Nikita went back to the Gryffindor Common Room still doubled over in pain. Her mouth, she knew was botched up with blood and she had to narrow her eyes to see. Her head was throbbing in pain.
And her heart was swollen to twice it's size in fear if this would not work.
But she needed help.
"Mimblus Mimbeltonia"
She managed to utter the password as the Fat Lady stared at her in horror "Child, you need the hospital wing!"
"No, its paint. I'm fine!" said Nikita and in a humongous effort managed to pull off a normal smile. The Fat Lady was pacified and she let her through the portrait hole.
As soon as she staggered in, she felt another rush of white hot pain run through her and she was doubling over once more. The common room was, much to her relief, empty.
She physically almost dragged herself to the bathroom and grabbed a towel she had labeled as her own and pressed it hard to her mouth.
The vomiting ceased instantly as the aroma of lemon came over her.
Now to deal with the blood on the stairway she thought.
She stepped out of the dormitory and cross checked on the dorm.
No one.
Walking through the porthole, she went back down the stairs as quickly as she could, knowing it was a mistake she hadn't cleared her mess before hand...
And when she saw the spot where the blood had been she stared at it wide eyed.
The portrait of the woman with a child next to the stair said quietly "You need the medical wing. I told him that it was you."
The dark staining blood was gone.
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...he reared high from the floor and struck once, twice, thrice, plunging his fangs deeply into the man's flesh, feeling his ribs splinter beneath his jaws, feeling the warm gush of blood...
The man was yelling in pain...then he fell silent...he slumped backwards against the wall...blood splattering on the floor...
His forehead hurt terribly...it was aching fit to burst...
Ron's voice....
"Harry! HARRY!"
Harry's voice....
"Your dad Ron, he's been bitten, it's serious, there was blood everywhere!!!"
McGonagall's voice....
"I believe you Potter... Put on your dressing gown - we're going to see the Headmaster."
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Harry saw Nikita run out of her dorm and throw her arms around him as soon as McGonagall saw to it that he returned to his common room...
He was glad for her presence there besides him gave him strength to pull through and he hugged her hard... afraid that she might be taken away from him as well... He felt as though for a moment, he could feel his dad's presence besides him along with hers... smiling that his children were finally together.
"Harry what...what happened?"
"Mr. Weasley has been attacked by a snake. We...have to pack up and go to Grimmauld place." he paused for a moment and she drew back and looked at him. Her expression was that of such terror that Harry was puzzled...
"God, that's awful Harry!!! Was anyone else attacked?!" She was perspiring now, her eyes wide.
"No...no...everyone else is alright."
"Thank God..." she said, her expression losing its severe look of torture as soon as this piece of information was delivered.
And once again, Harry got the distinct feeling that she was hiding something.
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Sirius came running out, smelling of stale whiskey that was obviously the house. Harry thought he would never in his life have been able to be as appreciative of stale whiskey.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, Nikita, Ginny and the twins stood where the port key had transported them. Each of them looked so scared, that to an outsider, the scene was heartening.
"MOM! MOM, HOW'S DAD???!!!"
The Weasley children ran upstairs to their mother's room as fast as they could whilst the two Potter children stood trembling, their Godfather looking at them in worry.
"Are you...are you alright, Harry?" asked his godfather in such concern that Harry felt his fear dissolve and he clutched his sister's shoulder.
"I'm fine. Um...Sirius...This is-."
Sirius had already seen the girl and smiled at her.
"Nikita. I know. Your mother was a good friend of mine. And James was my best friend as you know. You're turning sixteen soon aren't you?"
"Yes...In January."
"Ahhh...you're going to be a marriageable age... I was worried about that." joked Sirius.
The girl looked up and Sirius took a step backwards in astonishment. The girl's astonishing beauty was enough to send anyone staggering...but it was her eyes...
James's hazel eyes...
"She has..."
"Dad's eyes... yeah..." Harry's grin was slightly wobbly. Nikita managed a smile at Sirius and said "Are you my godfather as well?"
Sirius nodded and said "Your mother asked me to be your Godfather a few days before she..." he trailed off...
There was an awkward silence...
"Well...at least my family is complete." said Sirius, smiling euphorically. Christmas was suddenly beginning to look lovely. He made a mental note to spend as much time with his god daughter.
Harry and Nikita were both deeply touched by the statement.
Suddenly, life seemed to be getting about ten times better...
It was beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
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He pulled her into his room.
"No...don't...we'll get..."
He lowered his lips to her neck pulling her hair aside and nibbled gently there until her protests die in her throat. "God I love you, Nikita...I love you so much..."
"I love you too."
She closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling of his lips on her flesh after so long...
He looked up at her and she was shocked to see the tears glisten in his eyes. He looked so worried and tired... It broke her heart...
"I heard about your father... darling I'm so sorry... You know I'm always there for you..."
"I need you now...will you stay the night after I come home from meeting dad?"
"You know I will..."
He kissed her mouth feeling his troubles ease away...
"So...marriageable age, huh?" he teased her gently as she leant over to nip and suck on his earlobe.
"You nasty boy, were you eavesdropping?" she mock scolded him as he lifted her in his arms.
"Well, if they catch us now the ministry will have me in for statuary rape." he said slowly, nuzzling her hair.
"Please don't say such things....please..." Her voice shook.
He gently cupped her face in her hands. "I don't want to wait to have you in my arms forever... like I had promised, we shall marry on your birthday."
He took her hand and slipped a ring on her finger.
It was made of pure amethyst and it was surrounded by a silver band... It must have cost him a fortune...
"Nikita! Come on...they're going to meet Mr. Weasley!" came Sirius's voice from not very far away.
"Coming!"
"Shhhh...go...I'm not supposed to be here..."
She raised her mouth to his face again and they kissed a final time.
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St. Mungo's hospital was rather large and well... hospitally....
It smelt of medication and antidotes.
Nikita had arrived alone via a cab. Dangerous, she knew, but she had no choice.
She spoke to the dummy in front of the shop and said she was there to meet Arthur Weasly and a very harassed looking witch showed her way to where the Weasley went.
Three people were waiting (or so it seemed) for her to turn up.
A violet colored hair woman leaned in close to Nikita and said "I don't like hospitals. They make me nauseous." The man with the revolving eye and scarred face gave her a hard look even as the tired looking but handsome youngish man she recognized as Remus Lupin laughed softly.
"Well don't just stand there child, come along in! I'm sure Arthur wants to meet the new addition to the family as well."
The Weasleys were sitting around their father, an anxious look on their faces.
"Ah, you must be Harry's sister. It's a pleasure to meet you my dear!"
Mr. Weasly was a very sweet gentleman whose remaining hair was as red as any of his children's.
Mrs. Weasly bustled around and settled the flowers on the side of the room. She made Nikita sit down on the chair next the empty sofa.
Fred and George hovered near their fathers bed sulking. Harry muttered to Nikita "They were asking questions about the 'Order', Mrs. Weasley told them to shut up."
Ginny was sitting on her father's bed, holding his hand and Ron stood in a corner, his expression somewhat unreadable, but it seemed to be chosen look of relief.
"Nikita, dear... let me introduce you to Tonks..."
The violet haired woman waved.
"That is Mad Eye Moody."
The man with the rotating eye and the knarled face and hands grunted at her.
"And you must already know Remus Lupin. You had seen him earlier."
Lupin smiled at her.
The door opened behind them and a tall, extremely good looking youth with red gold hair that was in a ponitail entered. He was wearing a white shirt, a leather jacket and jeans...
"And oh, yes...that's our eldest son, Bill."
"Hey...Nikita, is it?"
His eyes danced with mischief. She knew what he was thinking. His mind told her.
His blue eyes cast a once over her and she suddenly felt her face go hot.
No one but Harry noticed the look that was exchanged between her and Bill. He could tell he made her nervous...but Why? She had plenty of good looking boys chasing her...
"Hey Harry, check this out, another Albus Dumbledore card."
With everyone distracted Nikita got up. No one noticed.
"Excuse me...I need to go to the loo."
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"So... why are you making it so obvious?" asked Bill as he stepped out soon after her.
"Me??? I'm making it obvious? Why don't you just post a sign saying I'm in love with a MINOR!" she hissed as he grabbed her hand and pulled her into the empty corridor.
"Will you please, shut up?" He lowered his face to hers and pressed his lips against hers.
"You know, I hate it when you do that. You do realize that you're twenty one?"
"Yes."
"And I'm fifteen?"
"Almost sixteen."
"Thats not the point. Until I'm sixteen, this is ILLEGAL, Bill."
"Look forget all that, how are you feeling?" he asked her, concern clouding his face. "Are you still throwing up blood?"
"Yes."
"Nikita..."
"I'm not telling anyone Bill... this was our prophecy. Even if I do tell thee is nothing anyone can do about it." she put her chin in the air.
He laughed sadly and said "You're pouting now."
"I most certainly am NOT!"
He cupped her chin and kissed her mouth before she could react....the kiss deepened and his fingers moved up her shirt...
Suddenly a deep voice behind them interrupted them both. They jumped apart.
"You two had better tell me how long this has been going on..." said Remus Lupin, his face as grim as the grave itself.