SILVER LINING
CHAPTER TWO-FAMILY PORTRAIT
After breakfast, we all headed to Potions class. I was deeply worried about the poor first year student that had gotten killed. Ron and Hermione were talking about what could've possibly killed the boy as we were walking to class.
"There are plenty of animals that go for the throat," Hermione was saying as a matter-of-factly to Ron. "Rats, Cougars, Mountain Lions, Hyena's and any wild animal like that."
"Okay," Ron said rolling his eyes. "But can you explain how one of those animals got into Hogwarts?"
Hermione bit her lip. "No. There really aren't those types of animals here in England,"
"What about wolves?" I asked suddenly. "I mean are they found here?"
Hermione grinned. "Wolves are even scarcer than a Hyena or Mountain Lion here. I mean there is a breed of wolf here called the Levmont Red wolf, but they're mostly found north in Scotland and Ireland. They're similar to the American Gray wolf in appearance but they have red fur. Why?"
I shrugged. "Just curious,"
Hermione and Ron continued talking. Harry and I were walking side by side in front of Hermione and Ron.
"Is everything okay?" Harry asked. "You seemed distracted."
"Meh, I'm just worried about that poor first year," I said softly. "Imagine being attacked by something. Did anyone see what attacked him?"
"No. You heard Professor Dumbledore. He said that no one saw anything. When the first year was found all they found was bloody paw prints leading away. Didn't you hear him this morning? He said this after he told us about the 8 p.m curfew,"
"Sorry," I said sheepishly. "I kinda tuned off."
Harry studied me and gently grabbed my elbow spinning me around to face him.
"I'm worried about you. You haven't been acting like yourself lately," he said peering into my eyes.
My heart pounded. Those emerald green eyes always seemed to go right through me.
"Okay...I know this is going to gross you out, but I think it's the time of the month approaching," I said.
"That's just what I needed to hear," Ron moaned as he and Hermione came up behind us. "That'll give me nightmares for months to come."
"Oh grow up," Hermione scoffed rolling her eyes. "It happens to every girl...including me."
"La la la la la," Ron said sticking his fingers into his ears. "I DON'T NEED TO BE HEARING THIS."
Harry didn't even flinch. "I understand,"
He gave me a wink before he released my elbow.
He and Hermione began walking a head of us this time. I stood in front of Ron and yanked his fingers out of his ears.
"It's safe," I said amused.
Ron shivered. "I really hate hearing about 'girl issues',"
I put my hands on my hips.
"And what about guys huh? I'm sure you talk about guy 'things' all the time," I said as he and I began walking after Hermione and Harry.
"Not so much in detail," Ron said blushing.
I just laughed and shook my head.
We entered the Potions class and took our seats. Harry and I were sitting next to each other. Hermione and Ron were sitting behind us.
The Slytherins were on the opposite side of the dungeon. Gryffindors on the right, Slytherins on the left.
"Hey! Look everyone! It's Miss Skanky!" Malfoy jeered at me as I slid onto the seat beside Harry. I angrily dropped my books onto the table with a 'thud.'
"Shut the hell up," Harry snapped at Malfoy as his green eyes narrowed behind his glasses.
"Are you protecting her?" Malfoy called. "Because I really wouldn't. She might get her Muggle stink all over you. The filthy, skanky Mudblood."
This time, it was Harry who lunged out of his seat. He grabbed Malfoy by the throat and put his face close to his. I sat, worried and glanced behind me at Hermione. Both she and Ron were paralyzed with shock and fear that Professor Snape would come in and see this. More than likely he'd suspend Harry.
"I swear Malfoy," Harry was growling at Malfoy. "One of these days you are going to piss someone off and they won't be gentle with you."
"Very strong words, Potter," Malfoy grinned.
His cronies, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle snickered beside Malfoy.
"I repeat, you're going to fuck with someone and it's not going to be pleasant," Harry spat vehemently.
"I'm betting you wish you could do that with the Mudblood," Malfoy grinned sadistically.
Harry looked like he would explode. His grip tightened on Malfoy's throat and he began gasping for air and wheezing.
"Harry," Hermione said alarmed.
"Easy mate," Ron called also worried.
I got up and came up behind Harry. I put my hand on Harry's arm, but Harry jerked his arm out of my grasp.
"I'm tired of this inconsiderate, spoiled, potty-mouthed brat calling you names and just being derogatory and degrading," Harry snarled.
"He's not worth it," I said glaring at Malfoy. "You'll get yourself suspended if Snape comes in and sees this."
"It'll be worth it," Harry said angrily.
"Harry, please," I pleaded.
Just then, Professor Snape entered the dungeon.
"Oh crap," I heard Ron whisper under his breath.
Hermione gasped.
"POTTER! Release Malfoy at once! What is going on here?" Professor Snape snarled as he stalked around the desk to face both Harry and I.
Finally, Harry released Malfoy's throat. Malfoy began gasping for breath as he sucked in air.
"And Miss Ross," Professor Snape said turning his dark eyes onto me. "I gather you were involved in this somehow."
"No," Harry said. "It was me, Professor. Stephanie had nothing to do with this."
"Your head is so big that it will soon cause you to fall over," Professor Snape said angrily. "I'm taking 50 points from Gryffindor for both you and Miss Ross. You will serve detention. Remain after class."
"But she had..." Harry protested but I clamped a hand over his mouth.
"Take your seats," Snape snarled as he headed up to the front of the dungeon to begin the lesson.
I removed my hand from Harry's mouth and we took our seats again.
"You should've let me tell him off," Harry hissed quietly to me before returning to the ingredients that were now written on the board.
I stared at him in disbelief.
"You were actually going to get yourself into even more trouble for no reason?" I hissed back as I too, began copying down the ingredients.
All that could be heard was the scratching of quills on parchment.
"No reason? He accused you of being involved in something that you weren't. It was all me," Harry hissed quietly.
"I take it where it comes from. Snape will never love anyone except his own students. Instigating him and ticking him off isn't going to help us any more. Just suck it up and not push him further," I said firmly.
After that, he and I fell silent. Ron and Hermione promised to tell Professor Flitwick that we would be late.
As Harry and I sat alone in the dungeon writing about 30 lines of "I will not strangle fellow students", the silence was starting to get to Harry. He kept shifting his weight in the seat and coughing. Me, on the other hand, I could clearly hear what was going on outside and it was loud. The birds were chirping and I could hear the lake rippling.
"Steph? Can I ask you something?" Harry asked.
His tone was soft this time.
"Shoot," I said, keeping my eyes on the parchment.
"How come I've never seen pictures of your family?" he asked softly.
I froze.
"Well, we weren't really for pictures if you know what I mean," I said. "Family was a bit religious I guess. Don't forget. I am part Muggle."
"Right," Harry said.
He seemed satisfied with that answer and went back to his lines. I felt terrible about lying to him like this...really guilty...but I wasn't sure I could trust him at this time with my secret...neither him, nor Hermione or Ron.
I really had to make sure first.
The truth was, I kept a picture of my family in the pocket of my robes. I just never showed anyone.
About an hour later, I was finished. I stuffed the quill into my pocket and stood up.
"I'll head to class. Are you almost done?" I asked Harry.
"Yeah. Got about another 10 more lines to go," he replied.
I grinned.
"I'll see you later,"
I hurried out of the dungeon.
HARRY.
As Stephanie left the dungeon, I just happened to glance down at the floor. A folded up piece of paper had fallen out of her pocket when she stuffed the quill into it. Intrigued, I bent down and picked it up. It felt like a picture.
I opened it up and my eyes widened behind my glasses.
STEPHANIE.
I stuck my hand into my pocket to make sure the picture was there. It wasn't.
"Oh no," I moaned.
I must've dropped it when I stuffed the quill into my pocket. I turned around and bumped right into Harry.
"Hey," I said brightly, but it was forced. "Did you find a piece of paper or anything when you left the dungeon?"
Harry stared at me.
"You mean like a picture?" he asked in a cold tone. "A family picture?"
My insides went ice cold.
He reached into the pocket of his robe and pulled out my family picture. He opened it up and shoved it toward me.
"Religious huh?" he asked, his green eyes were filled with anger, hurt and fear.
"Harry..." I began but he cut me off.
"I don't know what your family is," he began looking me up and down with an expression that I never, ever want to see again. It was revulsion mixed with terror. "But you are apart of it and I'm not going to hang around. I don't know why you didn't tell me sooner. I had to find out this way?"
"Harry," I began again feeling tears forming in my eyes. "I wanted to tell you, but I didn't know how!"
"Simple! Just come out and tell me!" Harry shouted. "See, I won't tell anyone...including Hermione and Ron. But don't expect me to hang out with you. I cared about you a lot. I guess I was stupid."
With that, he brushed past me and continued down the corridor.
I stood, completely angry with myself and hurt.
I dropped to my knees and hugged myself. I began sobbing uncontrollably.
I began rocking back and forth slightly as well.
The tears just streamed down my cheeks.
"Are you okay?" a voice asked from my right side.
I looked up.
It was Goyle. He actually looked concerned. This was the first time I've seen him with this expression.
"No," I sobbed. "I just lost someone that I really cared about and I doubt we'll even be able to go back the way it was."
Goyle crouched down beside me.
"Aren't you afraid Malfoy will see you with a Mudblood?" I asked shrewdly as I glared at Goyle.
Goyle had short, thick dark brown hair and blue eyes. He was dressed in the Slytherin robe and tie. The uniform was the same except the house colors were different.
"I really don't care," Goyle replied. "I don't think you're a Mudblood."
I was stunned. Was he saying that he thought I was nice or something?
"Do you want to tell me what happened?" Goyle asked.
He looked genuinely concerned.
"Harry found out something about me that I really didn't want him to know about and now he's angry with me. But I didn't know how to tell him," I sobbed.
Goyle put a hand on my shoulder.
"I'm sure he'll come around and he'll understand later,"
I just wiped my eyes with the back of my hands and stood up.
"Thanks," I said gratefully to him.
Goyle smiled.
"GOYLE!" Malfoy's voice boomed from the end of the corridor. "What are you doing?"
Crabbe was right behind him.
"I-I was..." Goyle stammered.
"You were associating with this," Malfoy said gesturing to me. "That's so beneath you, Goyle."
"Leave him alone," I snapped.
"I'm going to have to burn those robes now," Malfoy continued ignoring me.
"I said, 'Leave him alone'," I snarled.
Finally, Malfoy's eyes moved onto me.
"You really don't know when to quit, do you," Malfoy asked folding his arms over his chest. "You'll never be accepted by wizards or witches. It's just your fate. You were born to suck and obviously, your parents didn't know they had a mistake when you were born."
"Malfoy," Goyle said firmly. "That's enough."
"You're sticking up for this?" Malfoy asked appalled and shocked. "I can't believe you. You are a traitor."
"She's nice," Goyle snapped. "Which is more than what I can say for you."
Malfoy extended his arms and shoved Goyle backward. Goyle landed on his rear end.
I felt a familiar pain shoot up my back. My body arched forward for a moment. My hair had fallen over my face shielding my eyes.
"Leave," I growled in a deep voice.
"Shut up," Malfoy snickered.
"I SAID LEAVE!" I yelled in an even deeper voice as I shoved Malfoy.
His rear end slid on the floor for a bout several feet before he stopped. He looked terrified as he scrambled to his feet. Both he and Crabbe took off.
My chest was heaving as I tried to calm myself down.
"Stephanie?" Goyle's voice broke through my angry thoughts.
I finally calmed down and turned to him, flipping my hair over my shoulder.
"Are you okay?" I asked softly.
My voice had returned to its normal tone and softness.
"Yeah," Goyle said as I helped him get to his feet. "Thanks."
"You welcomed," I said smiling. "I'd best be getting to class."
"Y-yeah," Goyle stammered. "Me too. See ya."
He hurried down the corridor in the direction Malfoy and Crabbe had gone. I continued to Charms.
When I arrived in Charms, I found Harry sitting with Hermione instead. So I took a spot next to Ron.
Harry didn't even acknowledge me when I entered the class.
"Is everything okay?" Ron whispered to me. "I've never seen Harry not acknowledge you."
"Don't talk to her," Harry said stiffly as he didn't even turn around. "She might bite your head off."
Those words stung.
Ron was shocked too.
"Harry," Hermione scolded.
Harry just muttered something and kept his eyes on Professor Flitwick.
Hermione turned around and looked at me with concern. I just shook my head and tried to focus on what Professor Flitwick was saying, but it was hard.
However, thoughts of Goyle floated into my head and I felt myself smiling a bit.
