-- RECAP --
"I have no choice," Michelle told them.
"Are you sure?" Harry asked.
Michelle was deliberately avoiding Harry's gaze. She knew in her heart that he was the only one with the power to change her mind. She cared for him in a way she has not cared for others in a long time. It was a strange feeling for her after so long of an isolation. She would not allow him to change her mind. She was after all doing this to protect him.
"I have no choice," Michelle repeated.
They sat there in silence for a long time. No one dared to speak. They were contemplating Michelle's decision. They were trying to figure a way to change Michelle's mind. They had to. They just could not let her walk into a trap of Voldemort. That what friends do. And that is what they considered Michelle, a friend.
Chapter 11 - - - Understandings
Michelle spent the remainder of the week in a depression. Harry and the gang had tried everything to cheer her up, including giving some first and second years some Weasley Wondrously Wicked Wobbling Waffers. They were the newest of the Weasley twins' inventions that make whoever eats them unable to stand, walk, or sit still. In other words, it caused them to wobble everywhere. She spoke little to them. They knew she was avoiding them since they kept trying to convince her not to go.
"I told you I have to go," Michelle told them for the millionth time that day.
"We won't let you. You'll get hurt," Hermione argued with her.
"Harry's faced him before and it only ends in death. Tell her Harry. Tell her," Ron yelled.
"I know what happened before," she argued back. "But it's different now."
"How is it different?" Harry asked her.
"Tell us please," Hermione pleaded.
"You wouldn't understand," Michelle turned away tears beginning to form behind her eyes.
"Then explain it to us," Harry said gently.
"I can't," she said as one tear began to fall.
"Why not?" Ron asked her.
"I just can't okay!" Michelle screamed as she turned and ran down the hall.
The three stared at her retreating form. They prepared to go after her. A voice from behind stopped them in their tracks.
"Let her go. She needs to be alone."
"Oh Professor White," said a startled Hermione.
"She has a lot on her mind and it was a hard decision for her to make," he told them.
"How do you know of this, Professor?" Ron asked.
"I know a lot of things Mr. Weasley, like who has been giving your brothers' snacks to first year students," he said with a twinkle in his eyes.
Harry, Ron and Hermione blushed at this. They said good bye to their professor and went back to their common room.
That was two days ago. They had not spoken to her since. In fact, no one had. She skipped classes, not that she needed to go to them. She was often seen sitting by the lake or walking around the grounds. Harry, Ron and Hermione were also more distant. Harry the most out of the three. They decided to discuss how they should handle this without getting Michelle anymore upset with them. They sat around the fire in the common room. It was relatively empty since most of the Gryffindors had went to bed already.
"What should we do? We can't let her go alone," Ron stated.
"She can't go. She'll get hurt, even if she is powerful," Hermione said.
"How do we go about keeping her here? Should we put a spell on her?" Ron asked.
"No she is too powerful. She could probably repell it. She, after all, survived the Killing Curse," Hermione pointed out.
"Well so did Harry. What do you think Harry? Harry? HARRY?!" Ron began to shout.
"Huh?" Harry said.
He was not really listening to them argue. His mind was cluttered and he needed to sort it out before he could think clearly enough to figure out a way to help Michelle.
"What's wrong Harry?" Hermione asked.
"I don't know," Harry told her. "We need to figure out a way to get her to change her mind. We can't let her die at Voldemort's wand. I can't deal with losing someone else." He whispered the last part, but Hermione heard it all the same.
"Don't worry we'll think of something," she gave him a warm smile.
"I know!" Ron exclaimed. "How about we slip something into her drink to make her pass out. I'm sure Hermione can whip something up."
"Ron shut up," Hermione said throwing a pillow at him.
"What?" Ron asked as he failed to dodge the pillow. "What did I do?"
"Try being helpful for once," Hermione told him.
The portrait creaked open. They stopped talking to see who had joined them. Michelle walked across the room. She did not acknowledge the three sitting by the fire and fell into a chair in the corner of the room. Her head sunk into her hands and she began to cry softly. Harry looked over at Ron and Hermione trying to see what they should do. Ron had a puzzled expression on his face. Hermione looked worried.
"What should we do?" Ron asked a little too loud.
Michelle's head shot up. She looked at them seeing them for the first time. Tears stained her cheeks and they kept coming. She did not bother to wipe them away.
"Leave me be," she pleaded. "Please."
"We're your friends. We can't do that," Hermione told her.
"Why are you crying?" Ron asked.
"I can't do this now," Michelle whispered.
"We want to help. Let us," Harry said.
"You can't help me. No one can," her tears increased as she spoke.
"That's what I thought last year when I went to try and save Sirius. I wanted to go alone so no one else would get hurt. I thought I could do it by myself and looked how it turned out," Harry told her.
"Your friends went with you and you lost someone dear to you. That's what happened. I already lost so many people I care about. I am not willing to risk any more," Michelle cried.
"Calm down. Don't cry," Hermione went over to Michelle.
She put her arms around the sobbing Gryffindor. Michelle welcomed the embrace and cried softly into the girl's shoulder. Harry and Ron looked at the two girls. They did not know what they should do.
"I wish I didn't have to go," Michelle said into Hermione's shoulder.
"Then don't," Harry replied while he and Ron walked over to the two girls.
"It's not that simple," Michelle lifted her head up to look at them. "If I don't go he'll . . . he'll . . ."
"He'll what?" Harry asked.
"He'll come to Hogwarts," Michelle told them.
"So?" Ron asked. "He wouldn't be able too. He's afraid of Dumbledore. He wouldn't dare step foot within Hogwarts."
"He was only afraid of Daddy because he was afraid of a father's revenge. Yes Daddy is the most powerful wizard, but Voldemort was afraid of Daddy's anger as well as his power. But now that he knows I'm alive, thanks to Wormtail, he's not as afraid anymore and would chance coming here. I can't put all of the students in danger like that. I have to go."
"I understand," Harry told her and he did.
Harry knew how she felt because he felt it last year. He risked his life to save Sirius and ended up walking into a trap and bringing his friends along with him. He knew how it felt to have a decision placed in front of him where the only choices would get someone hurt.
"Well I don't," Ron said.
"Ron!" Hermione spoke in a tone that begged him not to continue.
They sat in silence with their weeping friend for a while. They let her cry and release the feelings that she his for so long. However, in the back of their minds they were forming a plan to go with Michelle.
"I'm so lucky to have you three as friends," Michelle broke the silence.
"No, we're lucky to have you as a friend," Hermione said stroking her hair.
Harry placed a hand on her back, "We'll always be here for you."
"Of course we will," Ron agreed with his best friend.
"I know. Thank you," Michelle smiled.
AN: I'm so sorry not to have updated sooner, but my life has been a bit hectic. My one sister just bought a new house so I was staying with her and helping her move. I found out that my other sister is going to have a baby. My mom broke her finger. We got a new roof on out house and are also getting new windows, siding, and central air. And to top it all off my dog died a few days ago.
I hope you like this chapter. Please review. Oh and where should Michelle meet Voldemort? I can't think of a good place.
Well that's all for now. Hopefully I can write the next chapter and update within the week. I shouldn't have said that. I've jinxed myself now. Oh great. Well anyway review.
Love ya,
KoKo Belle
"I have no choice," Michelle told them.
"Are you sure?" Harry asked.
Michelle was deliberately avoiding Harry's gaze. She knew in her heart that he was the only one with the power to change her mind. She cared for him in a way she has not cared for others in a long time. It was a strange feeling for her after so long of an isolation. She would not allow him to change her mind. She was after all doing this to protect him.
"I have no choice," Michelle repeated.
They sat there in silence for a long time. No one dared to speak. They were contemplating Michelle's decision. They were trying to figure a way to change Michelle's mind. They had to. They just could not let her walk into a trap of Voldemort. That what friends do. And that is what they considered Michelle, a friend.
Chapter 11 - - - Understandings
Michelle spent the remainder of the week in a depression. Harry and the gang had tried everything to cheer her up, including giving some first and second years some Weasley Wondrously Wicked Wobbling Waffers. They were the newest of the Weasley twins' inventions that make whoever eats them unable to stand, walk, or sit still. In other words, it caused them to wobble everywhere. She spoke little to them. They knew she was avoiding them since they kept trying to convince her not to go.
"I told you I have to go," Michelle told them for the millionth time that day.
"We won't let you. You'll get hurt," Hermione argued with her.
"Harry's faced him before and it only ends in death. Tell her Harry. Tell her," Ron yelled.
"I know what happened before," she argued back. "But it's different now."
"How is it different?" Harry asked her.
"Tell us please," Hermione pleaded.
"You wouldn't understand," Michelle turned away tears beginning to form behind her eyes.
"Then explain it to us," Harry said gently.
"I can't," she said as one tear began to fall.
"Why not?" Ron asked her.
"I just can't okay!" Michelle screamed as she turned and ran down the hall.
The three stared at her retreating form. They prepared to go after her. A voice from behind stopped them in their tracks.
"Let her go. She needs to be alone."
"Oh Professor White," said a startled Hermione.
"She has a lot on her mind and it was a hard decision for her to make," he told them.
"How do you know of this, Professor?" Ron asked.
"I know a lot of things Mr. Weasley, like who has been giving your brothers' snacks to first year students," he said with a twinkle in his eyes.
Harry, Ron and Hermione blushed at this. They said good bye to their professor and went back to their common room.
That was two days ago. They had not spoken to her since. In fact, no one had. She skipped classes, not that she needed to go to them. She was often seen sitting by the lake or walking around the grounds. Harry, Ron and Hermione were also more distant. Harry the most out of the three. They decided to discuss how they should handle this without getting Michelle anymore upset with them. They sat around the fire in the common room. It was relatively empty since most of the Gryffindors had went to bed already.
"What should we do? We can't let her go alone," Ron stated.
"She can't go. She'll get hurt, even if she is powerful," Hermione said.
"How do we go about keeping her here? Should we put a spell on her?" Ron asked.
"No she is too powerful. She could probably repell it. She, after all, survived the Killing Curse," Hermione pointed out.
"Well so did Harry. What do you think Harry? Harry? HARRY?!" Ron began to shout.
"Huh?" Harry said.
He was not really listening to them argue. His mind was cluttered and he needed to sort it out before he could think clearly enough to figure out a way to help Michelle.
"What's wrong Harry?" Hermione asked.
"I don't know," Harry told her. "We need to figure out a way to get her to change her mind. We can't let her die at Voldemort's wand. I can't deal with losing someone else." He whispered the last part, but Hermione heard it all the same.
"Don't worry we'll think of something," she gave him a warm smile.
"I know!" Ron exclaimed. "How about we slip something into her drink to make her pass out. I'm sure Hermione can whip something up."
"Ron shut up," Hermione said throwing a pillow at him.
"What?" Ron asked as he failed to dodge the pillow. "What did I do?"
"Try being helpful for once," Hermione told him.
The portrait creaked open. They stopped talking to see who had joined them. Michelle walked across the room. She did not acknowledge the three sitting by the fire and fell into a chair in the corner of the room. Her head sunk into her hands and she began to cry softly. Harry looked over at Ron and Hermione trying to see what they should do. Ron had a puzzled expression on his face. Hermione looked worried.
"What should we do?" Ron asked a little too loud.
Michelle's head shot up. She looked at them seeing them for the first time. Tears stained her cheeks and they kept coming. She did not bother to wipe them away.
"Leave me be," she pleaded. "Please."
"We're your friends. We can't do that," Hermione told her.
"Why are you crying?" Ron asked.
"I can't do this now," Michelle whispered.
"We want to help. Let us," Harry said.
"You can't help me. No one can," her tears increased as she spoke.
"That's what I thought last year when I went to try and save Sirius. I wanted to go alone so no one else would get hurt. I thought I could do it by myself and looked how it turned out," Harry told her.
"Your friends went with you and you lost someone dear to you. That's what happened. I already lost so many people I care about. I am not willing to risk any more," Michelle cried.
"Calm down. Don't cry," Hermione went over to Michelle.
She put her arms around the sobbing Gryffindor. Michelle welcomed the embrace and cried softly into the girl's shoulder. Harry and Ron looked at the two girls. They did not know what they should do.
"I wish I didn't have to go," Michelle said into Hermione's shoulder.
"Then don't," Harry replied while he and Ron walked over to the two girls.
"It's not that simple," Michelle lifted her head up to look at them. "If I don't go he'll . . . he'll . . ."
"He'll what?" Harry asked.
"He'll come to Hogwarts," Michelle told them.
"So?" Ron asked. "He wouldn't be able too. He's afraid of Dumbledore. He wouldn't dare step foot within Hogwarts."
"He was only afraid of Daddy because he was afraid of a father's revenge. Yes Daddy is the most powerful wizard, but Voldemort was afraid of Daddy's anger as well as his power. But now that he knows I'm alive, thanks to Wormtail, he's not as afraid anymore and would chance coming here. I can't put all of the students in danger like that. I have to go."
"I understand," Harry told her and he did.
Harry knew how she felt because he felt it last year. He risked his life to save Sirius and ended up walking into a trap and bringing his friends along with him. He knew how it felt to have a decision placed in front of him where the only choices would get someone hurt.
"Well I don't," Ron said.
"Ron!" Hermione spoke in a tone that begged him not to continue.
They sat in silence with their weeping friend for a while. They let her cry and release the feelings that she his for so long. However, in the back of their minds they were forming a plan to go with Michelle.
"I'm so lucky to have you three as friends," Michelle broke the silence.
"No, we're lucky to have you as a friend," Hermione said stroking her hair.
Harry placed a hand on her back, "We'll always be here for you."
"Of course we will," Ron agreed with his best friend.
"I know. Thank you," Michelle smiled.
AN: I'm so sorry not to have updated sooner, but my life has been a bit hectic. My one sister just bought a new house so I was staying with her and helping her move. I found out that my other sister is going to have a baby. My mom broke her finger. We got a new roof on out house and are also getting new windows, siding, and central air. And to top it all off my dog died a few days ago.
I hope you like this chapter. Please review. Oh and where should Michelle meet Voldemort? I can't think of a good place.
Well that's all for now. Hopefully I can write the next chapter and update within the week. I shouldn't have said that. I've jinxed myself now. Oh great. Well anyway review.
Love ya,
KoKo Belle