Neola. The Snake?
Hermione leaned into Harry as the passed shops in Hogsmeade. Instead of sleeping for the whole day, she decided to come out into the snow and browse through some of the shops to find a decent robe for the Yule Ball.
After hearing the news about Ginny, Hermione felt somewhat relieved. This feeling was foreign to her. She had never felt happy or relieved about someone else's suffering, but, she was learning something new about herself every day. Harry grabbed her hand and led her towards the robe shops. They entered the shop, the snow rushing inside. Hermione immediately sat in a dressing room chair. Harry picked up a couple of robes and stepped into a booth.
Hermione mindlessly chewed her tongue as she waited for Harry to parade around her with the robe on.
She felt a rush of air by her feet and lifted her head to observe the couple that has walked into the shop. It was Ron and Lavender. Lavender looked healthier, and much happier than usual. Ron had a rosy glow to his cheeks as he snaked an arm around Lavender's shoulders.
"Well, look who's here Lav, Hermione…Where's Harry?" Ron asked smiling down at Hermione.
"He's trying on a robe. I guess he picked up the wrong sizes because I can here him asking the mirror if it seems too tight," I said tiredly. Ron's smile sagged slightly, but did not completely go away.
"What's up Herm is everything okay?" Ron asked. Hermione quickly smiled and shrugged.
"Guess I'm nervous about the wedding…you know…it's so close and…well…" Hermione dragged. She ran a hand through her now-today straight hair. Harry came out of the booth, harassed. He huffed and slipped the robes back onto the ramps.
"That damn mirror called me a clumsy, foolish dog," he said angrily. Hermione laughed along with Ron and Lavender.
"Why was that?" Lavender asked.
"I ripped the sleeve of the robe. I tried to fix it but I said the wrong incantation and shrunk the damn thing," he said, picking up a sky blue robe. He turned to Hermione and held the robe up.
"I think this would look wonderful on you love," Harry said walking towards her. Hermione held up a hand to ward him off.
"No, no thanks…I think I'll just wear my school robes," she said shrugging. Harry, Lavender and Ron stared at her puzzled.
"But…Hermione…it's the Yule Ball. You should go to the Ball looking like the most beautiful women to step foot in Hogwarts," he said gently.
"Oh, and I'm not beautiful without the materialistic bullshit?" Hermione yelled, standing up. She pushed him aside and headed towards the door. Harry grabbed her wrist to turn her around but she spat in his face. Harry was floored. He wiped the spit from his cheek and stared blankly at Hermione.
"Hermione…" Harry said. Hermione rushed out the door, ignoring the stares people in the shop was giving her. She ran out of Hogsmeade into the forest. She sat uncomfortable on a large rock to think.
What the hell just happened? Why did I do that?
Hermione realized she was crying and used the sleeve of her coat as a Kleenex. She heard footsteps from behind her and turned to see Harry standing above her.
"Hermione, I know this year has been hectic, and I know you've been through so much these past two years at Hogwarts, but I don't want to lose you, I don't want to be left alone. I don't want you to feel as though we're…drifting apart," Harry said, crouching in front of her. Hermione threw her arms around his neck.
"Oh God Harry, I don't know what to do! I've been holding back so much this year! I've been depressed, ill and scared ever since we spent the night at Malfoy's. You don't understand what happened to me. I don't want to remember it…but it lives with me. I can't believe how horrible things happen to good people. I can't believe that all three girls were raped, pregnant and depressed…it's too organized. Something is causing us pain, and I'm afraid that it might be near," Hermione struggled out. It had to be let. For too long, the events that have occurred at the school to them were hidden, or forgotten.
"I'm so sorry…I can't protect you…I'm…I'm weak…" Harry whispered.
"Harry, you're the strongest wizard I know, and I love you…I love you Harry, and I need you to help me, I need to get away from all this, I need to run away," Hermione said, moving her mouth to Harry's, she gently kissed his lips, whispering "let's run away".
"Hermione, we can't run away, that's why we're in this scenario, because we couldn't face our fears, we need to heal," Harry stood, holding Hermione close to him.
"Hermione, whatever happens to us, I want you to know that I love you, with all my heart," Harry kissed Hermione carefully, as if afraid that she might break. He jerked back and tore something from his neck. He touched his color bone and wiped away blood.
"What the bloody fuck, Neola!" Harry hissed. Hermione stared at him, bewildered.
"What is it Harry? For Christ sake! Speak English!" Hermione bellowed. Harry ran wildly into the forest, trying to catch up with the small green snake.
"Neola! Damn it! Neola! What did you say about the Dark Lord? What the hell!" Harry stopped in his tracks, lifted his hand and out shot a small ball of black liquid. It hit Neola and slowly the small green snake lifted from the ground to hover in-front of Harry.
"What…did you say about the Dark Lord?" he whispered.
"The Dark Lord told me to come and find you…the Lord told me to come, come to find out everything about you and the mudblood, and I have…Harry, I…I'm not what you think I am…The Dark Lord promised me…promised my original form…promised my life back…I have told her what you do, and what you are, and she has not granted me my life!" Neola said angrily.
"Voldemort-" Harry started.
"No! No…Voldemort is dead. The new Dark Lord has killed him. The Dark Lord is a woman, or, if I can say, a girl. She's only fourteen, and she goes to this school," Neola said. Harry stared at Neola through narrowed eyes. He undid the spell and Neola fell to the ground on top of a bed of roses.
"REVEAL YOURSELF!" Harry yelled, pointing his finger to Neola. Neola twitched and she slowly transformed.
This reminded Harry of the night in the Shrieking Shack when Ron's pet rat turned into Wormtail. A beautiful teenage girl lay sprawled on top of the bed of roses. Her hair was long, shaggy and black, and her eyes were green, just like Harry's. Harry gasped.
It was like staring into a mirror and seeing a female version of himself. Neola wore a baggy green shirt with holes everywhere, with a black mini skirt peeking out from underneath the sweater. She stood and dusted dirt from off of her clothes.
She stretched and grinned.
"Oh, how I've missed doing this," she purred.
"Who are you?" Harry asked shaking.
"I told you already. My name is Neola," she said, walking in circles around Harry.
"Yes, but what's your last name?" Harry pressed on.
"Evans," she said, grinning. Harry grabbed her about the shoulders and stared deep into her green eyes.
"How old are you?"
"I'm 17. I've been a snake since I was eleven. Voldemort had me as a child until he was murdered by his heir. His heir took me and turned me into a snake. Voldemort…was cruel to me…I'd rather be a snake, then be tortured endlessly by him," Neola said turning to hide her shameful expression.
"You're…my twin sister…Neola, you're my sister…" Harry said awestruck.
"Harry! Harry! Oh my god, oh thank god I found you at last!" Hermione sighed. She walked quietly up to Harry and stared at the girl he was holding.
"Oh…my God,"
"Hermione, this is my sister, my twin sister…Neola," Harry said tearfully.
Neola smiled weakly and waved.
"Hey Herm," she said cheerfully.
