Cleo Chestra and the wizards of America: Chapter 7
Hogsmade
The weeks flew by with anticipation. Hermione was helping with her work and rumors were slow. (The way Cleo liked them.) The wait until the Hogsmade trip was down two mere days, yet a fogging cloud still loomed. Stephanie was back but not with a letter from her parents. Cleo had no way of knowing weather she was allowed to go. The worry was like a stomachache that hit her every time someone mentioned the trip.
The very day it was planed for them to go, Cleo was sure that she was going to barf! She was trying her very hardest to indulge herself in "The ones and future king" but constantly found herself groaning and fiddling with the pages.
"Will you chill out?" Harry yelled up from Ron and his game of chess.
"Easy for you to say! You have permission to go! What am I to do if I don't!"
"No wonder your getting all those nightmares! You're stressed!" Hermione exclaimed from her own book "Beasts of the 19th century."
"You know they haven't stopped. In fact they've gotten worse! He's starting to bring out this big old bushier knife!"
"ELL!" They yelled, turning a few heads in the process. Hermione clapped her hand around her neck.
"That's a little revolting isn't it?" Ron's bishop dragged of Harry's knight.
"It makes sense though. All the worry about Hogsmade and the excitement along with it." Harry said sensibly. Cleo sighed, for some reason she didn't think it was stress. Harry knocked over his own king into the grasps of Ron's queen.
"What are you doing!" Ron yelled out, shocked.
"I have a idea!" Harry said dreamily.
"That's a nice change." Ron grumbled.
"Shut up. Cleo, what if you use The Marauder's Map?" Cleo stared. Me? Use his beloved map? Hermione shook her head.
"First of all she doesn't know what it is second she doesn't know how to use it." Harry turned to Cleo.
"The Marauder's Map is a Map of the inter school that my father had made. It shows you everything,"
"Including the ways out to Hogsmade!" Cleo squealed.
"Exactly! See she gets it, you should use my invisibility cloak if you're going to do it." Harry suggested. Cleo got a tingling sensation in the bottom to her stomach. Harry's cloak! Oh I can hardly believe it!
"Who am I to deny an adventure!" Cleo said nobly. Hermione didn't seem to keen on the idea but no one asked.
Time went on and Cleo could read her book much more easily. Her only distraction was the cloak ticking up above her. It reminded Cleo horribly like the Tall' Tale Hart like it was almost taunting her with the wait. But when it finally clicked time Cleo threw up her book and ran up to Harry's dormitory.
She crawled down on her stomach, pulled the cloak out from under his bed and untied it. She let it ripple threw her fingers like cool spring water. She mentally smacked herself and swung it over her. Hehehehe! Then she rummaged threw Harry's cloths drawers (finding things she was forced to close her eyes and push over) until she found the neatly folded parchment in, wouldn't you guess it, it was in his underwear drawer! She ran down the stairs and out the door. (Cleo was repeatedly brushing her hands on her school uniform to get of the filthy feeling of touching Harry's…belongings.) Ron was there to open the door for her so that Cleo could open the hump of the witch and easily slide threw.
Ones she did so and the hump had closed, her friends wished her luck and she was off. Cleo followed the short trail on the map that turned out to be long in reality. However, the thought of melt in her mouth chocolate allowed her to press on.
Especially when she could smell it from the candy stores box attic. Slowly she crept up to the opening of the attic door and pushed hard, apparently some boxes had been piled in front of it. She had the idea to take some of the candy ones she got in but felt it wasn't worth it. Before she snuck out she stopped in a corner and experimented.
It had been a theory of Hers ever sense the map appeared in the 3rd book, and Snape was able to make contact with Harry's father and friends that she might be able to communicate with them that way. Of course, these were a group of teenage boys, but all the same Cleo was wondering and nothing was stopping her. She pointed her wand at it and whispered.
"Hi…er…My name is Cleo Chestra and I'm a mischief maker and a friend of Harry Potters." She felt that would do it. Much to her pleasure some glittering words appeared
Yeah you're a mischief maker, a lire too!
Cleo practically choked and had to remind herself not to yell.
"Excuse you! Who are you!"
Padfoot…why?
"Sirus?" Cleo gasped.
Cleo never thought she might be actually fighting with Sirus, Sirus being one of her favorite caricatures but she had to bare in mind that he was merle an egotistic boy.
Why…how do you know that…Who told you?
"Harry." Cleo said simply. "May I please speak to Prongs? After all Harry is his son."
James! Who have you been playing with!
Shut up Wormtail! Who I fancy is none of your concern!
Besides, everyone knows anyway! Its Lilly!
MOONY! Saying that in front of a stranger!
"I already knew you fancy Lilly James, Harry told me."
How would this Harry know who is father fancied at school?
Cleo had now determined that she wouldn't have cared for Sirus much in his youth.
"Because my dear Sirus, Lilly was Harry's Mother." (Cleo felt comfortable sharing this all with them because, only being memories for there former selves they couldn't do anything about their futures anyway! It took a spell before putting yourself in an object to bring yourself out, and Cleo could tell they hadn't done that.)
OOOOOOOOOO JAMES!
Shut up Wormtail!
"Juvenile! One thing I like about Harry so much is he isn't so perverted!"
ENOUGH! If there really is a Harry Potter than give us some proof.
"Well I obviously can't show you visual proof but I'll try to give as much as I can. Hmm, well he's the one that taught me how to use this, I'm on my way to Hogsmade now to meet up with him."
Did you hear that guys? My son knows how to work this thing! And use it for good 'causes too!
I wont more proof.
"I'm working on it! Honestly! Ye of so little trust! Alright there is also the fact that I'm in James invisibility cloak that Harry lent me for the expedition."
What do you reckon? That's enough proof for me.
Cleo grinned even though they couldn't see it. Trust Lupin!
I wont to talk to Harry then.
"I'll try to get him as soon as I can Sirus, I promise you. I just hope he doesn't mind me experimenting, he doesn't know. I'm going to have to go 'yall. I wouldn't wont to leave them waiting."
Them?
"Yeah, Ron, Harry, Hermione and me, were all friends. Bye!"
Bye!
Bye!
Bring back Harry.
Latter!
"Much! Mischief managed!" The parchment cleared and shoving the paper into her purse Cleo scattered out of the little attic, down the stairs and into the store.
It was indeed swamped with kids. The young girl at the desk looked frightened out of her mind. Cleo tried her best not to find it amusing. She discreetly slipped of Harry's cloak and slipped it as well inside her purse.
It didn't take long for Cleo to locate her friends. (It wasn't at all difficult to spot Ron's red head.) She tip toed up behind them and tapped each of them on the shoulder.
"Er…pardon me, but what do you prefer? The levitating lemon sherbet balls or Bertie Bots every flavor beans?"
"Cleo! You made it!" Ron said excitedly. Cleo shushed him.
"Honestly! For people who sneak around so much I would think you would have learned not to scream out my name!"
"Sorry." Ron said shrugging. Cleo laughed.
"Quite alright. Now really, what do you suggest?" Cleo tried several of the classics and some new ones that she had to be careful about, noticing the glint in Ron's eye when he handed the sweets to her.
Harry, Ron and Hermione were still picking out their favorites when Cleo swore she saw something. Around the corner something peculiar was looming, perhaps some sort of animal. Cleo rubbernecked to get a glance of what it might be but in that position, it was still out of clear view.
Cleo got a sort of tickling excitement in her stomach as she stepped forward and reared her head around the Corner. Then, catching sight of it, Cleo felt the air clutch in her throat.
The dark figure dug his hand into her arm, slung her like a rag doll around and slammed her up against the wall.
"I've tried to warn you, you little imp!" As he reached to choke her and slipped the opposite had into his robes Cleo let out her award-winning scream. Everything swirled before her eyes. He disappeared but the fear lingered inside her as if she had just simply taken hiding in her body. She felt cold hands up against her and drowned voices. Worried, and Cleo wonted to help the people but nothing was clear enough, she felt like she was dyeing, or something similar. All she could feel and concentrate on was the pain wrenching threw her inter body.
After the pain had reached full force all gave away and lights were out.
He seemed to have taken hostage of her in tire body. It was a constant migraine in her head and pain beyond all reason everywhere else. There was no end until…
SNAP!
Everything crashed back into light, almost blinding after the darkness. She was in the hospital wing, bided to the bed by tightly snuggled blankets. Beside her bed there were glorious cards and all of her sweets from Hogsmade (Including some new kinds!)
There was one card from Seamus! She opened it and out flew some smiley faces that started frowning. "Get well soon!" the card, said. Cleo grinned.
"COOL!" She set it down and saw one from Ginny. Cleo was slightly shocked, She still had not personally met her yet, but she supposed Ron had told Ginny about her. Hers was pink colored parchment with lace around it and a big red hart on the front.
Dear Cleo,
I was so scared when I found out about what happened. I know we haven't met but I feel like were practically best friends threw Ron, I've herd so much! I hope you feel better and to actually meet you soon! Haha! Bye!
Ginny
Cleo set it down. She had always wonted to meet Ginny, and from here she seems more than open to meeting Cleo! This was a much better surprise than even Ginny would have expected. Beside Hers was Hagrid's. His was decorated with drawings (rather good ones as a matter of fact!) of beautifully colored dragons and stars.
Dear Cleo,
I started crying when we got back to school with you. I miss you a lot and so dose Fang. The classes just haven't been the same without you. When you get better come to my hut, I have a cake waiting for you. (Figured be nice to have some sugar ones after all that.) Get better soon!
Hagrid
She was smiling over the sweet letter when she heard voices threw the curtains.
"We need to make this quick, were not supposed to be here between classes."
"Yeah, not menacing Snape wouldn't let a chance slip threw his fingers to give us detention for being late… again." Cleo looked threw the crack in her curtains to see a blear of black, red and brown charging together towards her. Cleo sat back and waited for the curtains to be pulled back by her guests. Ron, Harry and Hermione slid threw and took seats already around her bed.
Ron was just about to sit when he saw Cleo awake.
"Cleo!" he gasped. Cleo put a mock frown on.
"Honestly! For people who sneak around so much I would think you would have learned not to scream out my name!" She broke out in a grin and hugged him. Ron was frozen stiff with shock. But Hermione was more than happy to give her a hug, Harry as well but was rather hesitant.
"Cleo, you just don't know!" Harry said after his hug.
"It was most horrible thing I have ever seen!" Hermione promised. Cleo snorted. I doubt that.
"Well, maybe not Harry but I'm sure it was mine!"
"Why what happened?" Cleo said worriedly. Ron broke from his shock and shook his head.
"You wouldn't know would you?" Cleo looked at the three of them. They were all pail and sweaty.
"What happened?" Cleo asked sternly. These tense poses were irritating when you were in need of information.
"I'm just going to find out sooner or latter." Ron hung his head. He didn't seem able to explain himself.
"What happened was this." Harry said finally "We were picking out some sweets and you must have started walking about or something."
"All we really know is that you had started screaming and we couldn't find you." Hermione said, a cloud of blue over her clear brown eyes. Cleo put her hand on Hermione's to comfort her.
"We found you after several other screams on the other side of the wall. Loads of people were already there. You were scrunched up against the wall in a tinny ball with your hands in your hair screaming your head off."
"You looked so strange." Ron croaked. Cleo turned to look at him but he hadn't knottiest. He was still looking at the ground with a look a grate concentration on his face. "You looked porcelain, really shinny and fair and your eyes didn't look real at all. They were glossed over and the size of Dobby's ears. Your pupils though were tinny, they almost weren't there and you wouldn't stop screaming…" Ron stopped and turned his head. Cleo starred but Harry continued for him.
"We pushed threw everyone and tried talking you back into reality, you didn't get it at all. You just kept staring at something no one else could see."
"That's when Hagrid, Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape came." Hermione interrupted "Snape pushed us out of the way and looked at your hand and into your eyes and stuff. He almost looked scared." Hermione whispered, as if she was still getting used to the idea. "Hagrid picked you up and took you back to school. You've been in hear for 2 months now."
"2 months?" Cleo exclaimed, for the first time looking away from Ron's red face. Hermione nodded.
"You've been screaming the hole time too. They wouldn't let anyone else be in the hospital wing. They took them some where else." (Now that Cleo thought of it her throat was sore.)
"And no one liked passing by the wing either, it was really sad, and creepy." Harry said thoughtfully. Cleo sat in silence for a long time.
"You know what this all means then?" They shook their heads. "That it's all real. It was the dark man that attacked me!" Harry started rubbing up on his scar. Ron's head snapped up.
"He…he attacked you?" Ron stammered. Cleo nodded and thought hard.
"It was…I had even dreamed about what would happen not long before it happened!"
"Then how'd it happen if you already knew!" Ron asked excitedly.
"I couldn't remember then!" Cleo yelled.
"Do you remember what happened at Hogsmade?" Harry asked. Cleo nodded, shook her head, and then nodded again.
"Well, mostly. I remember the beginning, but the end, Du, was a mystery."
"What happened?" Harry pressed on. Cleo scanned her memory.
" 'Yall were picking out candy when I saw something around the Corner. I couldn't see it well so I went around to get a closer look. It was him I tell you! He grabbed my arm and said…er… 'I've tried to warn you, you little imp' ("Warn you? What kind of warning is it if you can't even remember!") And he reached for his wand and…" Cleo thought as best she could but nothing came to her. Her friends said nothing, a silence Cleo didn't like.
"You believe me don't you?" They were still quite. Cleo screamed. "GOD! How could I have been hallucinating? He was there! He attacked me! Fine you don't believe me? Look!" Cleo pulled the sleeve of her nightgown up and showed them the deep cuts of the dark man's nails.
"A hallucination can not do that!" she screeched pointing at it. "A hallucination can not cause excruciating pain for two months!" Hermione, Ron and Harry were all starring at the cuts with all the horror imaginable. Hermione started crying and put her head down on Cleo's bed.
"Cleo I wonted to believe you! I'm so sorry!" Cleo grabbed her and rocked her as the tears went on.
"We are too Cleo." Ron said. Harry nodded.
"Trust me, Ron and Hermione thought I was going crazy plenty of times." I believe it!
"Good. I was beginning to worry about your sanity!"
Hermione's tears calmed and she sat up strait again.
"I am really sorry Cleo." Hermione whimpered. Cleo shook her head.
"Need not be." Cleo promised her. "I knew you would come to your senses." Hermione smiled before she screeched and jumped up.
"CRAP! We need to go!"
"Oh alright," Cleo said, waking up from the drama and somewhat dazed. "Er…could you bring my assignments." Ron looked at her strangely.
"You are better now aren't you?" Cleo smiled.
"I'm going to have to do 'um some time, and there isn't enough to do hear."
"I have them right hear." Hermione said rummaging threw her bag. "You boys go on ahead. I'll catch up with you." Ron and Harry waved goodbye to her and left. (Cleo supposed they still weren't all together comfortable with hugging.) Hermione was still foraging threw her bag until the clicking of the door ringed in the room. Then Hermione looked up from it and talked to Cleo in a hushed voice.
"Ron was crushed!"
"Hu?"
"After the day at Hogsmade he was like a ghost himself, haunting the wing like neither Harry or me! Every day he came and was late for almost all his classes, and spent a good many hours of the weekend hear too." Cleo felt a grate warmth inside.
"Honestly…no kidding?" Hermione shook her head.
"How wonderful!" Cleo said joyfully. "How's Harry and you?" Hermione sighed.
"Same as always. I'm just so terrified he might fancy someone else!" Cleo tried not to look worried. For a fact, he did fancy some one else. The pretty Ravenclaw girl Cho Chang who had without effort stole his hart with her good looks. (Cleo never found her all that attractive, but that might just be in spite.)
"Oh don't worry, by the way," Hermione said, reading her wrong. "You didn't get in trouble for going to Hogsmade, you had gotten promotion to go." Cleo took Hermione's confusion into her use.
"You better get going, you'll be late." Hermione took a breath and smiled.
"Oh yeah, hears your papers," she said handing her a good stack, but not as bad as Cleo had suspected.
"And I see you latter on tonight, I'll get Hagrid up hear soon." Hermione hugged her tightly and dashed off.
Cleo had finished all of her homework amazingly quickly, and with all her chocolate frogs, it made the work seem much sweeter. Madam Pomfrey had passed her bed when Cleo was half of the way done with all of her work. She had gone completely passed Cleo's bed, backtracked and looked astonished over at the up and about Cleo with her books and candy boxes scattered about the clean sheets of the bed.
"Cleo? Er…what?" She said sounding most stupid.
"Good morning Madam Pomfrey." Cleo said cheerfully, almost mocking her. Madam Pomfrey wrinkled her nose.
"What?" She said Loudly. Cleo looked up from her book.
"I said HELLO MADAM POMFREY!" Cleo yelled. Madam Pomfrey shook her head and took out earplugs from her ears.
"Well at least I know I won't be having any more headaches." She grumbled and walked away.
Cleo had several visitors that day. (Making Cleo fell extremely loved.) Hagrid had almost slammed threw the door to see her. (Madam Pomfrey had given him quite a bit of trouble about that, insisting that Cleo needed rest.)
"Why? She's been sleeping for 2 months!" And as a very strange surprise Dobby had come to see her as well.
"Dobby is very glad to see you isn't dead miss!" He squeaked. Despite her lovely chats with her friends Cleo missed her classes terribly and couldn't wait to get out. (The wing was much to cold for Cleo's own personal taste.) It was three days after her awaking before Madam Pomfrey had released her.
December 12th it was, Cleo would remember this date for all of time. She walked out and her class mates were all there to meet her! Hermione hugged Cleo, and as well as Lavender and Patty. The boys all patted her on the back, apparently thinking that was affectionate.
"Cleo!" Yelled Fred over the talking. "We have a party at the dormitory! Come on!"
They had smuggled some food from the kitchens in and loads of Butterbeer. Some children were playing music and singing songs long into the night. In fact Professor McGonagall had busted up the party, claming she could hear it from her room! Harry, Ron, Hermione and Cleo giggled their way up the stairs to the dormitories.
Cleo snapped out of her glee like the crack of a whip and stopped.
"Harry!" She said "Did you get your map and cloak?" Harry nodded.
"Yeah, I got them right before Hagrid came, why?" Cleo's eyes glinted.
"Right before the attack, I had a amazing discovery!" Harry starred.
"What?" Cleo bit the inside of her lip.
"Let's go get your map." Cleo rushed over into the boys dormitory, too much her relief, was empty. Harry brought out his map and laid it on his bed, where Cleo had sat.
"Now," Cleo said "Take you wand and say who you are." Harry was still hesitant but took his wand from his bedside table and put it on the map.
"My name is Harry Potter." He said timidly. The gray words appeared just as Cleo wonted them to. The three of her companions gasped.
Well I'll be dammed! That Cleo girl was right, there is a Harry Potter!
Where? Harry? Son?
Harry's voice was trembling when he spoke. Cleo put her hand on his shoulder.
"Dad?" he asked.
In a matter of speaking, yes. This is only the memory of me speaking.
Harry was shaking his head with his mouth opened.
"I can't believe this." He turned to Cleo. "Cleo…" He trailed off and looked back down at the paper. It was the most beautiful thing Cleo had ever seen. Harry had gotten in a conversation with Harry about Quidditch; Cleo had never seen anyone happier.
The felling of grate accomplishment filled her body, sadly it wasn't enough to keep her awake. It was nearly the next day before Cleo was dragged of to bed by Hermione.
Harry bid her goodbye, glared at Ron and they left. Cleo and Hermione were about to go to their dorm when Ron stopped her.
"Cleo…" Cleo turned around to look at him but he shook his head and said goodnight.
"Cleo? Come on!" Hermione yelled from inside.
Count down 'till Christmas
After he attack, Cleo felt more compelled then ever too figure out why she was hear instead of a American school, at least she could try to figure out one mystery.
She started the second she had gotten out of the hospital wing. Ron, Harry and Hermione helped too! Hermione looked up
"Origins of grate wizards," "Schools of today," and "Where it started," but none had a sign of anything America.
There was a grate sadness that she hadn't suggested but there was one good thing. She was back in class, having everything hands on again, instead of having Hermione tooter her. All of Cleo's teachers were glad to see her back, even Snape! Although, it wasn't what you would think. It was more like "Hello" and a glint in his eye, Cleo supposed that was a warm as he got.
At Care of magical creatures, Cleo's Pinnypook seemed more than glad to have her back (Neville had been feeding him while she was gone.) But Lindsey wasn't as keen. Lindsey, didn't look exactly as Cleo had remembered. She had Grate bags under her eyes, she looked underlie exosted. Still, in whatever condition she was in it still didn't stop her from making a few cracks about her fit.
"What were you screaming about Cleo? Did you see a bug?" Cleo felt the heat rise up her neck, around her ears and flare in her cheeks. She pivoted to face Lindsey coolly.
"No Lindsey, I didn't see a bug. I saw your face!" Suddenly her words were spitting with venom. Cleo smirked at her and marched off in the opposite direction.
Hermione scolded her for the reaction but Cleo had suddenly gone deaf. Cleo simply rolled her eyes and played with her Pinnypook. What Cleo was really glad about though, was getting to see Harry play Quidditch.
"I can't believe I missed your first game! Dam that figure!" Cleo cursed, as they walked Harry down to the lockers.
"Oh, but you were there!" Harry guaranteed. "The Hospital wing is right above the dressing rooms, so we could hear you screaming the hole time! Needless to say we lost." Cleo stomped to ground.
"Honesty! Who ever heard of loosing the game for your team when you don't even play!" Cleo growled in frustration. "Well, I'll still be screaming today, but in the crowed." Cleo smiled. "Good luck Harry!" Cleo squeezed his hand and left him to get ready, and take their seats.
They got the highest seats they could find in the stadium. (It was already quite full of people.) Cleo, in honor of Grifonder and the game Cleo put red and gold highlights in her hair, and succored it in a bun in the back of her head. (Cleo had done the same for Hermione, but her bun was considerable smaller.)
As they waited, some of there friends joined them, including Hagrid, Seamus, Dean, and Lavender. Finally, ones everyone had come the game started. The Hufflepuff team entered and as well as the Grifonder team from the opposite side. Cleo made herself heard by screaming like she had in the hospital wing. Harry looked up, laughing to her. Cleo waved and gave him thumbs up. Cleo could fell Ron shudder beside her.
"Don't do that." Cleo couldn't hold her laughter.
"Both teams have new captions this year." Lee Jordan announced.
"Grifonder's new caption is Katy Bell and new keeper Keith Shean!" Keith Shean was a big but friendly looking boy. His nose was flat and had small gray eyes. His skin seemed to flash, from how pail he was. Never the less, Cleo was going to be optimistic about his skills. (And he had better have skills to be on Grifonder team!) The Grifonder house yelled, over the boos of the Hufflepuff team. (Ron gave Hufflepuff his own special signal, sending Cleo into fits of laughter.)
"Sorry." He mocked "Reflexes." Cleo couldn't breath by now.
"The Hufflepuff's Caption this year is Jason Richardson. So we can expect an exciting game for today!"
"I had tried out for the position of keeper." Seamus told Cleo.
"Did you? How'd it go?" Cleo asked. Seamus frowned.
"I fell of my broom every time I tried to make a save."
"Oh, sorry." Cleo said and looked away.
The whistle sounded and the teams rose into the air. Harry had gone strait to the top and skimmed the ground below while all the action too place under him.
"Alicia takes the Quffle, passes it to Katy, WATCH OUT FOR THAT BLUDGER KATY! Thanks for that helps Fred! And OH NO! Hufflepuff chaser Kevin Scot takes the Quffle!" (Cleo gave a special boo to Kevin) But Angelina won't let him get away with that! She's right up his tail! And an OW! Bludger right to the head for Kevin! Nice aiming Gorge, Get that Ball Angelina! Nice catch! AND ANGELINA SCORES!"
The Grifonder crowed roared while Angelina spun around the goal posts, getting pats on the back from her teammates. (Harry was spinning around like a top in the air. Cleo giggled with excitement.)
"Teams get back to position, Quffle is thrown and the usual scramble to get it takes place. Can't see who has it right now…Oh! Hufflepuff Chaser Suzanne Mueller and going right to the goal post! Get it girls! Get it! Get it! Get it!" A large grown from the Grifonder crowed. Suzanne had gotten it in right over Kevin's head. Cleo was stomping the ground and screeching a high pitched scream, her hair falling out slightly and getting an odd look from her surrounding peers.
"Honestly! Just block the ball for goodness sake!" She huffed and leaned back in her chair. (Making an effort not make any eye contact with anyone.) The game went similarly until Grifonder was down by three points.
Cleo was simply furious and was more than willing to kick some Hufflepuff hinny when,
"Potter makes a spirited dive to the ground, my god he looks like he's gonna hit it, as well as Hufflepuff seeker Cho Chang! Ouch! Might need some make up for that Cho! Cho has hit the ground but Harry Potter is still going up! Around the Hufflepuff goal posts, watch out for that Bludger going to Potter! But Cho is up again! On your tail Harry! And…YES! There it is! Harry Potter has gotten the Snitch!" Cleo screamed.
"Yes! Yes! Yes!" She started bouncing up and down. "We won!" She took Ron's hands and started bouncing with him. "YEAH HARRY!" Cleo yelled.
The celebrating continued even after the teams had left, Ron and Hermione practically had to drag her out! Before they went to meet Harry, Seamus was behind Cleo and asked her to stay a moment. Cleo let Ron and Hermione go on while she stayed back to talk to Seamus.
"Cleo…er hi." He said nervously. Cleo smiled.
"Hi Seamus." He gulped.
"Yeah, well, um, I was wondering. The dance is coming up soon and I was wondering if you're going with…with anyone." Dance? Thought a panicked voice. What the Heck? Well…Oh!
"Seamus…er…I need to get some information…um can I get back to you?" He was still staring at her when she turned and ran down to the lockers.
Her hair fell all the way out and flying from her face as she ran ever faster down the hall. Ron, Harry and Hermione were coming down the hall in which Cleo eventually skidded into them.
"Hello Cleo, interesting entrance." Harry said cheerfully. Cleo clung to Hermione's arm in order to prevent her from falling.
"Hermione, sense when has there been a dance and when were you planning to tell me?" Cleo pressed.
"Oh! I'm so sorry Cleo I forgot. It's a 'before break dance.' How'd you find out?" She asked while they got walking.
"Seamus just asked me if I wonted to go." Cleo told them. A sort of gasping sound came.
"Er…what you tell him?" Harry wondered, giving her a worried look. Cleo wasn't looking though.
"I told him I needed to get back to him, I didn't know what he was talking about!" Cleo laughed it off, told them she needed to do some Hogsmade Christmas shopping, and would be back by tonight.
"Harry, can I barrow you map? I still haven't memorized it." Harry nodded and Cleo was soon off to Hogsmade with her jingling bag of money.
Cleo, being a girl, had a fab time shopping for the gifts. She had bought Hermione her own hair stilling book and sweets, Harry a book of "The greatest seekers of all time" and sweets, Her parents a photo album that she would soon fill with pictures of things she had done at Hogwarts and sweets, Andrew some magic paint brushes and sweets, Ben a C.d. of the weird sisters and sweets, And last but not least Ron.
One problem…she had no idea what to get him! She didn't wont to give him something boring, but she didn't wont to give him anything that might flaunt the fact that she fancied him. Finally, she settled for something she thought was perfect! She was walking sadly around when she saw a new store…A Quidditch store.
Cleo thought she might find something useful in there and moseyed on in. It was filled with more useless merchandise than Cleo had ever seen in her inter life! Some where in the back with books and Cleo curiously looked threw them. (Finding the same book Cleo had bought Harry for a good amount less.) Cleo optimistically looked about the other way and stopped dead in her tracks.
There was a Chudly Cannons robe on (chu-ching) sale! Cleo grabbed it off its rack and pushed it forward on to the counter.
"Found something you like?" The woman at the desk asked. Cleo nodded gratefully.
"Good." The woman tore of the tag, Cleo gave her the money and Cleo had now completed the most successful-shopping trip in the history of all time! Cleo took her perches and dashed right back to Hogwarts in joy.
Under the invisibility cloak she climbed out of the witch statue and started going up to the Grifonder dorms. (To hide her gifts of course!) First of all, she needed to put away Harry's map and cloak.
Like a misty ghost she floated threw the common room and up to the boys dormitory. Just as she was about to open the door, she heard voices. Stopping to make sure that it wasn't Dean, Seamus, or Neville she listened.
"You've got to tell her Ron! If you don't someone else is just going to ask her! That's just what happened to me with Cho."
"But Harry she doesn't seem to fancy me at all, she just seems to think of me as a friend."
"Ron get over it and ask her!"
"I don't know Harry." Cleo silently gasped and completely forgot what she had come to do. Instead she, like lighting, ran down to the girl's dorms and slammed threw the door. Luckily, only Hermione was in there. Cleo threw off the cloak and dropped her gifts.
"Hermione! I can't believe it!" Cleo mourned, flopping down on her bed and not bothering to sit up strait.
"What? Could you not find a gift or something?" Hermione said with mild concern.
"Not at all! Hermione, I went to put away Harry's things and," Cleo took a hurried breath "and I heard Harry and Ron talking. Ron's taking someone else to the dance."
"What?" Hermione screeched, spinning her head around with a small 'pop.' Cleo nodded sluggishly.
"Yeah, you know he never seemed to really fancy me." Cleo shrugged and stood up. "I…I…I guess I'll just except Seamus's invitation. There's not much point to it if he's going with someone else." Cleo fell back down on her bed and shook her head.
"Man he must really have fallen for her! They way he was talking…! Scared out of his wits!" Hermione was sitting on her bed, thinking very hard, so hard in fact that the veins in her temple were showing.
"I don't understand…" She trailed off and turned away, muttering to herself. Cleo had trouble sleeping that night.
The sun shown threw their opened window. Susanna now near 10 was washing the dishes and looking out that window. There was a gentle nock on the door and her mother appropriately scurried over to the door to open it for their guest. There stood the woman who lived beside them, Mrs. Bunk with a basket of food.
"Why hello, Heather, what a pleasant surprise! Please, come in." Mrs. Wakfeild said, offering her a seat at the table in their kitchen.
"Oh no thank you Penny, I just came to offer you this basket and apologize for your lose."
"Pardon lose? I'm afraid I don't understand." A stunned look crossed Heather's face.
"You…you haven't heard?" Susanna stopped washing all together and turned around to watch the conversation. Her mother shook her head and Heather sighed.
"Better get in then, sit down." Mrs. Wakfeild did so and Mrs. Bunk sat beside her. There was a very long, tense silence with Mrs. Bunk would break ever so often with a deep breath and a glance at Penny.
"Mrs. Bunk please, what is it?"
"Your husband Penny, he's…dead." Susanna who had gone back to washing the dishes dropped and shattered one at the word dead.
"How?" Emily said, making her entrance.
"That's just it." Heather said in a disturbed manner. "We don't know, he's just…dead." Emily, although only six at the most took solemnly over her mother, and Susanna over her. Mrs. Wakfeild looked deep in thought, but then her eyes suddenly snapped. She gasped and grabbed the table cloth, just before she fainted.
The next morning Cleo took out the streaks in her hair and put two old fashioned braids in. She wasn't looking forward to the day ahead. She liked Seamus but not that way, and she would have much better liked being on Ron's arm instead of his. Still, Seamus was there and willing and there was no point in hopping for something that you're not going to get.
Cleo dragged herself down to breakfast and saw Harry and Ron bickering with each other, about asking that girl no doubt. Hermione glanced up and her, smiled (or something like it) and turned back to her toast. Cleo slumped into a seat between Ron and Hermione and didn't look at either of them.
"Morning." Hermione muttered. Cleo hummed back. Hermione looked at her from the Corner of her eyes. "When you going to tell Seamus?" Cleo shrugged and shook her head.
"I guess I could do it now." Cleo lifted her body up from the seat but felt a force on her arm. Cleo turned her head in the direction of what was holding her and she saw it was Ron! He was red and looking very worried. Cleo lost interest in his matters very quickly. What would he have to say to her?
"Yes Ron?" He glanced back at Harry who gave him a stern look and Ron turned back to her.
"I don't…think you should do that quite yet." Cleo sighed and leaned up against the table.
"Why?" He was shaking slightly but soon said,
"Would you like to go to the dance with me?" Cleo almost fell.
"What…but…er…HERMIONE!" Cleo barred down at the grinning Hermione.
"You knew he was going to ask me didn't you?" Hermione was laughing very hard. "And you lead me on like he was going to ask someone else!"
"I'm sorry," Hermione gasped "But he made me promise that I wouldn't tell!"
"Er…so dose this mean you will?" He asked above Hermione's hysterical laughter.
"Sure! Yes! Of Course!" Cleo flung her arms around his neck and hugged him. They were all laughing happily (and Loudly) almost all threw breakfast.
They were starting to gasp for breath when the Grifonder prefect came around with a sigh up sheet.
"Do you wont to say over for Christmas?" He rattled off, as rehearsed.
"Are you going to be staying for the holidays Cleo?" Ron asked. Cleo thought.
"I don't think so, my parents wouldn't like me being gone so long." Harry, Ron and Hermione looked a little down trotted.
"But neither should you!" Cleo smiled. Harry looked at her oddly.
"Cleo, I don't have a family to go home to."
"I know, I mean, sorry but 'yall could come home with me, to my house!"
"Would your parents let us?" Hermione asked hopefully.
"Sure of it! We have plenty of room!"
"Are you going to sine up or not?" The boy asked, irritated. They shook their heads.
"Not this year." Harry said.
"Finnish up your food so we can go mail of a letter to my parents." They gobbled up their food and up to the owalrie.
Dear Mom and Dad,
As you know the Christmas Season is arriving and I was hoping you would do some seasonal charity for three of my friends. More specifically, could they come over for the break? The boys could sleep in Ben and Drew's room and the girl in my room! PPLLEEAAASSEE! Can't wait to see you! Bye!
Cleo.
Ron and Hermione wrote to there parents to make sure that it was alright (Harry hadn't bothered.) As they walked back down from the owalrie Ron suddenly remembered that he forgot to write his potions exam and that he would need Hermione's help.
"I can't believe I forgot it, er…Hermione help me I can't remember what's the difference between a frost fig and a ice fig!" Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Honestly Ron, it's so simple! What's the difference from frost and ice?" Ron stared at her blankly. Hermione shook her head.
"This might take a while, you guys just go on ahead." Cleo nodded.
"Alright, but make it quick, class will start soon!" Harry and Cleo made their way up the stairs to Grifonder tower. Harry looked slightly upset.
"What's the matter Harry?" Harry shrugged and sighed.
"Nothing really, I just don't know who to ask to the dance."
"Did Cho turn you down or something?" Cleo mental smacked herself. Kill me now, please.
"Yeah, in fact she completely encored me except for the rudest look imaginable! I didn't even know her face could contort into something so ugly!" Harry sneered.
"She's probably blames you for what had happened to Cedric last year."
"But why would she! She knows it wasn't my fault! Why would I kill Cedric? It was Voldimort!"
"I know it was Voldimort." Cleo told him. "Personally, I think that someone who can't trust you, your better off without." Harry looked at her. It was thoughtful, but not suspicious like it always was when Cleo revealed things she knew.
"You know a lot don't you Cleo." Cleo nodded and looked at him.
"Yeah, I do." Right then, she wonted to tell him everything she knew, but alas she could not.
"You know Hermione doesn't yet have a date." Harry sort of shrugged and nodded.
"Yeah, and I wouldn't mind taking her, its just I don't think she likes me that way and besides she's never liked the idea of being a substitute."
"Might as well try. I don't mean to sound like a match maker but I think you two would be a nice couple." Harry smiled at Cleo.
"Alright." Cleo shuddered ones they made there way into the common room.
"You know what's a little creepy?" Cleo asked them when they sat down beside each other.
"What?"
"If Voldimort has risen, you knottiest he hasn't done anything yet." Harry thought.
"Yeah, I've been wondering that too. You think he would have come and killed me by now."
"He must have a idea of his own." Ron and Hermione finished quickly.
"That was so easy!" Ron said.
"Really Ron, What gave you that idea?" Hermione asked sarcastically. Cleo nudged Harry.
"What? Oh...er…Hermione, I was thinking, wont to go to the dance with me?" Frustration completely melted away from Hermione's face and showed a shinning happiness.
"Sure." It was one of the best days ever in the history of Cleo's life! And there was only two more days until the dance!