Thursday afternoon came more quickly than Nephthys thought it would. She had left lunch early to help Hagrid in any way she could. He was looking over some odd creatures when she made her way down to his hut. She stopped and watched as he eyed them speculatively. She feared he had no idea what he was doing. "Hagrid, how old are those?" She neared the pen he had the creatures in but did not get too close.
"Babes. Gonna have the sixth years raise 'em." He smiled at her as if it was the most common thing to do.
"Professor Snape warned me that you have a liking for the dangerous creatures," she drawled as she circled the enclosure. "You know it would be safer to house them separately?"
"Nah, they'll be fine. They ain't dangerous. Cute little buggers, they are!" He reached in to touch one only to have it bite at him.
"We shall see." She moved away from Hagrid and the creatures awaiting the arrival of the students. She did not have to wait very long before some of them started trickling toward the hut. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were the first to arrive. She smiled at them reassuringly as she beckoned them to come stand near her.
"Why are you standing clear over here?" Ron asked. He did not like the way she glanced at the lizards Hagrid was standing beside.
"I like my skin uncharred," she commented dryly. Ron's eyes slid to the lizards chattering in the pen.
As more students joined the group, the lizards started making a clicking sound. They all felt something making their skin and scalps tingle. Hermione gasped as her hair started to frizz out, as did the other girls. Nephthys stepped farther away, motioning Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Draco to do the same. Draco looked at her curiously from several feet away but did as she warned him to do. The next thing anyone knew was Hagrid, who was closest, got hit by multiple bolts of electricity. The students started screaming as he hit the ground, hard, knocked unconscious. Many of the students ran for the castle while more for the greenhouse to get Professor Sprout. Nephthys pulled her wand out and cast a dome around the pen to prevent further injury to anyone.
"Harry, Draco, one of you go get Madam Pomfrey. I'll stay here and tell Professor Sprout what happened." The boys looked at each other. Both had the urge to say they were faster than the other but realized time was of the essence, so both took off at a run for the castle. "Ron, I need you to alert Dumbledore, though I am certain he is already aware. Hermione, cast another shield over those things." She waved at the pen as she knelt beside Hagrid.
Professor Sprout came running as well as she could. She was out of breath by the time she came to Hagrid's side. "W… what happened?" She panted.
"Hagrid's taste for creatures has resulted in his own injury," Nephthys answered. She checked the man's pulse and breathing. As she touched him, a shock zapped her hand. "I think he will be well, but I am not certain. Healing magic is not my forte." She stepped away from him and eyed the blue lizards prancing around inside the pen. "Those will have to be dealt with. I hope he realizes that the students can't possibly raise them. What's next…displacer beasts?!" She threw up her hands and waited as she saw Dumbledore, Pomfrey, and McGonagall rushing down the hill. Hermione smiled at her slightly as she pictured the worst case scenario, not really knowing what displacer beasts were.
"What happened… Oh, dear," Pomfrey said as she laid eyes on the excited lizards. "Let's get him up to the castle so I can see how badly he is burned and shocked."
As Poppy and Minerva levitated him and took him up the hill, Nephthys approached Dumbledore. "Headmaster, something needs done with the creatures that did this. Will they stay within the forest if I release them there? There is suitable habitat in there somewhere, I assume."
"Hmmm… Yes, yes I believe there is, but you shouldn't go traipsing around in there alone."
"I'm sure someone would be happy to go with me," she said as her eyes landed on Harry and Draco. Draco shook his head.
"I have quidditch tryouts. Got to help pick a couple new players. I can't, though I'm sure Harry would be delighted to go play hero."
"Funny, Malfoy. Remind me to laugh next time," Harry drawled dryly. Nephthys rolled her eyes and levitated the pen.
"Harry, can you help me with this. It is a bit heavy." He rushed forward and helped to levitate the creatures as he and Nephthys headed into the forest. The forest was as dark and dank as Harry remembered.
"How are we going to know where to go?" He asked in her ear. Talking loudly did not seem the thing to do in the forest, hard to tell what could be awakened.
"We go in far enough, they will find it on their own." She took his free arm with hers as they continued on. After about twenty minutes of walking, she pulled to a stop and took down the shields around the pen and opened it slowly so as to not spook the anxious creatures inside. Once opened, she jumped back and watched them check the exit before dashing every which way. "Well, I suppose that takes care of that. With experience they had out in the open, I figure they will remain hidden in here for some time." She again took Harry's arm as they turned to leave.
"Nephthys, who raised you?" Harry asked hesitantly. She chuckled.
"Several people. Why?" She leaned against his side. They had been spending quite a lot of time together in the past few days.
"I just wondered what your childhood was like."
"Harry, at our age we are still considered children." She squeezed his arm, resting her head on his shoulder. He smiled down at her. She really was something else.
"Yes, at least for another year."
Nephthys raised her head and rolled her eyes. "For you perhaps."
Harry stopped and turned to her. "Neph, you are more mature than anyone else I know, even Hermione in ways. You are not just book smart, you are wise, too."
"Thanks, Harry. You certainly can flatter a girl." He blushed at that. She chuckled and kissed his cheek. As she pulled away, he caught her. He leaned forward and met her lips with his own. She was as hesitant as he was at first, but they both quickly got passed their nervousness. Soon, they pulled apart for air. She smiled at him with all she could muster. "Harry, what does this mean for us?"
"I would like to think it means we are together?" The statement was more of a question.
"Are you asking me to be your girlfriend in the middle of the Forbidden Forest?" She giggled slightly before diving in to kiss him again. "Yes, Harry, we are together."
He smiled back joyfully and proud. "We had better get back to the castle before Snape sends a search party."
She nodded and took her position against his arm again. They remained that way until almost out of the woods. Just inside the line of trees, they were greeted by Pansy Parkinson and Millicent Bulstrode. "Draco isn't enough for you, you have to take after the rat Potter as well!" Pansy cried before raising her wand and firing the Crucio curse at Nephthys. Harry tried to save her, to bloke the spell with his own body, but he was not fast enough. All he could do was get out his own wand and paralyze both girls. He tried in vain after that to get through to Nephthys but she was lost in the spell for many long moments. Eventually, she stopped wrenching around and went limp on the ground. Harry quickly scooped her up into his arms, after making sure the spell was not going to where off Pansy and Millicent. He rushed with all the force his legs could find toward the castle.
Draco was sitting on the stairs in the main hall waiting on Harry and Nephthys to return. When Harry burst into the castle, Nephthys in his arms, Draco was immediately on his feet. "What happened?" He demanded.
"Pansy," Harry snapped before rushing up the stairs. "Get Snape," he yelled over his shoulder. Draco was already heading for the dungeons.
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Severus was finishing up with his seventh year students when Draco came careening into the classroom. "Draco, what is the…"
"Nephthys has been hurt!" Snape literally dropped the full cauldron he was holding. There was a loud bang as it and its contents made contact with the floor, causing smoke to rise up and make the people in the room to cough. They quickly filed out into the hall, Snape emerging last. He waved a hand before his face and pulled Draco aside.
"What do you mean 'hurt'?" He demanded.
"Harry came rushing in carrying her, said something about Pansy…"
"Great!" Snape growled, running full on for out of the dungeons. The seventh years shared a glance as Draco hightailed it after him.
Snape slid to a halt as he entered the infirmary. He was curious about Hagrid as he passed the half-giant but was too interested in where his daughter was to care. He quickly spotted Harry and cornered him. "What happened, Potter? Where is she?"
Harry looked up with soft, worried eyes. Severus had to fight himself from feeling sorry for the way he spoke to the boy. "She's with Madam Pomfrey. I'm not allowed with them. Pansy used Crucio on her, Sir. I tried to step in front of her. I tried to save her, but I wasn't fast enough." Harry hung his head as his tears started to fall. Snape was taken aback. He gripped Harry's shoulder, patting it before letting go. Harry watched as Snape went through the curtains. Severus be damned if Poppy was keeping him out.
"How is she, Poppy?" He asked. He was not surprised to see Dumbledore standing there as well.
Dumbledore answered for the busy woman. "Not good, Severus. There was much malice behind this curse." Albus ran his hand over Nephthys' hair. "She did not deserve this."
"Most certainly not. Why would Pansy Parkinson do such a thing? Surely not because she thought Nephthys was interested romantically with Draco!"
"I'm afraid that is all there was behind this unless she took exception to the way you treat Nephthys." Albus frowned when he heard someone running from the infirmary. "I fear that young Malfoy has overheard us. Severus, you can do nothing here. Take after him before he does something he will regret later. Take Harry with you as I fear he will not like what he may hear here." Snape nodded. He quickly grabbed Harry and rushed after Draco.