Disclaimer: SHArice doesn't own Harry Potter.
PLEASE READ Author's Note: The rating has been raised to M for reasons that will be made clear in this chapter. Take caution that if you are uncomfortable with same-sex pairings, find fault in my beliefs, and complain, then your efforts will be wasted.
This chapter doesn't contain the usual lengthiness characteristic of others previously written. It's shorter because the main focus would be lost otherwise.
Happy reading! Reviews (as in constructive criticism, NOT FLAMES) are welcome.
o o o o o o o
The Melody of the Sphere
Chapter Eleven: Out in the Open
"I know your motto is to work hard and play hard, Brie," Ginny said as the warmth of the Gryffindor common room assaulted them, "but tonight I think you overdid it."
"Oh, you know that's a load of crap," Brie mumbled. "I tell you, it's a mix of Russian and American blood." Cho giggled when she saw Ginny roll her eyes.
"Here, I got her," Harry said, taking Brie from his fellow Gryffindor. Ginny gave him a small nod before heading for the girls' dormitory to find some medicine. Harry helped Brie to an armchair close to the raging fire; her hair seemed to glow along with the hot tongues.
The brown-eyed girl looked at her friend. Being the ever fervent Ravenclaw, Cho knew that a mere headache couldn't have caused Brie to become so…well…depleted. It just didn't make sense. She sat on the armrest of the chair and placed the back of her hand against Brie's forehead. "I don't have a fever, Cho," the green-eyed girl said with her eyes closed.
"Sorry, but I don't think a headache could make a person, especially you, so exhausted," Cho replied. "Are you sure you don't feel anything else, like chills or nausea or something?"
"Nope…I just started feeling really terrible after your performance." Brie opened her eyes and smirked. "But like Ginny said, I probably just overdid it."
"Was my singing so horrible?" Cho joked.
Brie just smiled. "Of course not, silly. But I must admit your culinary skills need some work."
"Hey! That's hitting below the belt!" Harry watched as the scene between the two girls unfolded in a fit of giggles and playful shoves.
"Hey, Harry," Brie called as she smothered Cho's face with a pillow. "Cho here wants to take you to Hogsmeade for Valentine's Day. Whoa!" The Chinese girl pushed her friend back down onto the armchair.
"You're not going to weasel your way out of this one!"
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Would someone tell me what's going on?"
Brie sat up chuckling. "Oh, don't worry…nothing's going on. I'm just teasing you two."
"You know very well you're not just teasing, Brie," Cho spoke up. She turned to Harry. "We made a promise that if I asked you out to Hogsmeade instead of putting you through the hell of asking me out, then she'd ask her secret crush, too."
"Secret crush…?" Harry gave Brie a sly smile. "May I ask who this crush is?"
Brie and Cho exchanged wary glances. "Well, it's not my secret to tell," Cho answered. He looked at the red-head who merely shook her head.
"It's a little complicated," she replied. Harry nodded his head in understanding. "Anyway," she continued, "I wanted to ask you something, Harry."
"Okay."
"What do you know about these things?" she asked, pulling out the necklace from her grandmother. "Cho said you have one." Harry's eyes widened at the sight of the sphere.
"Where did you get it?" Harry moved toward Brie to get a better look at the sphere, the tiniest one he'd seen yet. Perhaps she bought it at an antique store in London or perhaps in that shop in Hogsmeade. Cho must've told her about the sphere he had, the one with Belle's haunting melody. After all, she was under no obligation to remain silent on the matter.
"It was a gift from my grandmother," Brie answered. "She has a shop down in Hogsmeade with her sister. Cho told me you took her to it…Sisters Musique."
Harry wanted to faint. "Would you excuse me for a minute?" The Gryffindor got up and practically ran to his dormitory, making Ginny almost drop a glass of water and two pills in the process. Once in the sanctity of the chamber, he grabbed at his pillow, needing to muffle his stream of curses.
Brie was a descendant of Lady Jhalei. Then that meant she had a sister somewhere. He figured she was probably in the States. Harry rummaged under his bed for the chest of Belle and Garrett's memorabilia. Opening it, he threw aside the tray of spheres and unfolded the tapestry. It could easily cover one of the walls in the dormitory. Levitating it, Harry finally saw that the tapestry was a genealogy of sorts looking at the words shaped like a tree. And being a possession of Belle and Garrett, he could only guess just whose genealogy it belonged to.
o o o o o o o
Hermione clutched at her chest, trying to contain the heavy pounding of her heart. What had just happened? "It's Malfoy," she whispered to herself. "It's Malfoy…" Who had she really wanted Crimson Regret to be? What was she expecting – a fairy-tell ending and happily ever after?
She was just outside Gryffindor Tower. The Fat Lady was no where to be seen. Probably off gallivanting because of the ball, Hermione thought. She was stuck out in the corridors, trying to regain her composure and cease her crying. She should have seen the signs – the eloquent choice of words, the letters about literature and politics, the romantic thoughts and ideas most boys her age lacked…everything was beginning to point in the Slytherin's direction.
Ron could barely understand her when she helped him with homework. Malfoy was, after all, next in rank to her in their year. The comment made about people not accepting them together should have been an obvious hint. And his name…Crimson Regret! Oh, the significance of it all! And what part had Ron been playing in this game?
The questions sprung up one after another in her head like tongues of leaping fire, trapping her with no where to escape. Fresh, hot tears welled up in her eyes again. A loud sob sent them over the brim. "Oh, God…why? Why!"
o o o o o o o
"I told you not to get your hopes up! Didn't I tell you before that a few months wouldn't be enough!"
"I don't give a damn what you told me, Weasley! The fact remains that it's both our asses over hot water now!"
"What do you mean it's both our asses? What did you say to Hermione?" Ron stood up to confront Malfoy who was pacing the length of the Quidditch field. The Slytherin had snagged Ron from the ball after his encounter with Michael Corner and dragged him to the Quidditch pitch where they could yell and bicker all they wanted.
"I was going to explain to her about the deal we made, but she slapped me before I got the chance. Then Corner comes out all high and mighty – "
"Whoa…Corner? Michael Corner?" Ron clarified.
"Yes, Michael Corner. The twerp has me, and possibly you, backed into a corner right now. He'll tell the whole school out of spite for me and your family, particularly Ginny for breaking up with him." The blonde boy looked at his upturned palm, remembering the blood that flowed through his veins. It was the blood of murderers, rapists, and traitors – ruined blood. He clenched his hand, bringing his fist to rest at his side. "Sometimes I wonder about you, Potter, and Hermione…the way you managed, all these years, not to – never mind."
"So, what about Michael Corner?" Ron asked. He sensed the hatred dripping like venom as Draco recounted his confrontation.
"I had received a note from Corner telling me to meet him in the Astronomy Tower. I assumed it would be more complaining about Cho Chang and Potter's blossoming relationship." Draco looked at the red-head. "He accused me of betraying those closest to me and that even my house wouldn't support what I had done. You can guess what he was referring to." Draco paused to let it sink in Ron's head. "Tonight, he threatened he was going to tell the whole school."
"He's just a jealous brat," Ron replied. "You know he'd never go against anyone alone. I'm amazed he even threatened you."
"I'm not so amazed. My reputation isn't exactly the cleanest and an unsupervised duel would only lead to worse consequences."
"What about Hermione?" The blonde stopped his pacing. He let a ghost of a smile cross his countenance as he thought of the warm glow she had exuded when they danced. But the image was shattered when he remembered the look of disdain that had replaced her smile when he told her his identity. "Malfoy?"
Draco returned his attention to the red-head. "I don't know," he shrugged. "I just don't know."
o o o o o o o
Harry ran back into the common room, drawing the attention of Ginny, Brie, and Cho. "Sorry I left so suddenly," he said. "I thought you'd like to see something."
"A newspaper article?" Ginny asked out loud.
Harry handed it eagerly to Brie. "Hermione showed it to me a while ago. It's about the shop your grandmother and grand-aunt have in Hogsmeade. I guess it's a good thing I saved it."
The article featured a small picture of the two smiling women outside of their shop. "Our family has been around for a long time," Brie commented noticing the reason Sisters Musique was in the paper.
"A thousand years is a long time," Cho observed. "I wonder how long it would take to trace a genealogy like that." Harry bit his tongue.
Brie continued to stare at the women in the picture. Which one was her grandmother? Did her grandmother even know what she looked like? Years of believing that she was an only child with only her parents to depend on…and all that time she paid no respects to her twin sister or had any clue that a grandmother was still alive. What was her mother thinking?
"Do you want to see her?" Harry asked. Brie had remained in silent contemplation with her gaze fixed on the paper in her trembling hands.
The Ravenclaw looked up. She nodded her head. "Yes. Will you take me?"
Harry smiled. The feelings that Brie had were not unfamiliar to the young wizard. To have someone like Brie's grandmother or his godfather was joy and rapture. "I'm going with you," Cho said, taking hold of Brie's hand.
"So am I," the fifth-year Gryffindor pitched in.
"Well," said Harry, "it looks like I've got dates with three girls come Valentine's Day." He received smacks to his head courtesy of Ginny and Cho.
"All joking aside, did everyone enjoy themselves tonight?" asked Ginny, giggling a little at Harry's scrunched up face.
Harry stopped his whimpering long enough to nod his head. "Oh, very much. This was a much more enjoyable ball than our last one."
Brie looked worriedly at Cho, but the Chinese girl merely ruffled the green-eyed boy's hair and kissed him lightly on the cheek. Looks like the memory of Cedric isn't haunting her anymore, she thought. Maybe it was time she let her own special someone know her feelings.
"And how did going stag turn out?" Cho inquired the two red-heads.
Ginny and Brie threw uncertain glances at each other. "The best part about it was not having so much pressure to do stuff with your date," the youngest Weasley answered.
"But on the other hand," Brie confessed, "I did feel lonely when those damn ballads were played. I'm not popular with the boys, so getting someone to dance with was hard."
"Don't let that dampen your spirits, Brie," the other red-head said. "After all, you and I had our fun tonight, right? Now I can say I've got a little tippler for a friend."
Brie smiled and let a small laugh out. "You're right." The four continued to reminisce until the clock chimes rang eleven times. "The ball will be over in another hour."
"Why don't I walk you two down to your common room?" Harry suggested, noting Ginny's tired look. "…at least before anyone catches a couple of Ravenclaws in Gryffindor Tower."
Cho nodded in agreement. The consequences for such actions wouldn't be pretty. "Actually," Brie said as Cho and Harry stood up, "I'd like to stay for a little bit. I need to tell Ginny some things…" Harry looked a little skeptical. "…in private," she finished firmly.
The Gryffindor Seeker shrugged and headed toward the portrait hole. "Would you like us to wait outside for you?" Cho asked her best friend.
Ginny spoke up. "No, it's all right. I can walk her down before the ball gets out."
o o o o o o o
"What was that all about?" Harry asked Cho as they exited the Tower.
"Hermione?" Cho breathed, looking a little ways down the corridor.
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Hermione? What about – " He followed Cho's gaze. Hermione was leaning against the corridor wall with tear-stained cheeks and puffy eyes. "Oh, my gosh, Hermione, what's wrong?"
She shook her head and started for the portrait hole, but Harry took hold of her arm. "I can't talk about anything right now, Harry," she choked out.
"What happened, Hermione?" he asked again. "Did somebody hurt you?"
The brunette closed her eyes. Harry had no idea how much someone hurt her. "Not now, Harry!" She yanked her arm out of his grip and ran into the common room, ignoring the concerns of Ginny and Brie as she dashed to her dormitory.
"You should go talk to her," Cho whispered. "She needs someone."
"My efforts to talk to her would be useless," Harry replied. "The stairs wouldn't allow boys near the girls' dormitories. Anyway, Ginny's there. She'd probably have a better chance at finding out what's going on."
"Well, perhaps it would be better if you stayed anyway."
"Are you sure you'll be all right?" he asked, taking hold of her hands.
Cho smiled amusedly. "Of course, I will. I've had good instruction in defending myself." Harry sighed in understanding.
"So, I'll see you tomorrow at breakfast?" he asked.
"I'll be down there a little after eight," she answered.
o o o o o o o
Brie sat in the large, red armchair, letting the heat of the fire warm her; bring her the courage that was so legendary of the house she was visiting. Just like the Cowardly Lion, she thought.
"I wonder what's wrong." Ginny stared at the top of the staircase where Hermione had retreated to. The sound of a slammed door still resonated in her head.
Courage, Brie thought. I need courage. Her nerve was fading fast. "Maybe I should leave," the seventh-year said, rising from her seat. "You should go talk to her."
"Are you sure? What was it you wanted to talk to me about?" Ginny hastily asked, helping Brie to her feet. It was obvious that this was a serious issue and probably had taken the older girl time to bring it up.
"Don't worry," Brie reassured her. "We can talk later. It can wait."
"No, I'll walk you back. We can talk on the way." Ginny gave her a bright smile, the one that made her bright blue eyes twinkle like distant stars. The fifth-year took hold of Brie's hand and started for the portrait hole.
"But…Hermione…?"
Ginny twirled around. "She just needs some time to herself right now, time to collect her emotions and wits about her. Besides, you look like you need someone to talk to." Brie relented and let Ginny lead her outside, passing Harry who gave them a curt nod.
The Ravenclaw suddenly wished she had the courage Ginny's House was known for. It was hard enough telling Cho the truth and she was her closest friend. How much harder it was going to be to tell Ginny! All she wanted to do at the time was get to her common room as soon as possible. Another opportunity to talk would present itself.
"Hey, slow down!" Ginny called after her.
Brie looked around. She could see the hidden entrance to her House. "Sorry," she murmured as Ginny came up beside her. "I'm just…I can't stop thinking about my grandmother." Brie pressed her hand to her head. The headache was returning.
Ginny wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "It's okay, Brie. If you need someone to listen, I'm right here."
"There's just so much going on," Brie started softly. "Sometimes I feel like this suffering is never going to end."
The younger girl looked at her companion. Brie's deep, forest green eyes were glazed over, almost lifeless. "Why are you suffering, Brie?"
"When I first came here from the U.S., the only two things that connected me with my House were our language and ability to do magic. It was the year Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban…the day Gryffindor defeated Ravenclaw in quidditch…the beginning of my friendship with Cho. We were inseparable. We quickly became close friends and it made my first year easier and enjoyable studying in another country. I spent the summer with Cho's family in Switzerland, Austria, and China.
"Then the Triwizard Tournament came to Hogwarts, along with Cho's relationship with Cedric Diggory. I was very happy for her. Our friendship remained the same. We were still joined at the hip except when she had an occasional escapade with Cedric. And then he died.
"Cho ran to Marietta because my lack of a boyfriend rendered me unable to understand what she was feeling, at least according to her. We broke all ties to each other. It was the loneliest time in my life. But at the end of the last term, she apologized and we continued our friendship.
"Now she has Harry. It's different than the time she was with Cedric. I feel withdrawn from her and it's been bothering me for weeks. I had all these emotions and I wasn't able to figure them out. But I did recognize two of them."
The two red-heads stood just beside the entrance to the Ravenclaw dormitories. The bell could be heard chiming the time to being a quarter to midnight. Brie steadied herself again. "I felt lonely because Cho was registered for different classes and we only have one or two classes together and time in the dormitories. Then a fiery Gryffindor stumbled in from the rain and into my life," Brie said with a growing smile. "As Cho and Harry's relationship grew, that second emotion sprang up. I became envious. I began to wonder if I was destined to never fall in love and have someone fall in love with me. I hadn't thought about it until then, but I've never had a boyfriend."
Brie sighed and looked at Ginny. "My loneliness faded as I formed a new friendship with you. In a way, you saved me, Ginny. You rescued me from my own depression, my loneliness. I'm not very fond of many of my House mates, but I had an instant attraction to you. I stopped worrying about boyfriends and love and the rest of all that mush. Ginny, I've only known you for a few months, but you've become just as important as Cho…maybe more.
"But there's still something that's been bothering me. I wanted to talk about it for the longest time, and it's been so hard trying to keep it to myself. That's why I asked to speak with you, but it's just…so hard."
"You're still not suffering are you? Aren't things getting better? You're gong to see your grandmother. Spring will be coming soon and you'll graduate," Ginny said, practically pleading Brie to come out of her distressed state.
"But I'm going to leave behind so much. Oh, Gin, if I could explain…if you knew." Brie was taking steps back.
"If I knew what? Please, Brie. You know you can tell me. You're one of my closest friends, almost like a sister."
"I don't want you as my sister!" Tears flew from her eyes, looking like falling diamonds in the candlelight.
Ginny flinched. Brie's words had cut deeper than she thought possible. "Why not?" The bell tolled midnight. Brie thought frantically, trying to decide what to do, what to say. The bell continued to clang away the hour. The students would be in the corridor any minute. "Brie, just tell me! Please!"
Is it worth the risk, she asked herself. Of course it was. The seventh-year approached the younger girl, quickly closing the distance between them. She looked into Ginny's concerned eyes. Did she trust Ginny? Yes.
Then it seemed so very easy, so natural for her to lift her head and feel the softness of Ginny's mouth with her own. Her mind vibrating with alarm, Brie slowly drew away. She looked into those twinkling blue eyes, wanting so much for them to hold the same emotion she harbored for the young Gryffindor. "I think…I'm in love with you." She stepped away from the fifth-year at an arm's length, waiting for a reaction.
Ginny looked at Brie. She looked nervous and terrified. Footsteps echoed. The students were returning to their dormitories. Brie waited for Ginny to say something, anything as she saw the first of the Ravenclaws round the corner. Brie returned her attention to see that Ginny was slowly walking backwards, her head shaking in disbelief. "Ginny…" she whispered, "…wait…please…"
"No!" Ginny's harsh whisper was filled with disgust. "I'm not some queer!" The young woman turned heel and ran away.
Brie watched the retreating figure get lost in the crowd of her House mates; the fire tresses getting farther and farther away from her and the warmth in her heart slowly died with each passing second. "…don't go."
o o o o o o o
"It's midnight." Ron stood up and brushed the grass that had adhered to his robes.
"Meet me here tomorrow," Draco said as Ron began walking back. "Six o'clock."
"Should I bring Hermione?"
Draco smirked. "That would be quite a task considering what just happened." He watched as the Gryffindor rubbed his temples, letting out a long, frustrated breath.
"What do I need to be here for?"
"We can't keep this secret to ourselves for much longer. Corner will announce this to the whole school. I don't know when he is, but when that happens, we're going to need allies."
"You make it sound like we're in a war or something," Ron replied.
"Well, aren't we?"
o o o o o o o
Author's Note: Trust me! It will make sense in the end!
I also apologize now for the long wait you'll have to endure again before I post another chapter. I've got college and scholarship applications to take care of along with the commitments I have as a member of a school committee. Drop my usual academic and extracurricular obligations on that and I've got a lot of stuff going on. I do hope you will leave me a review!