Part Two: Emerald Orbs
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Relaxing in the soothing motion of the rocking chair, the woman sighed, feeling the sun caressing her pale features. Feeling movement in her arms, she glanced down at the baby cradled in them.
"What are you doing? Your so cute, aren't you, Lily bear – yes, you are -- you look just like your mummy."
The baby giggled at the lips approaching her forehead, and gracing them with comfort.
"C'mon, let's go find your father and brother and see what mischief he's got into now." Hoisting herself off the chair, she tightened her hold over the small figure in her arms, beginning to walk down the hallway of her cottage.
Opening the back door, and stepping outside, she blinked her eyes a couple of times; readjusting them to the light pondering her vision.
Feeling her gaze coming to full focus, she glanced around the limited amount of green beyond her feet. Her eyes stopping at the scene before her, she couldn't help the smile that was easing itself onto her face.
"Lily!" said the man in a shaky, surprised tone.
Smiling even more, the woman walked further out to the yard, precisely right below her husband's shadow roaming above the ground.
Despite the smile on her face, the man stopped in mid-air, tightening the hold on the baby in front of him, and bringing the broomstick down in a fast motion. Reaching the ground and hopping off almost instantly as it greeted the earth's soil.
"I-I didn't think you'd be done feeding Hayley yet," he said, turning around, and placing his arm around the broom with the giggling baby still aboard it.
"James it's alright, I saw you. I know you wouldn't let him fall, so you can take him out flying whenever you want. He is now fifteen months old. I s'pose if it's going to happen, might as well let it happen now."
"Thanks, love – oo, I see someone's happy," he said, gesturing to the other baby in the woman's arms. The little eyes gazing at something both adults couldn't see, nor noticed.
"Whad'ya you laughing at," said the man, reaching over and snatching the baby out of the woman's arms, placing a kiss over her cheek.
"Got me – she's got your sense of humor," said the woman, walking over and embracing the baby boy from the broomstick. Giving him a kiss the minute he was in her arms, resulting in him starting to laugh as well.
"Merlin, what's in that milk of yours, Lil?" asked the man, hoisting the baby further into his arm, and starting to walk back towards the cottage.
"My milk!" she huffed, retreating after his body. The baby boy placed on her hip as she walked.
"Har!" screamed the baby girl, looking back at the woman over the man's shoulder; pointing at the baby boy in her arms.
"Are you laughing at your brother, Lily bear?" said the man, opening the back door and stepping inside, the woman following after him.
Walking into the living room, the man bent over and set the baby on the pink and blue blanket that had been placed there the night previous. Making sure she was settled, he walked over towards the couch, and sat upon it. Sighing as he felt tiredness creeping into his eyes.
"James, why so tired?" asked the woman, setting the baby boy down beside the baby girl.
"Flying wears me out, I guess."
"Oh, don't give me that rubbish. You've been flying since you were six. It's because Sirius and Remus were over here late last night isn't it?" she said, walking over, and sitting next to him. Placing her arms around his hips in an attempt to get comfortable, but knew as soon as she found a spot, she would fall asleep within seconds.
"Maybe," he mocked, leaning over and kissing her softly on the lips.
The woman sighed with bliss. She felt content in this very moment, and this was the way she always cherished to feel. Feeling her body started to give off the many emotions in the deluded time that had swarmed her. She closed her eyes, burying her head in the sheath of her husband's shirt, and well-built chest.
Right as she was about to exit the world of reality, and enter the peace of sleep, she felt something, or in better terms, someone, shake her shoulder, and whisper a quiet "Lily," into her ear. The warm breath she felt caresses her ear lob, she couldn't help the throaty moan she felt leave her throat.
Opening her eyes once more, she placed a questionable gaze on her husband, but was surprised to find his gaze elsewhere, and not on her. Following his gaze, she tried to keep her inhale of happiness to a soft volume; memorizing the scene before her. Almost praying for time to stop at this very moment, or to take a well-minded photograph.
"Look at them," the man said, in a more quiet whisper. Worrying, that he might put to much volume in his voice, that the scene before them would suddenly come to an end, and leave there stomachs in a depth of worries that filled there heads everyday with the thought of what lives ahead of them.
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The baby girl glanced up at her parents in the solitude of there home, and in the graceful manner of the atmosphere. Watching as her mother fell into slumber, and resting upon her father's chest.
Even through her one-year-old mind, she knew things around her; most people wouldn't give a baby credit for. For instance, the fact she knew that her brother was staring at her, and not at the peaceful scene of their parents. Eyes were not needed to know such things; she could sense it, she could feel it, and this is what caused her to take her eyes off their parents and place them at her mind sharer.
"Lily," said the voice beside her. A source that would forever be implanted into her brain. A voice that brought comfort to her shaken body at times of emotion, even at times of peace, it could bring laughter and happiness.
Slowly she took her eyes away from her father, and placed them back to where they were calling her.
Emerald eyes, once again sought out the solitude of emerald orbs…………
Hayley sat bolt up straight in her bed. Feeling it creak at the force she emerged over it, but not hearing it, nor could she through the heavy breaths trying all at once to escape her lungs.
Sitting up too quickly, causing white blotches of light to dance before her eyes for a few moments, she tried to compose herself. This passed slowly, but through the heavy gasps escaping her throat, she felt like everything before her was spinning.
Slowly, yet to slowly, her vision began to come back into place; bringing her mind into the remembrance that she was still held in St. Mungo's, and not at Hogwarts, were her mind was calling her to.
In the reliving moment she was in, she felt her lungs begin to regulate to their normal pace of breathing; just like they had been moments before they were issued into the hard awakening of the dream that was causing this effect over her body.
Sighing, as the last hard breath left her body, she began to look around her surroundings. Trying to drive the pair of emerald eyes staring at her, back into the depths of the box it left to greet her.
Spotting a piece of parchment beside her, Hayley reached over and grabbed it. Blinking her eyes a couple of times to bring the writing upon it, to a content state, she read it:
'Gone back home for some new clothes, and a shower. Be back soon.
Love,
Mum and Dad.'
Re-reading her mother's opulent and respectable handwriting once more, she let the parchment fall to the ground without a second thought to it, or what it contained.
Feeling her head beginning to spin again, Hayley laid her head back down on her pillow.
Opening her eyes (after closing them to block out the light still invading her vision) she saw the pair of emerald orbs staring at her. Taking in a shaky breath, she closed her eyes; the pair of emerald orbs still staring straight at her, the same innocent and questionable glance held within them. Trying to drive the image away, she opened her eyes again and began to scan the room.
Eyes opened; eyes closed; eyes staring diligently at other objects, it didn't matter. She still saw the pair of emerald staring at her. Begging to let the sight fall away from her mind, and be shoved back into the hell it brought her, she felt her heart rate began to pick up its pace.
Hayley could feel the sun engulfing her room, and despite her state of incoherence, she knew it must have been the wee hours of the morning.
Her heart rate began to slow down once more, and in doing so, she took in another shaky breath. Laying her head upon her pillow, she ignored the still haunting image of those eyes staring at her through the comfort of closed eyes lids, bringing darkness to her vision.
What she didn't understand was why she was so haunted by the site of those emerald orbs? Was it the eyes of a former fifteen-month-old baby boy resisting in her dreams, or eyes of a present fifteen-year-old teenage boy, resisting in her life.
Right as she was about to fall off the cliff of reality and enter the calming and peaceful moment of sleep, someone in her mind spoke:
'Just another dream – calm down, she's not hurt, she's safe, she's safe.'
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Knowing he wouldn't be getting anymore sleep tonight, Harry let out a very vague and patient sigh. Finally feeling his breathing coming back down to a regular pace.
Peeking through his curtain, Harry could see Ron, still sound asleep from his bed; the rising sun above his bed, light falling over his body in shades of dark maroon and crisp orange.
Harry sighed. He couldn't get the pain or the image of Hayley out of his head. Not understanding where the pain was emerging from; this dream hadn't involved death, or taken by it, nor had it been sad, morosely happy in fact.
What hurt the most was – that he didn't witness this dream from a stand-by point of view, like he had done with the last two, but reluctantly in the mind of his former self. Seeing the dream through the eyes of when he was a baby. And knowing, right before he woke up, the last look he gave the former Hayley, was not a look directed towards the baby, but in fact the real Hayley itself. Only one remaining answer could resolve this: Hayley had dreamt the same dream. Harry could feel it; like a sense of feeling pulling at his stomach. Almost begging him to react on it somehow, but not understanding its meaning.
Harry now understood -- since Hayley and himself could see there past through dreams, and join as one in them. He knew the look he had given her at the end of the dream, was in fact the present Hayley Glenwood; patient at St. Mungo's. Not a look directed from baby to baby, but from fifteen year old to fifteen year old. Hayley and himself had seen each other in the dream, but through the eyes of their former selves.
Feeling his head beginning to hurt with all the information he was trying to take in, he brought his hands up and began rubbing his tired and sore eyes.
'Damn it, Potter just do it!'
Pulling his hands away, he knew he had to just get it over with. If he didn't, he wouldn't have accomplished anything at sneaking out to get it in the first place.
Reaching down, Harry grabbed the covers over his body, and threw them off; feeling a cold breeze great his upper body, while leaning forward in his bed. He cursed himself for forgetting to wear a jumper to bed last night.
Reaching trunk, he tried to be quiet as he remerged through it, knowing that his dorm-mates, unlike him, were still soundlessly asleep; no dreams about their sisters would haunt them tonight.
Pushing a couple of trousers out of the way, Harry found what he had been searching for. He bent over, and picked it up, before getting settled in his bed once more to have a good read over it.
Harry lay back upon his bed, letting his head rest upon his headboard; pulling the covers back over his body, and placing the Daily Prophet right before his eyes, scanning over the picture placed on the front page.
Almost like needing reassure, Harry let his eyes wonder up to the date of the prophet:
'October 31, 1982.'
Sighing once more, he let his eyes fall back down to the picture. The four smiling faces staring back at him – three emerald orbs, and one hazel.
There smiling before him, were his parents, his former self, and Hayley. Standing outside of the once known home he had spent the last happiest moments of his life; in his mother's arms, and Hayley in their father's. All faces smiling with joy; eyes shining with mirth, and excitement. Harry scanned over his mother's features, almost trying to memorize them. She was in a pale yellow dress, her hair laid over her shoulders in a messy pattern due to the wind blowing through the air. His father, in a navy jumper, and peach trousers, his hair the same unruly state as always. His former self, wearing a green jumper that actually fit his still fragile body, and small blue jeans. And Hayley, wearing the same green color jumper, and also the small baby jeans, only her hair had green clips placed in certain sections where curls were discovered and pulling them back.
Harry smiled at the site plastered over the Daily Prophet. He felt like he was pushing his eyes to the article rather then letting them go when he was ready. He may never be ready for this, but he knew being ready, may not always be the answer.
THE GIFT OF A HERO BUT AT THE LOSS OF HIS FAMILY
Taking in a great inhale of breath; bringing his eyes down upon the jumble of words scrambled over the parchment. Slowly, very slowly, he began to read the article, letting the words absorb his mind:
'Two years later and we still find the Wizarding world rejoiced in happiness and our fears berried away. On this day, two years previous, we found our world to be hidden away in fear and worry, that we may not wake up to find the light in our eyes, or to feel the wind in our face,' writes Eva Lascardlend. 'Seven hundred and thirty days later, we still find ourselves bathed in the happiness and joy, one boy has brought to us, but at the loss of his family. Harry James Potter, currently two years old since July 31, and living in the home of his Muggle aunt and uncle, changed the world, as we know it. Living through a curse, no man has ever walked away from, brought the downfall of the one creature we all feared beyond question. Walking away from the downfall emerged a savoir to the Wizarding world, but at the loss, his family. James and Lillian Potter (both twenty-two before there passing) and his twin sister. Both parents killed with the curse their one son became famous for. His sister's body not being able to detect, nor find, was pronounced dead last weekend as a small ceremony was given to her in memorial; a head stone was placed into the soil near the site of her parents' gravestones. Hayley Lillian Potter, will always and forever be known to the world, if not for her heritage to the Potter name, then to the courage the world now sees her memory in.'
He folded up the paper, and threw it back into his trunk. Trying to keep the urge of running to the nearest fireplace and Flooing to St. Mungo's was a huge persistent; keeping Harry from the one person his mind wouldn't stop calling to.
The last thought caught and lingered on Harry's brain. He pondered it more; could that honestly work. If his mind wouldn't stop calling to her, then what would be the problem of actual calling to her.
'It only works when were in trouble.'
Pushing that thought away, Harry sat up straight against his headboard. Trying couldn't do any harm.
Closing his eyes tight, and squeezing his fists together, Harry began thinking of Hayley. Putting her picture in front of the darkness of his eyes, and envisioning her there before him, he began repeating the name over and over again, repeating the reason why he was calling her. Not knowing how, or who was telling him, but a feeling was coming over him. It felt strange, yet unfamiliar to his body.
A scene began to form behind
the closed concentration of his eyelids. A room appeared to come into his
focus, a soft creamy color covering the walls in soft shades that would
momentarily put the patient into relaxation. Harry squinted his eyes tighter,
trying to bring the scene clearer to his image.
Three blurry images began to dissolve themselves out in the room. Two of the sources, were standing and one looked to be in the bed. There was an eerie silence about the room Harry couldn't detect. He could see the blurry mouths of the two people talking quietly, but no sound was entering the room nor echoing off it. Harry's felt his heart jump, watching as the figure lying over the bed, began to become a clear image, none the other of than Hayley Glenwood.
Her black hair a complete frizzed mess, bruises running up the length of her right arm, and a sling holding her left in place. Hayley's face came clear to the viewer's eye, but Harry noticed that the two sources standing beside her were not. He tried bringing them farther into his mind, but this seemed to be doing nothing. Suddenly that's when Harry's gaze met Hayley's closed eyelids, and the answer came to him:
It wasn't because he wasn't concentrated enough on the thought before him, it was because Hayley was asleep. He was seeing things from her point of view at the moment being: sleeping soundly. Nothing to come between that barrier beside the awaken of her mind. That's when another answer crossed into Harry's mind. He viciously had appeared to join Hayley in the mind barrier, but he wasn't seeing her real mind for what it really was when she entered sleeps grace. He only concentrated on seeing her, not entering her mind.
Suddenly feeling his heart pounding hard into his chest, as the sound of curtains being pulled back, and feet heating the floor, had no doubt made an impact on his mind. The image before him disappearing hastily as he tried to open his eyes, and finding it more difficult then you would have given the task credit for.
"Harry, you awake?" whispered the morning aptitude of Ron.
Feeling breath exhale his body in a fast intake, Harry opened his eyes, only to result in seeing white light dancing before them. Trying to regulate his breathing, he brought his hands up towards his eyes, and began to rub at them, easing the dizziness away from his head.
"Yeah, Ron," he mumbled back, trying to play the roll of someone who had just been woken up.
"C'mon, let's get to the washroom before everyone else is up."
Harry nodded, knowing he needed a warm shower, something to clear his mind. He couldn't go to classes like this. Pulling open his curtain, he got out of his four-poster, and grabbed his shower bag. The after effects still making him sway slightly, and causing him to take a couple of deep breathes. Ron seemed to have noticed this to.
"You okay?" he asked, staring at him from his bed.
"Fine," he muttered back.
"Nervous 'bout Hayley tomorrow. Eh?"
"Yeah," said Harry, his mind still deluding over the dream, the connection he made with her there, all these connections he was eloping with her.
"Come on then," said Ron, holding the door open for him as they began heading down to the boys' washroom.
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Hayley awoke to a small prick in her arm. Opening her eyes right away she sat up, feeling her breathing rate picking up, and the Medi-nurse giving her looks of question.
"Lie down dear, I have to take out your IV's," she said, placing a hand at her shoulder and pushing her back.
Hayley only obliged, still feeling her heart beating fast. She felt like someone was inside her, with her, controlling her. She felt dizzy, and not the calm usual manner she would try to put over her attitude. She was too lost in thought to see that the door had opened and two people had stepped in.
"Have they brought you breakfast yet?"
Hayley stared into the face of Will, suddenly feeling the urge to scream at him, tell him and Jane to sodd off and never darken her life again.
She closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. Opening them again, she found Will and Jane staring at her through worried eyes.
"I'm not hungry," she snarled back, not caring if the Medi-nurse gave her a particular look.
"Are you sore dear, Healer Beaker asked me to give you a potion to relieve it if you'd like."
Hayley looked at the Medi-nurse, nodding her head slowly, not really paying attention to what she was nodding at. She watched as the woman smiled at her, and then exited the room.
Down casting her eyes, she felt the soreness of arms and noticed that her sling had been removed while she was asleep. Her arm now free ably to move about in its own freedom and will.
"Ah, Hayley I think we need to talk about tomorrow," said Jane, walking forward and sitting on her bed. Hayley bit her lip, trying to keep the looks of grimace from covering her face. Jane and Will hopefully would just accept these looks of aftermath pain.
"What about tomorrow?" she said, inhaling a great deal of breath.
"Well – your father and I received an Owl from Professor Dumbledore, and we asked him if we could accompany you into Hogwarts tomorrow, but he said he would see more fit to let you go alone."
Hayley's head shot up out of her hands. "A-alone," she questioned, making sure the statement she was hearing was correct.
"Yes, seems Dumbledore fancies the idea more. Would you like this or for me and your mother to –"
"No!"
Jane and Will stared at Hayley's sudden outburst. She hastily tried to cover it up, but couldn't think of anything that would fit the excuse for not wanting them to be with her. Taking the only thing she could do to mind, she just lowered her eyes away from them and said nothing.
"Are you alright, love? You seem awfully upset about something," said Will.
Hayley raised her head again. Blue orbs met the gaze of straining green.
"Da –" she stopped herself. She couldn't say it – she didn't know why, or how the feelings were coming to her in such a fast whirlwind of emotions; she couldn't call Will dad.
"I'm fine, just aching to get back to Hogwarts is all."
Hayley watched as Jane and Will exchanged a look worry.
"What?" she asked them, not feeling that this look could hold anything beyond good.
"See Hayley, the thing about Hogwarts is that –"
"Your not making me leave are you!"
Jane stopped talking for a split second. Staring at her daughter, she smiled at the worried look over her face. "No, were not taking you out, but we'd like you to come home for Christmas."
Hayley froze. The words embedded into her mind. Go home – to a home she hadn't seen in six weeks. To a home, with two people she couldn't even call her parents? Leave Harry, Ron and Hermione.
"I was going to spend it with my friends –"
"Hayley, we accepted you could go to Hogwarts, we however didn't accept that you could go, and expect to never see us again. Why wouldn't you want to come home and see your family, who you haven't seen in two months almost!"
She looked up to stare at Will's flustered face. "Fine," she muttered, placing her eyes elsewhere.
"What is wrong with you today? D'you not want to leave for Hogwarts tomorrow?"
Hayley, without any difficulties let the smirk roll over her face. Not go back to Hogwarts, if that was even an option for her to consider, she'd have to be insane to. Hogwarts was now her home – Jane and Will Glenwood however, were not.
'I hate them, I really hate them. They don't deserve me, I hate them.'
"Can you just leave me alone please?" she muttered.
"Hayley hunny what is wrong?" asked Jane, reaching a hand over and placing it on her shoulder. Hayley fought ever urge in her body not to take her arm and rip that hand away from her body. The hand of scum, that's what it was. That wasn't her mother's hand. That was a devils hand.
"Mu –" stopping herself quickly, she exhaled another breath. "Please, just leave."
She didn't look up to watch them leave, she only sighed as the door shut behind them. Leaving a barrier between them that Hayley would never forgive, or try to break through. She felt heated, raged -- looked at them -- thought of them -- she hated them. Was there a hate that could boil as high as the one surging through her. Laying her head down onto her pillow, Hayley gazed out the window.
'I'll be out of here tomorrow, only one of more day of seeing them. Just one more hatful day.'
The rising sun of the next day came much slower than Hayley would have hoped. She had packed all her remains that the hospital had stored for her, and was now more then ready to return. Jane and Will, probably for the first time, didn't disturb her while she had been packing. They had only entered the room twice, and during those two times, they had left under the request of Hayley's wishes, and left her alone.
The Medi-nurse finally permitted Hayley to a warm needed shower. Being able to detangle any snarls that had created in her hair, and wash away any old blood, ashes, or dirt still covering her face, and the smell of hospital. As she watched the essence of left over dirt, or dried up blood wash down the drain, she felt that it wasn't just the dirt washing away from her body, but the trust and love she once shared for Jane and Will. She hated them, she truly hated them.
After her shower, she felt cleaner – cleaner from their existence to her. Cleaner from there lies, there grimace of sweet-talks. She felt she could never love them again, look at them the same way or call them mum and dad. Hate was overpowering any love she had for them, and slowly that love was turning into a puddle of nothing, and washing down the drain along with the dirt that had once covered skin.
Hayley truly hoped that Healer Frunz knew exactly what he was doing in his job. If not, there was going to be a lot of forgiving to repay and forgive – but for some reason, Hayley felt he wasn't lying, he knew exactly what he was doing, and he was giving her the answer to her life.
When Healer Beaker had entered her room earlier in the day, Hayley found it much harder not to glare at him, but easier to fight it then with Jane and Will. He had given her one last check up and she had passed with flying colors. He checked her re-grown bone, and flexed it every which way it was permitted to move, checked her lungs for any smoke damager done upon them. Giving her one last potion that would ease any left over soreness still harboring through her body. Saying a good-luck and a pleasure to be his patient, he said good-bye to her.
As the setting sun came to a downfall over the hospital, Hayley sat upon her former hospital bed. Feeling cleaner then she had felt in a while, wearing her Hogwarts uniform, and her hair nicely washed, and completely snarled free. Since her eyes were casted upon the window; watching the setting sun, she gently heard the wisp of wind, and the cold air of the hospital hit her skin lightly as the door to her former room opened.
"We came to say good-bye," said Jane, walking towards her.
Hayley had been thankful they didn't ponder the thought of her newly formed attitude towards them, she hoped they would just accept it as hatred towards the hospital, not towards them.
She had debated millions of times today if she should just ask the one question clouding her mind. She knew she couldn't. Why – because she knew Jane and Will would deny it. She would never accept them again as the two people she once had known them as.
"Good-bye," she snapped back.
"Hayley Lillian Glenwood, you do not speak to your mother in that tone!"
She bit down hard on her tongue, keeping the insult she had ready to fire at him, locked up by the deep pain surging through her mouth.
'How dare he? How dare he call me the name he gave me, the name he put lies on me with!'
Feeling a deadly silence fill the room, Hayley pulled her eyes away from the window, and placed them on Jane and Will. "I guess I should be going then," she said, hoping off the bed and grabbing her left over remains.
"Not before we talk Hayley," said Jane, stepping in front of her. Hayley held the urge to scream in her face, anger running through her blood, waiting to erupt and spill over the mess they caused.
"There's nothing to talk about. I want to go back -- now."
"Hayley, your mother and I," 'your no mother of mine.' "Have decided that you will be coming home for Christmas, and if not, then you will not be returning to Hogwarts for next semester. That is final."
Hayley let out a long sigh, descending her head downwards and trying to calm herself, rotting any sign of anger burning through her emerald orbs. Bringing her head back up, she smiled at Will.
"Sure, dad," she made sure she put enough mock on the word 'dad' as it rolled off her tongue.
"We're serious, Hayley. We accepted you could go to Hogwarts, but we however did not accept that you could leave us all together."
"I'm sure you did."
"We'll see you at Christmas then. Promise to Owl us tonight once you're all sorted out?" asked Jane.
"Yeah sure." 'Don't count on it.'
"See you in two weeks then, we love you Hayley," said Jane, advancing towards her. Hayley tried to hold a civil look upon her face as she felt her lips touch her forehead, Will's following after that.
"Bye then," Hayley said, giving them one last civil smile, turning and exiting the room.
Entering the corridor of St. Mungo's, Hayley felt like screaming. Letting all the pent up rage leave her body in a fast instant, not caring is people stared at her. She felt proud of herself, she had actually told Jane and Will, to step down and leave her alone. That she could walk herself to the fireplace just as fine as they could.
Turning into the laboratory section of the floor she had been placed on, Hayley smiled as she saw the fireplaces. Three set up, and almost five people standing behind each other; each person taking the handful of Floo powder and yelling there destination and a green flash taking them away within a blink of the eye seconds later.
Smiling at the clerk as her turn came up, she reached over and grabbed a handful of the powder that held her destination. Her heart racing when she pondered where in five seconds she would be standing. Stepping into the fire gate, she stood up straight. Inhaling breath, and throwing the powder down she screamed "Howgarts!" Her body disappearing seconds after.
Feeling her body slam into cold stone, and the dizziness ebb away instantly as excitement filled the depth, Hayley scrambled to her feet. Gazing around at the office she had arrived in six weeks previous. Whipping the soot off her robes, and making sure she looked presentable, she left the office. Almost squealing with joy as she stepped outside the corridor, and walking down the stairs. This was her home, her heart felt like bursting with joy. She had only been departed from the beloved castle four days, and yet, she still found it had been much longer.
Setting off down towards the Gryffindor common room, she smiled at all the portraits watching her eagerly, whispering as she walked past them. Approaching the last staircase up towards the tower, she walked up in a fast hurry and turned the corner.
Her heart leapt as 'The Fat Lady' came into her gaze, and greeted her with a long overdue smile. Opening her mouth to give the password, someone spoke behind her, before the words even rolled off her tongue.
"Hayley!"
Turning around, feeling her heart jump into the region of her throat, she smiled at the blue eyes staring at her with mirth and excitement filled deep inside them, a stupid goofy grin covering his freckled face.
"Ron!" she squealed, running over and jumping into his arms with a tight hug. Hayley closed her eyes as she felt Ron's arms encircle around her waist, pulling her closer to his body. She felt she didn't want it to end, feeling his arms around her, holding her, protecting her. Feeling all anger ebb away and die at her feet. Ron had this much of an impact on her. Unfortunately, he pulled away and smiled down at her.
"How are you! We've been so worried, did you just get here?"
Hayley laughed at his antics, feeling her heart melt away at the concern in his eyes.
"I'm fine, feeling a lot better, and yes I just got here."
Ron smiled once more, pulling her back into his arms, he gave her another hug.
"Hermione, will be so happy to see you," he said, pulling away again.
"Where are they by the way?" she asked, glancing around their surroundings, expecting them to turn the corner at that very moment.
"They went to the library. We got piled with parchment for homework tonight in Charms, I'll help you out if you want?"
"I'd like that," she said, casting him a smile. Almost leaning on him as he began to set off back down where he had just appeared from.
"Bummer you missed try-outs though, that would have been brilliant if you'd made the team."
"Yes, it would have been, but I think I'll just watch from the sidelines and cheer you on instead," said Hayley, watching as the after affect of her statement impacted Ron; his ears turning a red shade of maroon; making her smile even more at the effects she was having on him. It felt good to switch places once in a while, and not be the blusher.
"You look great," he said, turning towards her once more. "I heard your arm broke," gesturing to her left arm, and giving her another concern filled look.
"Yeah nothing big though," she said, detecting that she had said it a little too quickly then needed. She didn't want to relieve what exactly had happened in that fire, not the dog, not how she had almost faced death in the face, not when she felt so happy and content. Ron seemed to have caught on and didn't ask anything else. She refused to voice to him what had happened at the hospital. She felt she would start crying; finally having the anger gone, sadness would engulf her being if she thought of that now.
She muttered a quiet thank-you as Ron opened the door for her, and walked inside.
"Where are they?" asked Hayley, scanning the room for any signs of a raven head, or frizzed.
"In the back corner when I left."
Walking over with Ron by her side, they walked past two isles and turned towards the left. Making sure to stay quiet as they walked past occupied students leaning over parchment or hard paperback books, completely involved and their faces down in concentration.
"Still studying, I see," said Ron, gazing down upon Hermione, coming to a stop just beside her table. A quill held tightly between her hands and scribbling upon the parchment in fast motions.
Hermione stopped writing and looked up at the person blocking her light view. Her serious face turning instantly to excitement as her eyes came to rest upon Hayley.
"Oh my – you had us all worried!" Hermione huffed.
Hayley almost felt like crying when she saw Hermione throw down her quill and stand up in a fast intake, hugging Hayley for dear life.
"Whoa let her breath, Hermione," said Ron, though Hayley couldn't have cared less if Hermione was hugging more tightly then she should have been. Her chest felt sore, after Ron's hug, and now Hermione's, it was a no wonder.
Even though Hayley felt to corrupt with her emotions, she still heard the faint sound of feet heating the floor just behind her location.
"Hey 'Mione what are you doing over --- Hayley?"
Hayley felt Hermione depart from her, and turned towards the stranger voicing her name. Greeting it with a warm smile and welcoming eyes, she said "Hello, Harry."
Harry seemed to be staring at her like she had just died before him. Setting his books down next to Hermione's parchment, he walked over towards them. Looking at Hayley with a look of disbelief over his pale face.
She felt too shocked to do anything when Harry wrapped his arms around her shoulders, pulling her into a tight hug. Hayley tried to hold in the shocked expression at his actions.
'He's never hugged me before.'
Emotions running through her body once more, she said to hell with the new uniqueness Harry was setting between them and hugged him back, sighing into his shoulder. How would she ever tell them about the hospital. The new found secret burning deep inside her stomach and causing emotions to flow from the hole splitting her mind into two.
"Harry its okay," she laughed, feeling him tighten his hold on her, and suddenly feeling uncomfortable. Another tight squeeze surged through his arms and into her waist. Feeling him sigh over the bridge of her neck, he released her.
"Just had us all worried is all," he said, not putting distance between there bodies as he separated from her.
"Well -- stop worrying now, I'm fine," she said in a defensive voice. Hayley examined his face, and suddenly felt herself caught up in his eyes. Emerald eyes – eyes of her dream – eyes to be seen even in the comfort of darkness – eyes of the woman haunting her mind – eyes of a fifteen month old baby -- eyes driving her into the very core of madness.
'My eyes.'
