Designated Harbinger: Secrets Chapter 19
PG13 Author: Lia3
Disclaimer: I don't own HP. The rest is mine.
"We need to let it cool off gradually," she whispered.
Carol pulled on her dragonhide gloves, then lifted the small cauldron off the fire. The potion was almost finished. All it needed now was to set for twenty-four hours.
"Keep stirring"
She nodded, carefully keeping herself as far from the potion as she dared while Carol transferred it to a protected cooling place.
"Is class almost over yet?" She asked once they stopped moving, shivering now that they were away from the fire. The Potions classroom would only get colder since it was held in the dungeon. Next week was only the beginning of December.
Carol glanced at Professor Snape to make sure he was still distracted by the Hufflepuffs, frowned, then checked the clock. "Still says to keep working."
Jessica grimaced but didn't say anything else. No words were needed. Most students couldn't wait to get out of there, no matter how much they liked Potions. (Despite Professor Snape's best efforts to make the class as miserable as possible.)
Soon the class was finished, the students gathered up their belongings, and left the dungeons in large groups. For the most part they were quiet. When they reached one of the dark passageways, some of them moved closer to the others. They had to pass this place before getting to the stairs.
Helen shivered and moved closer to Alex. He didn't complain. They were getting used to this. Lately, Helen had been having a hard time at Hogwarts. She didn't sleep much. It showed around her eyes. Her best sleep came in their History class. All the students had no trouble napping in there.
Events have been tense since the big Gryffindor-Slytherin grudge match. The game was brilliant but the very next day news came that Colin Creevy, first year Gryffindor, had been found frozen in a hallway. The Heir of Slytherin/ Chamber of Secrets myth seemed to have an element of truth after all.
Since then Helen, Alex, and other muggleborn students had been careful not to go anywhere alone. An underground market for protective talismans and amulets had sprung up overnight. A lot of students wore them under their robes, causing many sneezes as they pass by. In other words, they stunk. Only the Slytherins seem to have no fear.
They went through the dark hallway, following each other closely. Jessica looked around but didn't notice anything out of place. She was still getting used to feeling ghosts all over the place as well as the magic that flowed everywhere. Add in the emanations from her fellow studentsand she often felt overwhelmed. It was hard sometimes to filter through everything to find the more useful information she might need. Thankfully, her friends tolerated her occasional spaceiness. At least she wasn't that way all the time like Luna Lovegood who rarely talked to anyone.
Splash
"Ahhgh" Jessica screamed in a very high pitched sort of way. The other first years looked around wide-eyed in fear.
Jessica stood shaking, teeth chattering as a cackling sounded above.
Carol was the first to spot the poltergeist twisting around in the air, laughing. "Go away, Peeves"
"He-he. Oh, the poor yank. Wah, wah. Barely Bradley Baby. Look! She needs a bath!" Peeves was still laughing it up, already looking for his next victim to prank. Jessica just happened to be one of his favorites.
Glaring hard at the ghost, Carol's face began to turn red from anger.
Jessica spoke up before Carol could provoke Peeves. "Leave it. He's not worth it. Anyway, I just have enough time to change as it is." Green goo, slime-like stuck to her hair and trailed slowly down her fingers as she tried to shake herself clean. In no time at all, Peeves had already sped off in search for more fun, no doubt.
They continued up to the main hall before they had to separate. Along the way, she received quite a few strange looks. Once there the others didn't want to leave Jessica alone. For some reason ghosts and her just didn't get along. Beside no one wanted to be alone if they could help it. Hey, even some Ravenclaws wore protective, yet smelly amulets (not as much as the Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors but still enough to be wary).
"I'll walk you back." Alex said looking back in the direction Peeves had left.
"Me too" Helen stepped forward.
Carol sighed. "All right, hurry or you'll be late for class."
Alex rolled his eyes.
"I don't need two bodyguards" Jessica muttered having given up on the slime for now.
"Then I'll be your escort, okay? Helen can go with Carol." Alex said sarcastically. His eyes told Jessica that she wasn't leaving the hallway alone.
"Sure" Jessica responded glumly. "Thanks for the offer, Hel."
Helen quirked her lips up in a quick smile. Then she headed off after Carol.
Thankfully for Jessica, the green goo washed off easily with soap. There were no side affects that she could feel. A check in a mirror, ruled out any abnormal physical changes. Mental and behavioral traits – same. She considered herself lucky. Peeves could and had done worse in the past.
When she entered the common room, Alex was reading a book. 'Like many good Ravenclaws would do.' A few other students seem to be getting a head start on their homework. 'Cause they wouldn't wait to the last minute. That just isn't done. Well, at least that's what the other houses think. In what we like to call reality, there are Ravenclaws who get their work done at the last instant. We're just smart enough to get away with it.'
Alex glanced up, saw her, and quickly put the book in his knapsack. She did get a glimpse of the cover, a very colorful one, unlike the many books you see at Hogwarts.
"We gotta hurry," Alex said while getting his knapsack on.
She patted hers; "I'm ready. So what book were you reading?"
"Nothing you'd know, probably." Alex carefully watched his step going down the stairs. "Try me." Jessica smiled. 'I just know that's not a school book.'
"Okay, then. It's sci-fi." He looked a little embarrassed.
"Cool! What kind?"
"What?" Surprised at first, then shrugged. "Sorry, I'm not used to that. I got hassled last year. You know, for being a nerd."
Jessica shook her head. "You're no nerd. And even if you were, you are Ravenclaw , so what? I happen to like sci-fi/fantasy books too. Haven't read any in a while though. Life here is strange enough."
A silly smile flashed on Alex's face. "I really understand what you mean."
Jessica sometimes didn't understand him. Sometimes, Alex acted funny and didn't take things seriously. Then other times, he'd be quiet, serious. His aura told her he was steady, down to earth, and of course smart. She could understand him downplaying his muggle background lately, but he never opened up or talked about his family. Not that he lied or anything. Just wouldn't volunteer information. But she liked him anyway.
He talked about the book he was reading as they headed to class. As she was about to ask him a question, she stopped and looked around the hallway. Nothing appeared out of sorts. The lanterns were on, the stone walls in the same places they always were, but something was off.
Alex stopped about ten paces away from her, noticing that she wasn't catching up. He turned, looked at her confusingly, and opened his mouth to ask her a question.
Jessica's eyes widened. "Alex!" she screamed. Raising her arm so fast, her bag fell to the floor forgotten.
He tried to turn, to see what upset her so. Instead he was pushed, forced ten feet down the hall. Landed on the floor, the stone tearing his skin on his hands. Dazed he looked up, saw Jessica staring at him. Then they both looked at the large rock shaking where he stood not a moment before.
"Peeves," she spat then rushed where he lay. Jessica pushed the hair out of her face, examined his injuries, and then helped him stand up. "Are you okay. I was so worried. If I was a second later... Oh, did that hurt. Sorry. Well, you seem fine. Except for almost being crushed! Just shook up, some scrapes."
"What! How?" The boy looked around uncertainly. Still confused. Jessica asked him if he wanted to see Madam Pompfy. He shook his head. "No. I don't understand."
"That damned Poltergeist Peeves," she said the name as a curse, "was lingering around for another shot."
Not believing, he shook his head and looked at her. "That I can see. But, that's not all. Is there? That rock should have seriously hurt me." He suddenly felt energized; he looked like he was having an epiphany. A moment when a puzzle piece arrives and you know soon the rest will fit.
Jessica stared at him, then raised an eyebrow in question.
He saw she was about to ask him something, but spoke first. "We have to tell Carol this. Maybe she'd know something, or where to research. He must have came out of no where and how did I end up that far away from you. Could this have anything to do with the Chamber of Secrets? I didn't actually see Peeves...Did someone here your warning? It happened so fast. Was that an episode of accidental magic, wandless magic? Wicked."
"And Whoa. Slow down Alex. You're babbling." Her face was colorless. She swallowed hard. "You can't tell anyone," she said softly. "What! This could be important. Think about it, Jess. If it was you, then this is big. I bet you could learn how to control it. Think about how powerful you'd have to be. If it wasn't you, we still need to know what caused that."
"No, no, no, no. Alex, calm down." She sighed. "I know what happened. I pushed you out of the way. We can't talk about it all here. Look, uh, tonight I'll explain. Just don't tell the others. Please. Not yet at least."
His face closed down. "Why wait?"
She turned her face away from him, took a deep breath, then said, "We're both stressed, probably not thinking clearly. I'm tired. It's been a rough day and it's not even over yet. Carol will ask a bizillion questions. Plus, we still have to get to class."
"All right. Leave dinner early. We'll talk then."
"Okay" It was the best she could hope for.
They silently walked to class, barely making it on time. When Carol asked about his scrapes, he told her he fell rushing to class.
PG13 Author: Lia3
Disclaimer: I don't own HP. The rest is mine.
"We need to let it cool off gradually," she whispered.
Carol pulled on her dragonhide gloves, then lifted the small cauldron off the fire. The potion was almost finished. All it needed now was to set for twenty-four hours.
"Keep stirring"
She nodded, carefully keeping herself as far from the potion as she dared while Carol transferred it to a protected cooling place.
"Is class almost over yet?" She asked once they stopped moving, shivering now that they were away from the fire. The Potions classroom would only get colder since it was held in the dungeon. Next week was only the beginning of December.
Carol glanced at Professor Snape to make sure he was still distracted by the Hufflepuffs, frowned, then checked the clock. "Still says to keep working."
Jessica grimaced but didn't say anything else. No words were needed. Most students couldn't wait to get out of there, no matter how much they liked Potions. (Despite Professor Snape's best efforts to make the class as miserable as possible.)
Soon the class was finished, the students gathered up their belongings, and left the dungeons in large groups. For the most part they were quiet. When they reached one of the dark passageways, some of them moved closer to the others. They had to pass this place before getting to the stairs.
Helen shivered and moved closer to Alex. He didn't complain. They were getting used to this. Lately, Helen had been having a hard time at Hogwarts. She didn't sleep much. It showed around her eyes. Her best sleep came in their History class. All the students had no trouble napping in there.
Events have been tense since the big Gryffindor-Slytherin grudge match. The game was brilliant but the very next day news came that Colin Creevy, first year Gryffindor, had been found frozen in a hallway. The Heir of Slytherin/ Chamber of Secrets myth seemed to have an element of truth after all.
Since then Helen, Alex, and other muggleborn students had been careful not to go anywhere alone. An underground market for protective talismans and amulets had sprung up overnight. A lot of students wore them under their robes, causing many sneezes as they pass by. In other words, they stunk. Only the Slytherins seem to have no fear.
They went through the dark hallway, following each other closely. Jessica looked around but didn't notice anything out of place. She was still getting used to feeling ghosts all over the place as well as the magic that flowed everywhere. Add in the emanations from her fellow studentsand she often felt overwhelmed. It was hard sometimes to filter through everything to find the more useful information she might need. Thankfully, her friends tolerated her occasional spaceiness. At least she wasn't that way all the time like Luna Lovegood who rarely talked to anyone.
Splash
"Ahhgh" Jessica screamed in a very high pitched sort of way. The other first years looked around wide-eyed in fear.
Jessica stood shaking, teeth chattering as a cackling sounded above.
Carol was the first to spot the poltergeist twisting around in the air, laughing. "Go away, Peeves"
"He-he. Oh, the poor yank. Wah, wah. Barely Bradley Baby. Look! She needs a bath!" Peeves was still laughing it up, already looking for his next victim to prank. Jessica just happened to be one of his favorites.
Glaring hard at the ghost, Carol's face began to turn red from anger.
Jessica spoke up before Carol could provoke Peeves. "Leave it. He's not worth it. Anyway, I just have enough time to change as it is." Green goo, slime-like stuck to her hair and trailed slowly down her fingers as she tried to shake herself clean. In no time at all, Peeves had already sped off in search for more fun, no doubt.
They continued up to the main hall before they had to separate. Along the way, she received quite a few strange looks. Once there the others didn't want to leave Jessica alone. For some reason ghosts and her just didn't get along. Beside no one wanted to be alone if they could help it. Hey, even some Ravenclaws wore protective, yet smelly amulets (not as much as the Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors but still enough to be wary).
"I'll walk you back." Alex said looking back in the direction Peeves had left.
"Me too" Helen stepped forward.
Carol sighed. "All right, hurry or you'll be late for class."
Alex rolled his eyes.
"I don't need two bodyguards" Jessica muttered having given up on the slime for now.
"Then I'll be your escort, okay? Helen can go with Carol." Alex said sarcastically. His eyes told Jessica that she wasn't leaving the hallway alone.
"Sure" Jessica responded glumly. "Thanks for the offer, Hel."
Helen quirked her lips up in a quick smile. Then she headed off after Carol.
Thankfully for Jessica, the green goo washed off easily with soap. There were no side affects that she could feel. A check in a mirror, ruled out any abnormal physical changes. Mental and behavioral traits – same. She considered herself lucky. Peeves could and had done worse in the past.
When she entered the common room, Alex was reading a book. 'Like many good Ravenclaws would do.' A few other students seem to be getting a head start on their homework. 'Cause they wouldn't wait to the last minute. That just isn't done. Well, at least that's what the other houses think. In what we like to call reality, there are Ravenclaws who get their work done at the last instant. We're just smart enough to get away with it.'
Alex glanced up, saw her, and quickly put the book in his knapsack. She did get a glimpse of the cover, a very colorful one, unlike the many books you see at Hogwarts.
"We gotta hurry," Alex said while getting his knapsack on.
She patted hers; "I'm ready. So what book were you reading?"
"Nothing you'd know, probably." Alex carefully watched his step going down the stairs. "Try me." Jessica smiled. 'I just know that's not a school book.'
"Okay, then. It's sci-fi." He looked a little embarrassed.
"Cool! What kind?"
"What?" Surprised at first, then shrugged. "Sorry, I'm not used to that. I got hassled last year. You know, for being a nerd."
Jessica shook her head. "You're no nerd. And even if you were, you are Ravenclaw , so what? I happen to like sci-fi/fantasy books too. Haven't read any in a while though. Life here is strange enough."
A silly smile flashed on Alex's face. "I really understand what you mean."
Jessica sometimes didn't understand him. Sometimes, Alex acted funny and didn't take things seriously. Then other times, he'd be quiet, serious. His aura told her he was steady, down to earth, and of course smart. She could understand him downplaying his muggle background lately, but he never opened up or talked about his family. Not that he lied or anything. Just wouldn't volunteer information. But she liked him anyway.
He talked about the book he was reading as they headed to class. As she was about to ask him a question, she stopped and looked around the hallway. Nothing appeared out of sorts. The lanterns were on, the stone walls in the same places they always were, but something was off.
Alex stopped about ten paces away from her, noticing that she wasn't catching up. He turned, looked at her confusingly, and opened his mouth to ask her a question.
Jessica's eyes widened. "Alex!" she screamed. Raising her arm so fast, her bag fell to the floor forgotten.
He tried to turn, to see what upset her so. Instead he was pushed, forced ten feet down the hall. Landed on the floor, the stone tearing his skin on his hands. Dazed he looked up, saw Jessica staring at him. Then they both looked at the large rock shaking where he stood not a moment before.
"Peeves," she spat then rushed where he lay. Jessica pushed the hair out of her face, examined his injuries, and then helped him stand up. "Are you okay. I was so worried. If I was a second later... Oh, did that hurt. Sorry. Well, you seem fine. Except for almost being crushed! Just shook up, some scrapes."
"What! How?" The boy looked around uncertainly. Still confused. Jessica asked him if he wanted to see Madam Pompfy. He shook his head. "No. I don't understand."
"That damned Poltergeist Peeves," she said the name as a curse, "was lingering around for another shot."
Not believing, he shook his head and looked at her. "That I can see. But, that's not all. Is there? That rock should have seriously hurt me." He suddenly felt energized; he looked like he was having an epiphany. A moment when a puzzle piece arrives and you know soon the rest will fit.
Jessica stared at him, then raised an eyebrow in question.
He saw she was about to ask him something, but spoke first. "We have to tell Carol this. Maybe she'd know something, or where to research. He must have came out of no where and how did I end up that far away from you. Could this have anything to do with the Chamber of Secrets? I didn't actually see Peeves...Did someone here your warning? It happened so fast. Was that an episode of accidental magic, wandless magic? Wicked."
"And Whoa. Slow down Alex. You're babbling." Her face was colorless. She swallowed hard. "You can't tell anyone," she said softly. "What! This could be important. Think about it, Jess. If it was you, then this is big. I bet you could learn how to control it. Think about how powerful you'd have to be. If it wasn't you, we still need to know what caused that."
"No, no, no, no. Alex, calm down." She sighed. "I know what happened. I pushed you out of the way. We can't talk about it all here. Look, uh, tonight I'll explain. Just don't tell the others. Please. Not yet at least."
His face closed down. "Why wait?"
She turned her face away from him, took a deep breath, then said, "We're both stressed, probably not thinking clearly. I'm tired. It's been a rough day and it's not even over yet. Carol will ask a bizillion questions. Plus, we still have to get to class."
"All right. Leave dinner early. We'll talk then."
"Okay" It was the best she could hope for.
They silently walked to class, barely making it on time. When Carol asked about his scrapes, he told her he fell rushing to class.