Author's Note: Sorry it has been so long since I wrote a chapter here, but I've been swamped with doing other writing challenges given to me. I'm going to try to be more alert on my other stories as well.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter; just the garden gnomes on my lawn.
Chapter 13: The First Move
Harry hurried down the hallway toward Professor Franz's classroom with Cheyenne. He had caught her in the hallway for a brief conversation, which ended up lasting ten minutes, and they were both almost late for Professor Franz's lesson. She hated it when students came in late, and always gave out more homework for the tardy party, and sometimes the entire class.
The bell rang just before Harry and Cheyenne slid through the door. "You are two seconds late," Professor Franz's crisp voice snapped. "Add two inches to whatever homework I give, Mr. Potter and Ms. Smith. Now, please take your seats so we may begin."
Cheyenne took her spot on the opposite side of the room, while Harry sat down between Ron and Hermione. "Why were you late?" Hermione whispered out of the side of her mouth, while still staring unshakingly from Professor Franz's face.
"I was talking to Cheyenne," Harry defended.
"In what language; English or body?" Ron teased. The next second later, Ron nearly fell out of his seat from the kick Jean had given him.
"Shut up about your lack of having anything feminine," she threatened in a whisper.
"Miss Bell?" Professor Franz asked.
"Yes Professor Franz?" she replied.
"Why were you talking during my lecture? You know I tolerate no disruptions."
Jean swallowed hard. "I was repeating to myself what you said so I could remember it better," she tried, hoping that Professor Franz would buy it.
"Very well. Try to keep your voice down though. Now as I was saying . . . " The rest of the lesson went on as planned, and Professor Franz only assigned a one inch scroll on her lecture questions, and Harry and Cheyenne had most of the weekend to finish it before they had to go back to her on Monday.
Harry caught Cheyenne out on the grounds. "Sorry," he said simply.
"For what?" she asked.
"For giving you extra homework, and almost getting you in trouble with the worst teacher to do that with in this school," he burst.
"Oh don't worry about that. We should talk more often. It was nice to know someone else has a passion for gardening."
The two of them walked toward the lake near the castle and sat down on the grass. "So, why do you enjoy gardening so much?" Cheyenne asked.
"I was brought up around flowers. My aunt, annoying though she was, could grow a garden. And I grew up with English Roses, Petunias, and even Pimpernels."
"Not common plants to have in a back yard. But, I just have to know this; what is your all-time favorite flower?" Cheyenne looked at him, and Harry couldn't answer for a couple of seconds. An oak tree was shading her, and the fading sun behind her just entranced Harry. He knew he was falling in love, and he was glad.
"Harry?" Cheyenne asked.
"Flower, right. Um . . . I guess the Evershade Rose," he said.
"No way! That's my favorite too!"
"Really?" Harry exclaimed. He'd never met anyone who like a flower that was winter white and had to be kept in twilight conditions.
"Hey Harry!" Jean yelled. She hurried over and saw Cheyenne sitting under the tree. "Oh. Am I interrupting something?" she asked as she grinned wickedly at Harry.
"No," Cheyenne answered. "We were just having another chat."
"About what, just out of curiosity?" Jean asked intrigued.
"Flowers," Harry said, causing Jean's jaw to drop.
"You; Harry Potter; talk about flowers. So that's what we . . . look out!" Jean dove and hit the grass just as a green magic blast whizzed by where she had just been standing.
Harry's wand was out and his face was set in a second. "I'll go first, you two follow me from a short distance."
"Okay," they said.
They walked slowly toward where the blast had originated, and then a short pop later, a figure in a deep black cloak with the hood up faced them with wand at the ready. "Expelliarmus!" the figure yelled.
All three of their wands shot out of their hands, and in another split second both of the girls were being held by two more figures in black hood robes with wands at the throat. Another pop sounded, and the first figure was standing in front of the girls. The figure pulled down their hood, and Harry was now facing a beautiful woman.
"Harry Potter," she spat.
"Jasmine Medjai," he returned, with just as much venom.
"So we meet at last. Unfortunately for you, only one of your little girlfriends here is going to walk away from this unscathed. So which will it be?" Jasmine stared him down, wondering herself which one he would allow to walk out of this.
Harry's head raced through time it seemed. How could he choose between friends? He was in love with Cheyenne, but how did that justify throwing away his friendship with Jean?
But, Jean threw her foot up into her figure's groin, sending them to the floor. She then jumped and threw a kick knocking Cheyenne's captor to the floor. "Run!" she yelled.
During this, Harry had charged Jasmine while she was momentarily distracted. She turned around just in time to blast him off of his feet, and turn to grab Jean's foot in another attack. Jasmine spun Jean's body quickly through the air, with a quick move of her arm, and watched her hit the ground hard and roll over to Harry. Harry reached for her pulse and found it. She opened her eyes and forced a weak smile to him.
"She's alive," Jasmine answered. "But not for long. Crucio!"
Jean screamed in human agony as the charm surged through her body causing excruciating pain. Harry tried to rush her again, but one of the other lackeys caught him in a Body Mover Charm and he was powerless to fight it. He floated a few feet away from her and had to watch as she screamed in pain.
Then, Harry heard "Expelliarmus," and he hit the ground hard. He rolled over to see Jasmine and the other two Apparate out, and Professors Maze, Meno, and Zelgrave rushing over to them. Maze bent over Jean, while Meno helped Harry to his feet, and Zelgrave scanned the immediate area.
"She's just unconscious, she'll be allright with a little rest," Maze announced.
"Good. Now, let's get you all out of here before something else happens," Zelgrave ushered.
And not too far away, just within earshot, three small pops were heard.
A/N: Like I said earlier, sorry about the wait. But reviews and e-mail keep me up to date on what I need to write in. So let me have 'em.
