Disclaimer: I do not own or claim to own any of J.K. Rowling's people, places, items...ect ect ect
Reviewers: Wow, you guys are so awesome! Your compliments make me happy, and your criticism helps me a lot (as you can see, I am by no means J.K. Rowling)! Oh, and I am absolutely delighted everyone is so interested in Silver's parents! Making them up was the hardest thing about creating her, and I'm glad to know my hard work paid off. Oh yes, and as far as Apparating goes, I thought it would be nice if the adults could Apparate the underage wizards by holding on to them while they themselves Apparated. Sorry if this bothers anybody. And sorry I haven't updated in a while (well, a day...), but my weekends are very busy, whereas my weekdays leave me free to add stories.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 13 – Hogsmeade
The weeks at Hogwarts flew by smoothly for Harry. Gryffindor won its first Quidditch game against Ravenclaw, but the really anticipated match between Gryffindor and Slytherin would occur only after Christmas, and after they played Hufflepuff. Snape was almost civil to Harry most of the time, but he still hadn't gotten his "O" in Potions, which he fully intended to earn by the end of the year. He was sure that he had produced "O" material several times, but Snape never gave him that particular satisfaction. He hadn't broken his record in Occlumency with Dumbledore, which was five tries, so he was saved from being plagued by Sirius' memory every Monday and Wednesday. Whenever he felt the least bit down, Silver was next to him, cheering him up by hugging him or occasionally kissing him on the cheek.
Finally, it was the Friday before the Hogsmeade weekend. Harry was bursting with excitement. He wanted badly to see Lupin again – to tell him everything that had happened. Harry sprang up the hallway to the Gryffindor common room after clarifying what days Quidditch practice officially was with Professor McGonagall. He entered the common room to find Silver staring at a bright red Ron with an amused look on her face.
"What's up?" he asked, plopping down between the two.
"I asked Hermione to go to Hogsmeade with me," Ron said in amazement.
"Don't you always go together?" Harry asked.
"No, stupid, on a date!" Ron replied, annoyed.
"Oh," Harry said, exchanging a mischievous glance with Silver.
"What will I wear?" Ron asked.
"Clothes," Harry replied firmly. He turned to Silver.
"You going to come with me and Lupin?" he asked, fully expecting her to say yes.
"Of course not!" she exclaimed, causing him to do a double-take.
"Why not?" he asked.
"Because you two need to talk," she answered firmly.
"Well, it's not like you give us a speech impediment," he said.
"Alone," she finished.
He sighed. "What are you going to do then?"
"She's going to come with us," Ron replied, "Isn't she?"
"Absolutely not! Why would I come with you on your date?" she demanded.
"Well where are you going to go then?" Harry asked.
"I'm not sure yet," she replied.
Harry sighed. "You've got to come with one of us," he told her.
"I do not!" she answered, sounding shocked he would suggest such a thing.
"Well what then, you're just going to go wandering around alone?"
"Yes."
"You do realize there is a rather large group of Death Eaters after you."
"Yes."
"You're crazy."
She sighed and began to move away, but Harry reached out and held her wrist, and she lingered.
"Come on, Lupin and I wouldn't mind your company at all," he coaxed.
"Harry," she said exasperatedly, "You two need to talk alone!"
"Well, we can be alone with you," Harry answered. He saw annoyance in her eyes.
"No, Harry, just drop it!" she warned.
He fixed her with a pleading look. "But I wanna be with you in Hogsmeade," he fake pouted.
"Fine," she said, "But you and Lupin are spending at least half the day together, alone."
"I think that's an oxymoron," Harry informed her, "together...alone?"
"You know what I mean," she replied, eyes beginning to flash dangerously. He could see that she was still annoyed, but he thought it was cute.
"Okay, let's say we meet you in the Three Broomsticks around noon," he suggested.
"One thirty," she replied stubbornly.
"One thirty," he relented, "What are you going to do the whole morning?"
"I don't know," she sighed, "Maybe I'll hang out with Ginny and her friends."
"Won't Ginny be with Dean?" he asked, confused.
"Harry, they broke up ages ago," she replied, as if this were common knowledge.
"Oh," he said. He could tell by looking at Ron that Ron hadn't known either.
"Well, I suppose that will be okay," he relented.
"I didn't need your permission," she informed him haughtily.
"'Course you didn't," he replied, purposely getting on her nerves.
She made an impatient noise not unlike the one Hermione often made and headed out of Gryffindor tower.
"Isn't she cute?" he asked Ron.
"Adorable," Ron replied sarcastically.
Harry threw a pillow at him.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The next morning Harry awoke with an excited feeling in the pit of his stomach. It was early, but he got dressed anyway and went out into the empty common room. He sat on the couch impatiently, and twisted around when he heard a door open. Silver was grinning at him from the top of the stairs. She was wearing a light blue tank top and black pants, and her hair poured over her shoulders and down her back in large ringlets. Harry remembered how excited she had been to visit Diagon Alley, and realized that this must be a big event for her.
"I had a feeling you'd be getting up early this morning," she told him.
He grinned. "I'm excited," he admitted.
"Good," she replied, coming and sitting down beside him.
"So, are you going to hang out with Ginny today?" he asked.
"Um...yeah," she replied, looking in the opposite direction.
Harry studied her closely. He knew she would never tell him a direct lie, but there was something she wasn't telling him.
"Really?" he asked.
"Really," she replied, turning to look at him.
He studied her eyes intently, trying to make out her emotions. Trust, yes, he knew that...determination, of course...unease?
She turned away before he could verify.
"Don't do that," she murmured.
"Why not?" he challenged.
"Because I don't want you to," she answered.
"Sorry," he apologized halfheartedly. He still felt she was hiding, but he figured it couldn't be that important. However, she had always allowed him to read into her emotions before...
"Just not right now," she replied. He felt a bit better.
Another door opened and Hermione came down. She was a bit dressed up, but not too much. She had a white sweater and beige pants on, and her hair was drawn back in the front and tied back with a beige ribbon.
"Go wake up Ron," she told him, "Or we'll be the last ones to eat breakfast."
Grinning, he left as ordered. He helped Ron pick out something to wear and then they walked back into the common room, which now had a couple more people in it.
"Let's eat!" Hermione announced, as Ron blushed at the sight of her. He pulled Harry well behind the two girls to talk to him.
"I can't even look at her," he whispered to Harry, "How am I going to get through today?"
"Ron, it's just Hermione," Harry reminded him, "Just be yourself."
Taking a deep breath, Ron sped to catch up with the girls and began to talk to Hermione, blush-free. Silver looked over her shoulder and then stopped and waited for him to catch up. They walked to breakfast in companionable silence.
The Great Hall was filling up as they sat down and ate. Harry noticed Snape watching the foursome with suspicion, as if at any moment they might jump up and start a riot. Silver glanced up at him and smiled, and he relaxed a bit. Harry became uncomfortable as Snape's eyes stayed on them all during breakfast.
"What's his problem?" he finally muttered, "What does he think he is, a hawk?"
"What?" Silver asked from beside him.
"Nothing," he answered.
He's probably worried about her, Harry realized. Even Harry was worried about her, although he told himself there was no need to be because she would be with Ginny.
When everyone was finally crowded at the exit of Hogwarts, Silver informed him that she was going to meet up with Ginny.
"Alright," he replied, "See you at one thirty."
When they arrived at Hogsmeade, he looked every direction he could for a sign of Lupin. Then he saw him, searching the crowd just as eagerly for Harry. Some students greeted him as they walked past, remembering the year he had taught at Hogwarts. He thanked them, but his eyes continued to search the mob. Harry jumped up, waving his arms, and Lupin caught sight of him and smiled. Eventually, Harry reached him.
"How are you, Harry?" he asked warmly.
"Good," Harry replied, "You?"
"Excellent," Lupin answered, "Where to first?"
"Well, I want to make sure Silver is with Ginny," Harry replied dutifully, explaining the Ron-Hermione predicament. Lupin nodded and helped Harry look. Finally, Harry spotted Silver walking beside Ginny, chatting. He felt an incredible relief, although he could not explain why.
"I told her we'd meet up with her in the Three Broomsticks around one- thirty," he told Lupin.
"Works for me," Lupin replied.
Harry looked around Hogsmeade, wondering where they should go first.
"Wanna go to Zonko's?" he asked.
"Sure," Lupin replied, "I haven't been there since my Hogwarts days."
While they walked through Zonko's, Lupin reminisced about the Marauders.
"One day your father and Sirius set off all the dungbombs in the store," he said, chuckling, "The whole street smelled."
Harry felt a pang when Lupin mentioned Sirius' name. If Sirius were here, he thought miserably, before forcing his thoughts in another direction. Sirius wouldn't be here, he reminded himself, seeing as everyone thought he was a mass murderer.
"Sorry, Harry," Lupin said, "I didn't mean to...well..."
"It's okay," Harry said, "It's not your fault."
Lupin didn't look so sure.
"So, Harry, tell me about what's been happening," he suggested.
Harry filled him in on recent events, which included Silver fainting during Potions. To his surprise, Lupin chuckled.
"That girl..." Lupin said, smiling.
"What?" Harry asked.
"Very emotional, isn't she?" Lupin inquired.
"Well...yes," Harry said, not seeing what it had to do with anything.
"Don't you think it's an odd combination? Her and Snape? It's like two extremes – very emotional and non-emotional."
Harry smiled. "Yeah, it is," he agreed.
"Good for Snivelly...sorry, Snape, though," Lupin said thoughtfully.
"I suppose. I don't really see why she chose him to bond with," Harry answered.
Lupin didn't respond. Harry didn't know why the sudden silence had occurred, but it was a bit awkward.
"Um, do you want to go to a different store?" he ventured.
"Sure," Lupin said agreeably.
They went and visited the Shrieking Shack for a while, and Harry could tell Lupin was remembering the days the Marauders had spent there. Harry realized that it was already half-past noon. He looked up at Lupin to see that Lupin was gazing off in a distracted manner.
"Did you say Silver was supposed to be with Ginny all day?" he inquired.
"Yes," Harry answered, "Why?"
"Well, unless Ginny has turned into a teenage boy with blonde hair, I believe she needs our help," he replied as if he were commenting on the weather.
Blonde hair? Harry groaned inwardly as he spun around. Sure enough, Draco was interestedly talking to a slightly scared-looking Silver. Silver began to back away, but Draco reached out and grabbed her wrist. Harry and Lupin whipped their wands out and began to run toward the two.
"Drop her, Malfoy, or you'll pay!" Harry threatened as he neared.
Draco looked up, surprised, and then smiled at them as he grabbed her and held her in front of him, making it impossible for them to cast a spell without hitting her first.
"Don't take another step," Draco advised them.
Harry and Lupin skidded to a stop a few feet away from them. Silver stepped on his foot and Harry saw him wince, scowl, and tighten his grip on her.
"Ouch!" she exclaimed.
"Don't move, and it won't hurt," he replied. He looked at Harry and Lupin with satisfaction. "Do I have something important to you?" he asked in mock surprise.
"Let her go," Lupin demanded.
Draco sneered. "Are you going to make me?" he replied, "Because I really don't think you should try it. If you scare me, I might accidentally snap her wrist."
Harry watched as he tightened his grip on her wrists. Silver bit her lip, her eyes watering.
Suddenly Hermione and Ron appeared from the trees on either side. They stuck their wands into Draco's back. Draco stiffened.
"Drop her, Malfoy," Ron spat.
"You gonna curse me, Weasley?" Draco replied.
"No, because I could make a much cleaner job of it than he could...or should I say dirtier?" Hermione replied.
Draco's eyes widened.
"You have until the count of three, Draco," Hermione informed him, "Three."
Draco released her and she practically flew behind Harry.
"You alright?" Harry asked, still pointing his wand at Draco threateningly.
"Yes," she replied in a completely unconvincing voice.
Harry and Lupin exchanged glances, and Draco began to run away.
"Stupefy!" Ron yelled, and a beam of light shot out of his wand towards Draco. Draco had shown some intelligence, however, and ran into the trees, making it nearly impossible to aim a curse at him. Harry began after him, but Lupin stopped him.
"He's gone, Harry."
Harry stepped back disappointedly. He had wanted a good reason to curse Malfoy for some time. He turned to Silver, who was pointedly hiding her wrists behind her back.
"Let me see," he told her.
"I'm fine," she told him.
He raised his eyebrows and held out his hands. Reluctantly, she put her hands forward. There were reddish marks around her wrists which Harry was sure would turn into bruises.
"Let's get you back to Hogwarts," Lupin suggested, "A visit with Madam Pomfrey should heal you right up."
She looked as if she wanted to protest, but she looked down at her wrists and nodded. Harry knew they must really hurt for her not to be arguing. Ron and Hermione fell into step beside them as they headed back.
"What a bloody bast..." Ron began, before realizing that Lupin was there.
Lupin looked mildly amused, as if he had found it funny but didn't want to say so. When they arrived at Hogwarts, Silver walked right past Madam Pomfrey's office.
"Um, Silver, it's right here," Hermione said, pointing at the door.
"I know that," she replied exasperatedly without so much as a glance over her shoulder.
Lupin, Harry, Hermione, and Ron looked at each other and then jogged to catch up with her.
"Where are you going, then?" Hermione prodded.
Suddenly Ron let out a disgusted snort.
"She's going to Snape's," he said in a voice that made it obvious he didn't think it was necessary.
Silver didn't say anything, which meant that he was right.
"Can't you tell him about it after you go to Madam Pomfrey's?" Hermione asked, "You must be in pain."
Silver just shook her head and continued to walk. Harry was utterly shocked that she refused to argue with anyone, and agreed wholeheartedly with Hermione.
"You know, she's right," he told her, "If you're hurting..."
"What makes you think I'm hurting?" she snapped.
"Well, for one, you haven't raised an argument since Draco ran away," Harry answered.
She looked back at him, eyes flashing angrily, and quickened her pace so that he had to jog to stay by her side.
"Don't walk so fast," he pleaded, "It's only true."
She gave him a withering look as they turned down into the dungeon corridors.
Sighing, Harry dropped behind a step or two and followed her resignedly.
"She's a stubborn one, isn't she?" Ron commented. Silver gave him a venomous look over her shoulder.
When they reached the door to Snape's classroom, she burst in without knocking. The rest of them were right behind. Snape nearly jumped as they arrived. He was brewing some sort of potion on his desk. Silver ran up to him and held out her wrists.
"Look what happened," she said, as long held-in tears began to stream down her cheeks.
Snape snapped his fingers, and the lights in the room brightened. He held her wrists in the light and looked back up at her.
"Who did this to you?" he demanded.
"Draco," she sniffed.
Snape looked as if he might lash out and overturn his desk at any moment. He glared up at them.
"Why didn't you do anything?" he spat, looking pointedly at Harry.
"We did," Ron answered, "That's why she's here right now."
"Well, you were a little late, weren't you?" Snape sneered back, looking as if he'd like nothing more than to rip Ron's head off and use it for a potion ingredient.
As soon as Snape turned back to Silver, Ron made a face at him.
"Have you seen Madam Pomfrey?" Snape demanded.
"Well, not yet..." Silver replied.
"Why not?" he answered, his eyes boring into her.
"I wanted to see you first," she said, rather sweetly in Harry's opinion.
"Hogwash. You should have seen her the instant you arrived," Snape told her.
Silver looked slightly hurt.
"See?" Hermione said, "I told you."
Snape gave her an icy look, and she began to study the floor very intently.
"Go see Madam Pomfrey, and then come up to Dumbledore's office," he instructed.
He seemed to notice Lupin for the first time. "You will come to Dumbledore's office with me," he ordered. Lupin looked slightly offended at being told what to do by Snape, but he nodded curtly in agreement.
Madam Pomfrey nearly went into hysteria when she found out how Silver had gotten the bruises. She muttered consistently as she healed Silver, and the words "insufferable" and "Malfoy" were distinguishable. They headed to Dumbledore's office with a slightly more content Silver.
"I hope he gets expelled," Ron raged.
"I hope he gets suspended – then when he comes back he'll have to face everybody knowing what an idiot he is," Hermione answered.
"No, expulsion would be better, that way we'd never have to see him again."
"No, suspension would teach him a lesson that would last a lot longer than expulsion."
"But why would we want to have to see his ugly face in classes again?"
"It'll be worth it if he's constantly embarrassed."
"No it won't."
"Yes, it will."
They argued all the way to Dumbledore's office, and Harry practically had to yell "Sugar Quill" for the gargoyle to hear the password over all the noise.
"It will not," Ron hissed as they headed up the staircase.
"Will too," Hermione answered in a low voice.
"Guys," Silver complained.
"Touchy, are we?" Ron asked, sounding offended that anyone would interrupt his and Hermione's argument..
Hermione seemed to agree, for once. Dumbledore swept the door open for them as they arrived at the top.
"Ah, Miss Riddle," he said. Harry thought he detected a spark of amusement in his eyes as he said her last name. "I hear you had a run in with Mr. Malfoy today. Please tell me about it."
"Well," Silver said, "I was walking towards the Shrieking Shack and he kind of appeared out of nowhere and asked me if I wanted to go back to his dorm with him...I told him I'd rather drown myself, and I think I got his temper up a bit."
Harry couldn't help but grin. Malfoy had gotten rejected badly. He noticed that Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling, Lupin was attempting to hide a grin, and even Snape had a flicker of amusement in his eyes.
"Well now, Miss Riddle, may I ask what you were doing walking alone?" Dumbledore inquired.
Harry sat up. What was she doing, walking alone?
Silver shot him a nervous glance before answering.
"Well, I've always enjoyed taking walks, but I haven't gotten to take one since I was about nine, and I thought today would be the perfect time."
"Ah, but there you see, Miss Riddle, it wasn't," Dumbledore answered, "You are very lucky it was Mr. Malfoy that found you, and not a Death Eater. You do understand that there is quite a number of Death Eaters after you, don't you?"
Dumbledore was giving Silver a piercing stare, and she averted her eyes.
"Yes," she murmured quietly.
"I see," Dumbledore replied, "So you are telling me that you purposely endangered yourself so that you could take a walk?"
"Yes," she replied, her voice even quieter than before.
"That was not an intelligent action, Miss Riddle, which disappoints me greatly, because your teachers tell me you are a very smart young lady," Dumbledore said.
"I'm sorry," Silver said, looking up to meet his eyes with desperation, "I won't disappoint you again, just please let me stay at Hogwarts."
Surprise flashed in Dumbledore's eyes.
"Miss Riddle, I was never considering even allowing you to leave Hogwarts," he informed her.
"But...you said you were disappointed with me," Silver answered, looking confused, "Why would you still keep me?"
"You will find, Miss Riddle, that not all people are as unforgiving as Voldemort and his followers," Dumbledore answered, "And you will also find that I have no intention of surrendering you anytime soon."
"You're going to keep me after I've failed you?" Silver asked in amazement, her voice barely above a whisper.
"You haven't failed anyone," Snape said, his voice oddly harsh, "Don't think that."
Silver turned her surprised eyes on him. "Oh, but I have," she said mournfully.
"No, you haven't," Snape answered. He managed to sound annoyed and reassuring at the same time.
"I must agree with Severus," Dumbledore said kindly.
Silver looked from Dumbledore to Snape, and back to Dumbledore again.
"Thank you," she said fervently.
Harry wouldn't have been surprised if she had bowed, she looked so thankful.
"Children, you should get down to the Great Hall for dinner," Dumbledore replied, "The students from Hogsmeade should be arriving shortly."
"Bye," Harry said to Lupin.
Lupin smiled. "See you soon, Harry," he replied.
As the foursome walked down to the Great Hall, Silver was practically skipping.
"What's up with you?" Ron asked.
"Dumbledore forgave me!" she replied jubilantly.
"You didn't do anything," Hermione pointed out.
Silver gave her a pitying look. "I disappointed him," she said reprovingly.
"Oh, for heaven's sake, he didn't mean it like that!" Hermione replied.
Silver looked at Hermione as if she were something of great interest. "You don't understand," she told her reproachfully.
"Understand what, exactly?" Hermione replied.
Harry rolled his eyes. Did Hermione have to know everything?
"Forgiveness," Silver answered, "You take it for granted."
Hermione looked as if she were about to reply, but Harry elbowed her. Shooting him an icy look, she held her tongue. Silver's good mood kept up – she smiled to herself and everybody else she saw as they walked to the Great Hall. Soon, all of the Hogsmeade students were there – except for Draco. Ron found this extremely amusing, and commented on it all through dinner.
"Ron, will you shut up about Malfoy?" Hermione said finally.
Ron blushed. "Sorry," he said immediately. Hermione looked surprised, but gave him a smile before she returned to her food, causing him to blush even more.
As usual, they were the last ones left in the common room at night. Harry had begun to wonder how they were always the ones who stayed up the latest and woke up the earliest. Harry suddenly noticed that Silver was giving him a pointed look.
"I'm going to bed," she announced.
"Uh, okay," he replied, confused.
She rolled her eyes. "Don't you think you should go to bed, too, Harry?"
Harry didn't, but he knew better than to argue.
"Uh, yeah," he replied, unconvinced. He really didn't feel too tired, but he got up anyway.
She beamed at him.
"Night, everyone," she said pleasantly.
"Night," mumbled Ron, who was blushing for some reason unknown to Harry.
"Good night!" Hermione replied briskly.
"Uh, night," Harry said, still confused.
It wasn't until Harry got to bed and wondered why Ron hadn't come in yet that he realized that Silver was getting him out of the room so Ron and Hermione could be alone together. I wonder what's going on between them, anyway, he thought. He decided to ask Ron when he came in, but after waiting what seemed like forever to Harry, his eyelids began to droop. He had to make more of an effort to clear his mind than usual, since he was busy thinking of Ron and Hermione, but finally he managed to do so, and drifted off to sleep immediately.