Someday, I will own something of great value. This will not be Harry Potter, as J K Rowling already owns it.
Hermionie's Turn
This morning, Pansy woke up Ryua by throwing Witch Weekly at her head. Once again, Quidditch reflexes let her catch it before her mind had completely accepted that she was awake. When she opened the pages, she immediately found what Pansy wanted her to see. 'Harry Potter's Secret Heartache' was spelled across the top of the page in ugly fuchsia letters. It wasn't a very long article, but managed to be sufficiently humiliating for Harry, Hermionie, and poor Viktor to boot.
Handing back the article in disgust, Ryua made her bed, deactivating her heat web with a poke of her wand, and went off to get dressed. She had been sleeping much better since she got that heating web in the Dominican, and never woke up so cold as before. Still, that hot shower or bath in the morning was always something she looked forward to.
In Potions, Pansy dropped the article right in Hermionie's lap. Sitting back with Crabbe this time, Ryua could only catch hints of the conversation that followed. Well, at least she seems amused by it... Unfortunately for them, Snape also heard snatches. "Fascinating though your social life undoubtedly is, Miss Granger, I must ask you not to discuss it in my class. Ten points from Gryffindor." He swept over to properly glare evilly at them, ignoring the Potter Stinks badges flashing everywhere. And then, to make matters worse, (or possibly more amusing, depending on your point of view) he picked up the copy of Witch Weekly and started quoting it aloud. Although it was completely slamming her friends, Ryua had to smother a few giggles, Snape really did have a knack for humiliating people. Of course, he split them all up afterwards, and none of them were put with Ryua. Poor Ron looked rather panic-stricken to be left without anyone to help him...
Just before the end of class, Karkaroff slunk in, looking even more shifty than usual. Ryua pushed Crabbe out the door, then shrunk back into the shadows behind a cupboard, noting that Harry had also managed to duck out of sight under his desk. "What's so urgent?" Snape hissed when the class was empty.
"This," Karkaroff responded, pulling up his left sleeve. "Well? Do you see? It's never been this clear, never since-"
"Put it away!" Snape was scanning the classroom, looking as worried as Ryua had ever seen him.
"But you must have noticed-"
"We can talk later, Karkaroff! Potter! What are you doing?"
"Clearing up my armadillo bile, Professor," Harry replied, the picture of innocence. He's good...Of course, it doesn't make Snape like him any more...
Karkaroff strode out, worry apparent in every step. Harry scampered out at double time, correctly interpreting the ferocious expression on Snape's face. Ryua detached herself from the shadows after she was sure they were both gone. "Sir?"
Snape looked up from brooding at his desk, face full of an unfamiliar expression; fear, maybe, or regret, worry, she couldn't tell. "Oh, Ryua..."
"Sir, what's wrong?"
"You... you would be better off not knowing." Ryua had never seen Snape look so open, so full of human emotion.
"If it involves you and Karkaroff, I know that I'll find out anyway at home. And I would prefer to find out from you than my father. Please?" her voice was calm, not reflecting the feeling of foreboding, of something huge about to occur stirring deep in her soul.
"This is something you should hear from..." he broke off with a low laugh, running his fingers through his hair. "I was going to say from your father. It isn't something you should ever hear at all. You know about Death Eaters, yes?"
"Of course."
"We are all... marked, branded to show our loyalty. The Dark Mark... it was used to summon us. When the Dark Lord wished for our presence, he would cause the Mark to burn, turning a deep black, and we would all disapparate, appearing at his location automatically." Snape stopped, taking a deep breath. "When Harry Potter reflected that curse... and it rebounded on our Lord, the marks burned with a most acute pain, then faded, faded to almost nothing. Up until a few months again... when it started to redefine, becoming sharper, visible even out of moonlight. It can only mean one thing."
"He's back." Ryua said, in a barely audible whisper. "He's got a Death Eater who found him, and he's coming back."
"I am truly sorry this had to happen during your lifetime. I had hoped He would at least wait until you had grown, had a life of your own." Snape looked bitter, bitter and scared. "It would help if any of us knew how many there still were, how many were free, how many were true... who was helping him now...."
"Peter Pettigrew."
"What?"
"Harry found him last year. Sirius Black wasn't the one who betrayed the Potters, it was Pettigrew all along. And he escaped last year, Harry told me all about it when I asked."
Snape now looked incredulous and angry. "Potter? You're actually friends with that little worm?"
"As opposed to most of the people in my House?"
"I suppose you have a point there. But still... Potter?"
Ryua smiled at the look of disgust on his face. "Well, he is a Gryffindor, and that could be better, I suppose. But, he hasn't tried to choke me with his tongue either."
His face twisted in agony. "Ugh. I did not need that image in my head, you revolting girl."
She outright laughed this time, and it cleared some of the worry from his face too. "Well, I don't exactly love thinking it either. I'd better go to lunch, get that taste out of my mouth..."
"Yes, go away. Get out of my classroom!"
"Yes sir!" Smiling, she walked out of his office.
"Ryua," he called softly after her. She turned back at the door. "I would appreciate it if this conversation was never spoken of again."
"Of course, sir."
