A/N: Woot! For all you peeps who were angry at me because my chapter was too short, you're going to hate this. But never fear; the next chapter – well, the next THREE, actually – will be long. It just worked out this way better.
To my reviewers:
Demon of Shadow Ar, writ me other chapter, are ye 'appy now? Tell ye what, mate, me quill's been busy enough, got me next 2-3 chapters finished already – just ain't typed, if yer know my meanin'.
LaBOBuren Wasn't trying to be funny. I did write that nice little memo at the top of the screen for a reason, y'know. Ah well, this one be new.
Sgarecool321 -virtually hi five- Crossovers!
Elf771 Hooray for elves! -blushes- Thanks for the compliment…Myrhfire Read your review at KGTS, and I couldn't agree more. For the first chapter, that is. It does improve. But you aren't exactly the first flame I've got on that one. :)
Chapter 7: Something in Common
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Oh, d'arvit… Holly thought, then realized no words could completely describe her self-disgust. For all her pains, she had somehow managed to get discovered.
Before her was ranged a group of -well, kids- she realized. Instead of the odd robes, they were dressed in normal Mudman clothes, but she guessed that they were of the same species.
Talk, she thought, use the mesmer, something… But then, she realized that her mouth wouldn't move - for that matter, neither could the rest of her body.
What had they done to her? Holly racked her brain for answers, for some escape from this dilemma, but none came. Even if she was somehow able to contact Foaly, there was no way he could help her. It seemed that she would be forced to sit tight and wait.
"…Not a gnome, too smart for a house elf…"
"Ron! House elves are not stupid! That's just a stereotype created by you people who are too shallow to really appreciate them!"
What the hell is this about…?
"All right, Hermione - not ugly enough to be a house elf…"
"Ron!-"
"We're going to leave you alone with it," one of the older ones interrupted - a twin, Holly noticed. "We of the Order have better things to do than interrogate house elves…"
What on earth is a house elf…?
Together he and his twin exited the room, and the two teenagers glared after them. Holly wondered what they had done to insult them.
"You know," the girl (Hermione, Holly remembered) said at last, "this is all very nice, but we're not exactly learning anything. I'm going to lift the charm."
"Hermione - no! What if it escapes!"?
"Do you think I'm stupid? Hermione then muttered something, and Holly felt something twine around her wrists, binding them together. "Depedimenta…" she said, and with a sudden tingling feeling, Holly felt the movement return to her body.
"What was that all about?" the fairy demanded. Come on Foaly… answer me…
"You tried to steal my broom," Ron said simply.
"So? It's a broom." What's wrong with him?
"Exactly."
"So… it probably cost you a couple dollars at the local grocery. You could do without it." At this point, she was just stalling for time. Where is he?
The redheaded boy stared at her. "Where've you been the last few centuries," he asked as if he couldn't believe his ears, "underground?"
"What do you think, Mudman?" What am I arguing with him for?
"Don't you mean Muggle?" he asked quizzically.
"No, human, I didn't mean a Mugwug-thingy. I meant Mudman. You." Oh no. This is bad. He should be able to hear me.
"W-what? Just what the bloody hell are you?"
"It's really none of your business, if you're too stupid to figure out. Mudman."
"STOP CALLING ME THAT!"
Unless Foaly had suddenly gone deaf, he would certainly have heard. And then Holly realized it. There was no reverberation in the mike when she spoke. Somehow, she had lost her connection.
"Ron… please! Control your temper!" exclaimed Hermione, putting a hand on his arm in an attempt to quiet him, and glancing frantically toward the closed door down the hall.
"No, Hermione, don't you understand? They've taken Harry! He's in danger - real danger this time and no one even knows where he is."
"Harry?" asked Holly curiously.
"Yes, Harry," snapped Ron. "You know - tall, messy black hair, green eyes, glasses, and a lightning bolt-shaped scar on his forehead. Seen him around lately?"
Holly started visibly.
"You… you - tell us everything you know," Hermione commanded, voice shaking.
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R&R all!
