see little figures bustling to and fro – House Elves, of course. Ruby was to hand over her wand again and then was introduced into her work: thanks Merlin she hadn't had to wash the clothes in the tubs – that worked magically, her task was ironing and folding the garments in Muggle way. It was monotonous boring work but gave her much time to get lost in her thoughts.
Perhaps Madame Pomfrey was right…?
Bah, no, of course, she isn't! Forgetting Christopher Carlisle – had she known him she would never have suggested such a ridiculous idea! Ruby smiled. Christopher was tall, even taller than the Salem flying instructor. He played Quodpot as Chaser. He was in the school's team from first year on. His year always won the National School Championships. And he was clever, too. Top of nearly all classes. He was admirable in every way possible. When he walked over the grounds to training in autumn the golden sun played with his blonde curls and sparkled in his bright blue eyes. His laugh wich usually had a cheeky tone in itself testified pure happiness. He was a bit too fond of being admired though. Ruby remembered the day he had visited their flying club – with his new broom he had gotten from his parents for the Championship, an Air Rocket 66. But he had given her a ride on it then, he had been very close to her… Some weeks later, before their train had left Salem he had given her his address…
Ruby sighed. Somehow these memories didn't cause as many butterflies in her stomach as it did some weeks ago… That was all Madame Pomfrey's fault. She and her cursed "advice" – stupid talk!
But the seed was planted…
~
When Ruby finally reached her dormitory that evening her arms were numb from ironing the whole day. With a deep sigh she sank onto her bed but rose again seconds later. Something was different in the room. It seemed to be a lot more silent and somehow more empty than normal. Then she realized: Witty and her stuff were missing…
"So what!" she cried and was about to lie down again when she noticed a thick envelope on her trunk. Ruby could remember mistily that it had been part of her small christmas pile. Excitedness rose in the pit of her stomach. Had Christopher sent her something at last? With slightly shaking hands Ruby took the heavy package without taking a look on the address field. If she had done so she would have recognized the handwriting of–
"Liz Harrington!" Ruby was about to throw the letter and package away. But then curiosity won over her anger.
Dear Ruby,
this is my last attempt to write to you as you haven't answered my last letters.
First of all I wish you and your family a very merry christmas!
With this letter I send you a picture which I think your mother would perhaps like to see one day. It was taken when we still had been friends. Shortly after this visit of mine I had found out about your grandfather causing your mother to cancel the friendship which I still think to be a rather immature way of dealing with things. (Ruby grimaced.)
Perhaps you can give that picture to your mother? My address and fireplace code are written on the back.
Thanks in forward,
Liz Harrington
Thoughtfully Ruby unwrapped the picture. She could see two smiling younger images of her parents, between them a woman Ruby didn't know. So this must have been Liz Harrington. She beamed down on a small baby girl who tried to wriggle her little fists free to grab for the pearl necklace around the woman's neck. The baby was Ruby as she recognized. All in all they looked happy together but there was something wrong. The four of them were definitely sitting on the big hovering sofa they had in front of the fire place. And the surrounding was definitely their living-room – in America. So Mrs. Harrington had visited them in the USA. Baby-Ruby looked about one year old. But her mother always had told her she and her former best friend hadn't seen or even heard from each other ever since she had left England. That their friendship had been over with that day. But on the picture they looked pretty together and happy at that. Ruby frowned and scanned the photo more closely to see if there were traces for a fake but it all looked perfectly normal.
This riddle shoved all the other thoughts out of her head and took room like a wild fire. Could it be her mother had lied to her all the years? Nah, why would she do such a thing?
Your grandfather
What was wrong with her grandfather? Neither her mom nor her granny had ever spoken about him. Ruby never had given that a second thought. She just had assumed it would have been too hurtful – but now, now it was presented in a completely different light.
She had to find out more. But how? How was she supposed to react now? Write to her mother? Or write to Mrs. Harrington? Or try to find out about her grandfather on her own? Where should she begin?
She decided to write to her mother. The letter was short but said all she wanted it to say.
My dear mommy,
thank you very much for you-know-what!
Detention is cruel. I had to scrub the dungeons, work in the green houses, the hospital wing, the kitchens and the laundry. I'm at Hogwarts to become a properly educated witch, no house elf! I know what you are thinking now: you deserved it by your behavior, blablabla. Sorry. I know that by myself pretty much but it's disturbing though. I never want to experience such "vacation" again.
I have a request. Would you please send me your old school album? I am beginning to settle in and I burn with interest to see how Hogwarts looked like in your days. Especially I would like to know how the Ravenclaw common room looks from the inside as I don't know the password. Haha.
Much love sends
your daughter Ruby
PS: is daddy better by now? Christmas dinner usually sends him into that wonderful I-forgive-everything-mood…
Ruby checked the letter. Yes, it sounded casually enough. She wanted the album to compare the young Liz Dean with the picture of the woman who should be Liz Harrington.
But she still didn't kow what she would do if the woman turned out to be really the friend of her mother's school days.
~*~
So much for now. What do you think? I know there is not much Wood in it but it will be better, promised!