Invisible Hero: Chapter 12
By: Teenlaunch
Raiast- Here, here, here! Fine, sheesh!
Lady Paine- Glad someone liked it.
Amoria- Good.
NitenGale- Wonderful! Hey, if you have an email address why don't you leave it for me?
Luthein- You found more to say!
PinkTribeChick- Yes, getting there.
a/n: You all are probably mad at me for dragging this out. I'm maybe a bit more than halfway through. Sorry for the late update. Twelfth installment.
"Alright, class, unfortunately, Argus' cat, Mrs. Norris, sneaked into the dungeons last night and overturned almost everyone's potions. We will not be making new ones- "Snape stopped as many students cheered. "-until next term." Snape huffed. "Today you are to answer the questions on these papers." A pile of papers appeared in front of every group of students. "You are to work with your group. You may begin."
Hermione sighed as she flipped through her groups' papers. "This will take all morning."
"Looks that way, doesn't it?" Draco grabbed the papers.
"You know, Hermione, I bet Mrs. Norris is the cat you said was killed by curiosity. Was she?" Ron asked from Hermione's other side while Harry stared into space.
"What is he talking about now?" Draco whispered.
"Nothing...something I told him the other day," Hermione said.
"I don't want to know then?"
"Hey, just what are you implying?"
"Nothing...nothing what-so-ever!"
"Right...liar!"
The rest of potions passed slowly. The papers were extremely boring. Ron even fell asleep on Hermione's shoulder. Se squeaked in surprise and jumped, accidentally knocking Draco off his chair. This caused Ron to wake up in a particularly grouchy mood after being knocked off his own chair by a very aggravated Draco.
"Watch it, Malfoy!" Ron growled.
"You watch it, Weasley!"
"Okay class, turn in your papers and you may leave. Happy Christmas."
"And a Happy New Year!" Ron grumbled as he flung down his quill. Draco shook his head.
"I'll see you later, Hermione," Draco whispered as he left.
"That-that...why can't he just give us a day off?" Ron sputtered.
"Let's think...because he's evil?" Hermione asked as Harry left.
"Evil? He's way past evil! He's crazy! He's insane! He's vile! He's nuts, and- He's right behind me, isn't he?" Hermione nodded slightly.
"Very perceptive, Mr. Weasley. Detention for two weeks. Miss Granger, would you leave so I can kindly talk to Mr. Weasley?" Snape placed a hand on Ron's shoulder and Ron jumped. He looked at her with pleading eyes.
"Yes, Sir." Hermione gathered her things and left the room. Once outside in the corridor, Hermione looked around to make sure no one was watching her and pressed her ear to Snape's door.
"Mr. Weasley- Ron, I need you to do me a favor. You will serve your 'detention' for the next two weeks by keeping an eye on Miss Granger's lab partner. I've noticed he's been a bit off color lately. I think his father has something to do with it." Snape sounded worried.
"You mean that's all?" Ron asked. "Is he going home for the holidays?"
"Not from what I know. His father could have something planned though. He's at the age when- "Snape choked.
"At the age when what?" Ron asked nervously.
"Nothing...Don't worry about it. Just keep an eye out for anything suspicious. Don't let him know what you're up to though."
"I won't." There were footsteps and Hermione started. She sprinted down the corridor just as the door opened.
"Hey, Hermione, want to play me in a game of chess?" Ron asked.
"No thanks," Hermione said softly.
"What'd I do now?"
"Nothing...I just...I'm not feeling well," Hermione said as Ron sat down on the couch beside her.
"Do you need to go to Madam Pomfrey?"
"No, I'm fine Ron. It's nothing...life threatening."
"Okay, I was just asking."
"Well, stop asking." Hermione sighed. "Sorry...I'll be back in a bit, okay?"
"K," Ron said quietly as he watched Hermione walk out the portrait hole. "Hey, Harry-"
Hermione sighed heavily as she walked from Gryffindor Tower into the castle, not paying attention to where her feet were taking her. She soon found herself in the Astronomy Tower. She sat down on the windowsill and didn't try to stop the tears from coming. She had held them in all day. She watched the sun set slowly and the tower grew darker. Hermione didn't even notice that she had left the tower door open. There were soft footsteps and the door creaked open. She looked up.
"Hermione, what's wrong?" Ryu walked into the room slowly and came up to her. Hermione looked away.
"I'm fine. I'll be alright in a little while," Hermione said softly.
"Would it help if you told me what's wrong?" Ryu sat down across from her.
"Maybe..."
"Then tell me."
"It...It's just that- that my cousin...He was killed in a car wreck last year. Christmas was always his favorite time of year. He always liked the hustle and bustle of the last minute shopping we always did together. We would put the Christmas tree up and put out the nativity scene every Christmas Eve, singing carols at the top of our lungs. We spent a lot of time together. His brother, Josh, loved to hang around us. My cousin taught me a whole lot of things. He taught me to sing, dance, skateboard..."
"Skateboard?"
"It was one of his hobbies. He just started teaching me one day. He was like a brother to me. I miss him."
"I don't doubt it." The door, still open, gave a loud creak. Ryu looked over at it and shrugged. "My mother almost died a few months ago."
"How?"
"Accident, I guess. She didn't say anything else."
"I'm glad she's alright. I hate to see anyone mourn over a loved one. It's...depressing. Yet here I am doing it."
"It's unavoidable. I know a couple people that are special to me."
"I have a lot of people like that." Hermione glanced at Ryu who seemed to be staring at her from beneath his hood.
"The one thing you need to remember is that he's still here with you," Ryu said softly. "He's still here. He's in this room. No matter what, he'll always watch over you, just like me." Hermione's eyes filled with tears. She sobbed freely into her arms. Suddenly, Ryu's hand was on her shoulder. He pulled her into an awkward hug.
"Sorry," Hermione sniffed after a few minutes.
"It's okay. I understand," Ryu whispered. "You...uh...better get back."
"Yeah." Hermione was almost out the door when she turned around. "Are you going home for Christmas?"
"Yes," Ryu muttered, a slight edge to his voice.
"I'll talk to you later."
"Bye."
"I didn't know Malfoy was going home for Christmas. How did you find out?" Ron asked as he ate slowly.
"I talked to him. How else?" Hermione answered.
"I meant...when?"
"Today, right outside the library."
"Did he say why he's decided to go home? I heard he hated going home."
"He didn't tell me why. I didn't ask." Hermione looked up at Ron. He was staring at his food. "Ron, what's wrong?"
"I-I don't feel too good. I'll see you guys later." Ron stood up and started to leave the hall. He stopped at the door and looked around to the teachers' table. He and Snape exchanged a glance.
"I swear! That boy has some screws loose or something!" Hermione huffed.
"Why do you have to know about everything I do?" Draco sputtered angrily at Ron as they stood in the library.
"I was just wondering! Friends are supposed to be there for each other. You have not been treating me like one. If you want to keep me as your friend you had better shape up! I want to help. You haven't been showing up for most meals and you won't look any teachers in the face. What's wrong?" Ron asked after his anger had died down.
"There is nothing wrong with me," Draco said calmly.
"You're lying," Ron said accusingly.
"How do you know?"
"Because of the way you've been acting. Why can't you tell me?"
"I just don't want to. I've always been like this. I like my privacy." Ron snorted. "I don't want to lose the few friends I have, Ron. I just...I'm having a hard time at home. I will be fine. Don't worry, okay?"
"Where have I heard that before?"
"Ron?"
"Okay," Ron sighed.
"Thanks, the train leaves tomorrow. I need to go pack. I'll see you later."
"K, bye."
Well, not too much happened really. Sorry, I'll do better next time, promise! I'll see you later!
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
-2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
Teenlaunch
By: Teenlaunch
Raiast- Here, here, here! Fine, sheesh!
Lady Paine- Glad someone liked it.
Amoria- Good.
NitenGale- Wonderful! Hey, if you have an email address why don't you leave it for me?
Luthein- You found more to say!
PinkTribeChick- Yes, getting there.
a/n: You all are probably mad at me for dragging this out. I'm maybe a bit more than halfway through. Sorry for the late update. Twelfth installment.
"Alright, class, unfortunately, Argus' cat, Mrs. Norris, sneaked into the dungeons last night and overturned almost everyone's potions. We will not be making new ones- "Snape stopped as many students cheered. "-until next term." Snape huffed. "Today you are to answer the questions on these papers." A pile of papers appeared in front of every group of students. "You are to work with your group. You may begin."
Hermione sighed as she flipped through her groups' papers. "This will take all morning."
"Looks that way, doesn't it?" Draco grabbed the papers.
"You know, Hermione, I bet Mrs. Norris is the cat you said was killed by curiosity. Was she?" Ron asked from Hermione's other side while Harry stared into space.
"What is he talking about now?" Draco whispered.
"Nothing...something I told him the other day," Hermione said.
"I don't want to know then?"
"Hey, just what are you implying?"
"Nothing...nothing what-so-ever!"
"Right...liar!"
The rest of potions passed slowly. The papers were extremely boring. Ron even fell asleep on Hermione's shoulder. Se squeaked in surprise and jumped, accidentally knocking Draco off his chair. This caused Ron to wake up in a particularly grouchy mood after being knocked off his own chair by a very aggravated Draco.
"Watch it, Malfoy!" Ron growled.
"You watch it, Weasley!"
"Okay class, turn in your papers and you may leave. Happy Christmas."
"And a Happy New Year!" Ron grumbled as he flung down his quill. Draco shook his head.
"I'll see you later, Hermione," Draco whispered as he left.
"That-that...why can't he just give us a day off?" Ron sputtered.
"Let's think...because he's evil?" Hermione asked as Harry left.
"Evil? He's way past evil! He's crazy! He's insane! He's vile! He's nuts, and- He's right behind me, isn't he?" Hermione nodded slightly.
"Very perceptive, Mr. Weasley. Detention for two weeks. Miss Granger, would you leave so I can kindly talk to Mr. Weasley?" Snape placed a hand on Ron's shoulder and Ron jumped. He looked at her with pleading eyes.
"Yes, Sir." Hermione gathered her things and left the room. Once outside in the corridor, Hermione looked around to make sure no one was watching her and pressed her ear to Snape's door.
"Mr. Weasley- Ron, I need you to do me a favor. You will serve your 'detention' for the next two weeks by keeping an eye on Miss Granger's lab partner. I've noticed he's been a bit off color lately. I think his father has something to do with it." Snape sounded worried.
"You mean that's all?" Ron asked. "Is he going home for the holidays?"
"Not from what I know. His father could have something planned though. He's at the age when- "Snape choked.
"At the age when what?" Ron asked nervously.
"Nothing...Don't worry about it. Just keep an eye out for anything suspicious. Don't let him know what you're up to though."
"I won't." There were footsteps and Hermione started. She sprinted down the corridor just as the door opened.
"Hey, Hermione, want to play me in a game of chess?" Ron asked.
"No thanks," Hermione said softly.
"What'd I do now?"
"Nothing...I just...I'm not feeling well," Hermione said as Ron sat down on the couch beside her.
"Do you need to go to Madam Pomfrey?"
"No, I'm fine Ron. It's nothing...life threatening."
"Okay, I was just asking."
"Well, stop asking." Hermione sighed. "Sorry...I'll be back in a bit, okay?"
"K," Ron said quietly as he watched Hermione walk out the portrait hole. "Hey, Harry-"
Hermione sighed heavily as she walked from Gryffindor Tower into the castle, not paying attention to where her feet were taking her. She soon found herself in the Astronomy Tower. She sat down on the windowsill and didn't try to stop the tears from coming. She had held them in all day. She watched the sun set slowly and the tower grew darker. Hermione didn't even notice that she had left the tower door open. There were soft footsteps and the door creaked open. She looked up.
"Hermione, what's wrong?" Ryu walked into the room slowly and came up to her. Hermione looked away.
"I'm fine. I'll be alright in a little while," Hermione said softly.
"Would it help if you told me what's wrong?" Ryu sat down across from her.
"Maybe..."
"Then tell me."
"It...It's just that- that my cousin...He was killed in a car wreck last year. Christmas was always his favorite time of year. He always liked the hustle and bustle of the last minute shopping we always did together. We would put the Christmas tree up and put out the nativity scene every Christmas Eve, singing carols at the top of our lungs. We spent a lot of time together. His brother, Josh, loved to hang around us. My cousin taught me a whole lot of things. He taught me to sing, dance, skateboard..."
"Skateboard?"
"It was one of his hobbies. He just started teaching me one day. He was like a brother to me. I miss him."
"I don't doubt it." The door, still open, gave a loud creak. Ryu looked over at it and shrugged. "My mother almost died a few months ago."
"How?"
"Accident, I guess. She didn't say anything else."
"I'm glad she's alright. I hate to see anyone mourn over a loved one. It's...depressing. Yet here I am doing it."
"It's unavoidable. I know a couple people that are special to me."
"I have a lot of people like that." Hermione glanced at Ryu who seemed to be staring at her from beneath his hood.
"The one thing you need to remember is that he's still here with you," Ryu said softly. "He's still here. He's in this room. No matter what, he'll always watch over you, just like me." Hermione's eyes filled with tears. She sobbed freely into her arms. Suddenly, Ryu's hand was on her shoulder. He pulled her into an awkward hug.
"Sorry," Hermione sniffed after a few minutes.
"It's okay. I understand," Ryu whispered. "You...uh...better get back."
"Yeah." Hermione was almost out the door when she turned around. "Are you going home for Christmas?"
"Yes," Ryu muttered, a slight edge to his voice.
"I'll talk to you later."
"Bye."
"I didn't know Malfoy was going home for Christmas. How did you find out?" Ron asked as he ate slowly.
"I talked to him. How else?" Hermione answered.
"I meant...when?"
"Today, right outside the library."
"Did he say why he's decided to go home? I heard he hated going home."
"He didn't tell me why. I didn't ask." Hermione looked up at Ron. He was staring at his food. "Ron, what's wrong?"
"I-I don't feel too good. I'll see you guys later." Ron stood up and started to leave the hall. He stopped at the door and looked around to the teachers' table. He and Snape exchanged a glance.
"I swear! That boy has some screws loose or something!" Hermione huffed.
"Why do you have to know about everything I do?" Draco sputtered angrily at Ron as they stood in the library.
"I was just wondering! Friends are supposed to be there for each other. You have not been treating me like one. If you want to keep me as your friend you had better shape up! I want to help. You haven't been showing up for most meals and you won't look any teachers in the face. What's wrong?" Ron asked after his anger had died down.
"There is nothing wrong with me," Draco said calmly.
"You're lying," Ron said accusingly.
"How do you know?"
"Because of the way you've been acting. Why can't you tell me?"
"I just don't want to. I've always been like this. I like my privacy." Ron snorted. "I don't want to lose the few friends I have, Ron. I just...I'm having a hard time at home. I will be fine. Don't worry, okay?"
"Where have I heard that before?"
"Ron?"
"Okay," Ron sighed.
"Thanks, the train leaves tomorrow. I need to go pack. I'll see you later."
"K, bye."
Well, not too much happened really. Sorry, I'll do better next time, promise! I'll see you later!
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
-2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
Teenlaunch