Harry rustled around in his trunk for a sweater to go over his t-shirt. It
had been a week since he was hospitalized, and Dumbledore and Nurse Poppy
had finally considered him well enough to go after hours of pleading.
Harry smiled triumphantly when he finally found a green sweater he had been
looking for.
"Ron? Are you ready to go?" Harry called, jiggling his spending coins in his jean pocket.
"Almost," Ron shouted from the bathroom, where he was fixing his terribly messy hair.
Harry plummeted onto his bed, fumbling with his fingers as he waited for Ron. He was anxious to get downstairs and meet with the rest of the group, including Jax and Hermione. They two had gotten unusually close in the past week. It befuddled Ron and Harry the same, seeing as how they had been mortal enemies up to last Sunday.
"Ready," Ron smiled, opening the door.
"Hey Herm, Jax," Harry greeted when they reached the bottom of the stairs.
Jax and Hermione turned and smiled at the two boys, both looking exquisite. Jax's hair was pulled into two small braids at the sides of her head. She had on a black jean skirt that reached her ankles, and a gauzy shirt that reached her nails, which happened to be painted a deep red at the moment.
Hermione looked the exact opposite. Her hair was tied into a controlling ponytail at the back of her head. She wore a red turtleneck and a pair of blue jeans.
"Are you two ready to go? Carriages are loading for early risers," Hermione told them.
"What are you guys going to get?" Jax asked, looking around as they all started off towards Hogsmeade in their carriage.
"Two words: Honeydukes," Ron said.
"Honeydukes is only one word, you twit," Ginny said, smacking her brother at the top of his head.
"Shut up, Ginny!" Ron told her back.
"Why should I?" Ginny retorted.
"Why don't you both shut up?" Harry suggested.
"I'll second that," Hermione commented.
Both Ginny and Ron slumped into their seats, crossing their arms. The other three chuckled at them a bit.
"No, seriously, guys, what are you going to get?" Jax asked again.
"I would fancy a butterbeer right now," Harry said, rubbing his hands together in delight.
"Now that sounds like a good idea," Hermione nodded approvingly.
Jax was greeted by a strong smell of pumpkin pie and ginger ale as the five arrived in the Three Broomsticks. Harry set off, in search of a table. Ron joined him, being not too anxious to stay near Ginny at the moment.
"Over there," Jax pointed out, when she noticed Harry and Ron settling themselves at a table.
The three crossed over to the table near the corner of the building. They all sat down, except for Hermione and Jax, who set over to order the drinks.
"'Mione, didn't Ron want to go to Honeydukes? I mean, I know I'm no expert, but from what I've heard that place gets pretty crowded around this time. Maybe we should get them..."
"In the bottle? Not a bad idea," Hermione cut her off. "Five butterbeers, in the bottle please," she told the young witch behind the counter. She then turned to Jax with a sly smile on her face.
"What?" Jax asked her.
"I know why you wanted to get them to go instead of having them here," Hermione said, that stupid sly smile still on her face.
"Why?" Jax asked curiously.
"You're going to tell him, aren't you?" Hermione squealed.
Jax looked at her ghastly.
"What? No- no!" Jax said. And it was the truth, although Hermione seemed to think different.
"I know you," Hermione said, with that smile Jax began to detest.
"Whatever, Herm," Jax shook her head, and took two of the butterbeers in her hands. "We asked them to keep it in the bottle so we could get to Honeydukes quicker," Jax said, as she set a bottle in front of Harry and herself.
"Wonder why we never thought of that," Ginny pondered out loud as Hermione put a bottle in front her.
"Doesn't matter. Let's get out of here," Hermione replied.
The five retreated out of the building as many more Hogwarts students piled in.
"Hate to dampen your spirits, Ron, but I really don't want to go to Honeydukes. I'm watching my figure," Ginny told him.
"Yeah, you've got some figure to watch," Ron muttered.
"What was that?" Ginny asked.
"Nothing, sister dear," he smirked at her.
"Ginny, I'll stay with you," Jax offered.
"Me too. If I step even one foot into Honeydukes I'll waste all of my summer savings," Hermione said, taking a small sip of her drink.
"Then I guess it's unanimous. Unless... Harry. Do you... want to come with us?" Jax asked uncertainly, and immediately regretting it, seeing the sly smile instantly appear back on Hermione's face.
Harry looked around to Jax, and then Ron. Ron was his best friend, but, it was only a trip to a candy store. He'd live.
"Sorry, mate. I think I'm gonna join them," Harry told Ron, looking at his sympathetically.
"You know what? I give up. Forget Honeydukes," Ron said, rolling his eyes.
"That was kind of pointless," Jax laughed.
The rest of them smiled. They walked and talked a bit, doing window- shopping, when they found themselves outside the Shrieking Shack. Seamus, Dean, and a couple of Hufflepuffs in their year were already there. They were pelting each other with piles of leaves from the ground.
"Care to let us in on the fun?" Harry called.
"Sure, Potter! If... you think you can keep up with us!" Seamus called back.
The five trudged into the line of fire, laughing and shouting at each other. Ginny, Harry, Hermione, and Jax placed their bottles by the pathway. Ron chose to continue drinking his, which turned out to be a mistake. He dropped it while trying to trip Dean into a large drift of leaves, making the bottle break into huge shards of glass.
"Damn," he muttered, but didn't pay any attention. He looked back once, but didn't bother to pick any of it up.
They all played around a while, until they got tired and decided it was time to go back. Just as Harry began to rise, Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy Parkinson showed up.
"What the hell do you want now, Malfoy?" Harry shouted.
"Calm down, Potter. I have every right to be here, as do you," Malfoy said, advancing towards Harry.
"You wouldn't be here if you didn't have a reason to be," Harry told him, digging into his pockets, making sure he had a good grip on his wand.
"I'm offended, Potter," Malfoy said, putting a hand to his chest, faking a hurt face. Crabbe and Goyle laughed and punched each other in the upper arm. Pansy stood there, eyeing Jax and Hermione coldly.
"Good. That's what I was aiming at," Harry retorted.
"Are you looking for trouble, Potter? Because with a mouth like that, that's where it's gonna get you," Malfoy hissed.
"I happen to be quite acquainted with trouble by now, Malfoy. Something you can't say about yourself," Harry said coldly.
Malfoy didn't retort with a smart remark this time, though. He shoved Harry away from him, making Harry fall back a few steps.
"Harry! Malfoy!" Jax got up and ran in between the two.
"Get away, little girl," Malfoy said, glaring at Harry still.
"Shut the hell up, Malfoy. I don't give a damn about what you have to say or do," she retorted, glaring at him.
"I would be a bit more careful around me," Malfoy stepped closer to Jax, "Potter," he hissed.
Jax gasped, her eyes growing wide. Then they turned into small slits, giving Malfoy the worst look she could muster. He look backed, his look saying, 'Watcha gonna do about it'? She began to step back, began to run back to Hermione and stay out of it.
But the next thing she knew, she had let her hand slip along Malfoy's soft skin, making it red.
"You bitch!" he yelled. Malfoy pushed Jax hard to the ground, harder than he had Harry.
Jax landed with a huge thud, her body completely on the ground.
"Ow...."
She looked at her hand, which had begun to bleed. Then she felt her forehead, which also had blood on it. She had been cut by Ron's broken butterbeer bottle. There was a cut on her neck, both hands, and most horribly on her forehead, desperately close to her scar.
"Jax!" she heard Harry yell.
All Jax could do was lay still for a moment. She heard the noises, though: the noises of Malfoy and the rest retreating as fast as they could, the noises of her friends coming closer.
"Jax! Let me see," she felt Harry's hand take hers.
"No!" she yelled, getting up as fast as she could. She had realized that he would see the blood on her forehead, and would have to see the cut; the cut was near her scar...
"Just let me see! I could probably mend it with something-" Jax began to run away from Harry, Harry right on her tail, chasing her.
"No, Harry its fine!" Jax turned to see Harry, running backwards. That was a mistake, though, because she felt herself fall to the ground again.
Harry crouched in front of her, his hand reaching out to her forehead.
"NO!" Jax yelled, slapping Harry's hand away.
"Jax, it's bleeding all over-" Harry looked concerned.
Jax shook her head, telling him not to come any closer. She relaxed a bit, raising her hand to feel the blood. She let it down, and looked into her brother's deep, emerald eyes. They were enchanting- something she'd never noticed.
"You. It's you..." Harry murmured, looking back into Jax's eyes.
"Me? Who-" Jax was interrupted by the feeling of her bangs being lifted above her forehead.
At that moment, everything went white. She felt as if she wasn't living, or experiencing time. All that was happening to her was seeing Harry's eyes move from her own to the top of her head. She watched his eyes grow so wide she could never imagine, his mouth open in disbelief. And then she was pulled back into reality.
"LET GO OF ME!" Jax yelled, turning to face Ron, who had crept up behind her in order to let Harry see the cut.
Jax tugged away from Ron and ran- ran as fast as she could into the crowd of Hogwarts students, all of them unaware of what was happening. She expected to hear Harry's steps behind her, wanting to know why the hell she had a scar on her forehead just like him. But he wasn't- he was standing still on the pile of leaves, not even flinching.
"Harry, I-" Harry felt Hermione's soft voice come up from behind him, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"She's that girl Ron and I saw at the Order, isn't she?" he asked faintly, turning to look at Hermione.
"She's more than that, Harry," Hermione said calmly.
"That- thing... that thing on her forehead. Was it what I think-" Harry said. He knew perfectly well what it was, although he couldn't believe it.
Hermione nodded softly. Harry had tears in his eyes now.
"Who is she, 'Moine?" Harry asked, his voice as quiet as it ever had been.
"I think you need to hear that from her," Hermione said.
Harry nodded, and broke away from Hermione's grip. He ran- ran quickly and briskly in Jax's direction. Never in his life had he felt so alone, so lost.
"Ron? Are you ready to go?" Harry called, jiggling his spending coins in his jean pocket.
"Almost," Ron shouted from the bathroom, where he was fixing his terribly messy hair.
Harry plummeted onto his bed, fumbling with his fingers as he waited for Ron. He was anxious to get downstairs and meet with the rest of the group, including Jax and Hermione. They two had gotten unusually close in the past week. It befuddled Ron and Harry the same, seeing as how they had been mortal enemies up to last Sunday.
"Ready," Ron smiled, opening the door.
"Hey Herm, Jax," Harry greeted when they reached the bottom of the stairs.
Jax and Hermione turned and smiled at the two boys, both looking exquisite. Jax's hair was pulled into two small braids at the sides of her head. She had on a black jean skirt that reached her ankles, and a gauzy shirt that reached her nails, which happened to be painted a deep red at the moment.
Hermione looked the exact opposite. Her hair was tied into a controlling ponytail at the back of her head. She wore a red turtleneck and a pair of blue jeans.
"Are you two ready to go? Carriages are loading for early risers," Hermione told them.
"What are you guys going to get?" Jax asked, looking around as they all started off towards Hogsmeade in their carriage.
"Two words: Honeydukes," Ron said.
"Honeydukes is only one word, you twit," Ginny said, smacking her brother at the top of his head.
"Shut up, Ginny!" Ron told her back.
"Why should I?" Ginny retorted.
"Why don't you both shut up?" Harry suggested.
"I'll second that," Hermione commented.
Both Ginny and Ron slumped into their seats, crossing their arms. The other three chuckled at them a bit.
"No, seriously, guys, what are you going to get?" Jax asked again.
"I would fancy a butterbeer right now," Harry said, rubbing his hands together in delight.
"Now that sounds like a good idea," Hermione nodded approvingly.
Jax was greeted by a strong smell of pumpkin pie and ginger ale as the five arrived in the Three Broomsticks. Harry set off, in search of a table. Ron joined him, being not too anxious to stay near Ginny at the moment.
"Over there," Jax pointed out, when she noticed Harry and Ron settling themselves at a table.
The three crossed over to the table near the corner of the building. They all sat down, except for Hermione and Jax, who set over to order the drinks.
"'Mione, didn't Ron want to go to Honeydukes? I mean, I know I'm no expert, but from what I've heard that place gets pretty crowded around this time. Maybe we should get them..."
"In the bottle? Not a bad idea," Hermione cut her off. "Five butterbeers, in the bottle please," she told the young witch behind the counter. She then turned to Jax with a sly smile on her face.
"What?" Jax asked her.
"I know why you wanted to get them to go instead of having them here," Hermione said, that stupid sly smile still on her face.
"Why?" Jax asked curiously.
"You're going to tell him, aren't you?" Hermione squealed.
Jax looked at her ghastly.
"What? No- no!" Jax said. And it was the truth, although Hermione seemed to think different.
"I know you," Hermione said, with that smile Jax began to detest.
"Whatever, Herm," Jax shook her head, and took two of the butterbeers in her hands. "We asked them to keep it in the bottle so we could get to Honeydukes quicker," Jax said, as she set a bottle in front of Harry and herself.
"Wonder why we never thought of that," Ginny pondered out loud as Hermione put a bottle in front her.
"Doesn't matter. Let's get out of here," Hermione replied.
The five retreated out of the building as many more Hogwarts students piled in.
"Hate to dampen your spirits, Ron, but I really don't want to go to Honeydukes. I'm watching my figure," Ginny told him.
"Yeah, you've got some figure to watch," Ron muttered.
"What was that?" Ginny asked.
"Nothing, sister dear," he smirked at her.
"Ginny, I'll stay with you," Jax offered.
"Me too. If I step even one foot into Honeydukes I'll waste all of my summer savings," Hermione said, taking a small sip of her drink.
"Then I guess it's unanimous. Unless... Harry. Do you... want to come with us?" Jax asked uncertainly, and immediately regretting it, seeing the sly smile instantly appear back on Hermione's face.
Harry looked around to Jax, and then Ron. Ron was his best friend, but, it was only a trip to a candy store. He'd live.
"Sorry, mate. I think I'm gonna join them," Harry told Ron, looking at his sympathetically.
"You know what? I give up. Forget Honeydukes," Ron said, rolling his eyes.
"That was kind of pointless," Jax laughed.
The rest of them smiled. They walked and talked a bit, doing window- shopping, when they found themselves outside the Shrieking Shack. Seamus, Dean, and a couple of Hufflepuffs in their year were already there. They were pelting each other with piles of leaves from the ground.
"Care to let us in on the fun?" Harry called.
"Sure, Potter! If... you think you can keep up with us!" Seamus called back.
The five trudged into the line of fire, laughing and shouting at each other. Ginny, Harry, Hermione, and Jax placed their bottles by the pathway. Ron chose to continue drinking his, which turned out to be a mistake. He dropped it while trying to trip Dean into a large drift of leaves, making the bottle break into huge shards of glass.
"Damn," he muttered, but didn't pay any attention. He looked back once, but didn't bother to pick any of it up.
They all played around a while, until they got tired and decided it was time to go back. Just as Harry began to rise, Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy Parkinson showed up.
"What the hell do you want now, Malfoy?" Harry shouted.
"Calm down, Potter. I have every right to be here, as do you," Malfoy said, advancing towards Harry.
"You wouldn't be here if you didn't have a reason to be," Harry told him, digging into his pockets, making sure he had a good grip on his wand.
"I'm offended, Potter," Malfoy said, putting a hand to his chest, faking a hurt face. Crabbe and Goyle laughed and punched each other in the upper arm. Pansy stood there, eyeing Jax and Hermione coldly.
"Good. That's what I was aiming at," Harry retorted.
"Are you looking for trouble, Potter? Because with a mouth like that, that's where it's gonna get you," Malfoy hissed.
"I happen to be quite acquainted with trouble by now, Malfoy. Something you can't say about yourself," Harry said coldly.
Malfoy didn't retort with a smart remark this time, though. He shoved Harry away from him, making Harry fall back a few steps.
"Harry! Malfoy!" Jax got up and ran in between the two.
"Get away, little girl," Malfoy said, glaring at Harry still.
"Shut the hell up, Malfoy. I don't give a damn about what you have to say or do," she retorted, glaring at him.
"I would be a bit more careful around me," Malfoy stepped closer to Jax, "Potter," he hissed.
Jax gasped, her eyes growing wide. Then they turned into small slits, giving Malfoy the worst look she could muster. He look backed, his look saying, 'Watcha gonna do about it'? She began to step back, began to run back to Hermione and stay out of it.
But the next thing she knew, she had let her hand slip along Malfoy's soft skin, making it red.
"You bitch!" he yelled. Malfoy pushed Jax hard to the ground, harder than he had Harry.
Jax landed with a huge thud, her body completely on the ground.
"Ow...."
She looked at her hand, which had begun to bleed. Then she felt her forehead, which also had blood on it. She had been cut by Ron's broken butterbeer bottle. There was a cut on her neck, both hands, and most horribly on her forehead, desperately close to her scar.
"Jax!" she heard Harry yell.
All Jax could do was lay still for a moment. She heard the noises, though: the noises of Malfoy and the rest retreating as fast as they could, the noises of her friends coming closer.
"Jax! Let me see," she felt Harry's hand take hers.
"No!" she yelled, getting up as fast as she could. She had realized that he would see the blood on her forehead, and would have to see the cut; the cut was near her scar...
"Just let me see! I could probably mend it with something-" Jax began to run away from Harry, Harry right on her tail, chasing her.
"No, Harry its fine!" Jax turned to see Harry, running backwards. That was a mistake, though, because she felt herself fall to the ground again.
Harry crouched in front of her, his hand reaching out to her forehead.
"NO!" Jax yelled, slapping Harry's hand away.
"Jax, it's bleeding all over-" Harry looked concerned.
Jax shook her head, telling him not to come any closer. She relaxed a bit, raising her hand to feel the blood. She let it down, and looked into her brother's deep, emerald eyes. They were enchanting- something she'd never noticed.
"You. It's you..." Harry murmured, looking back into Jax's eyes.
"Me? Who-" Jax was interrupted by the feeling of her bangs being lifted above her forehead.
At that moment, everything went white. She felt as if she wasn't living, or experiencing time. All that was happening to her was seeing Harry's eyes move from her own to the top of her head. She watched his eyes grow so wide she could never imagine, his mouth open in disbelief. And then she was pulled back into reality.
"LET GO OF ME!" Jax yelled, turning to face Ron, who had crept up behind her in order to let Harry see the cut.
Jax tugged away from Ron and ran- ran as fast as she could into the crowd of Hogwarts students, all of them unaware of what was happening. She expected to hear Harry's steps behind her, wanting to know why the hell she had a scar on her forehead just like him. But he wasn't- he was standing still on the pile of leaves, not even flinching.
"Harry, I-" Harry felt Hermione's soft voice come up from behind him, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"She's that girl Ron and I saw at the Order, isn't she?" he asked faintly, turning to look at Hermione.
"She's more than that, Harry," Hermione said calmly.
"That- thing... that thing on her forehead. Was it what I think-" Harry said. He knew perfectly well what it was, although he couldn't believe it.
Hermione nodded softly. Harry had tears in his eyes now.
"Who is she, 'Moine?" Harry asked, his voice as quiet as it ever had been.
"I think you need to hear that from her," Hermione said.
Harry nodded, and broke away from Hermione's grip. He ran- ran quickly and briskly in Jax's direction. Never in his life had he felt so alone, so lost.
