Part IV – Secrets, Tigers and Evil Plots
The days were fewer this side of Christmas. Each and every day that passed it showed as everyone got gloomier, the end of the year, and exams, were creeping ever closer. Two of the more prominent students, probably more affected by this reality than the rest, were in the library studying their eyes into exhaustion. With them was one of their faithful friends, though she was busy with other things on her mind, she could study later.
"Ugh! What kind of history lesson is this?" burst Hermione
"Depends, what does it say?" Paula smirked, while swirling her wand and pointing at different objects, imagining putting spells on them.
"It says, ' In those days spirits were brave, the stakes were high, men were real men, women were real women and small furry creatures from Alpha Centauri were real small furry creatures from Alpha Centauri.' That's just bogus! Everyone knows there's no life on Alpha Centauri!"
Paula couldn't help rolling her eyes. Bethany was scribbling in her note pad, thoroughly unaware of the conversation around her. An owl flew in through the door, and dropped a small letter in her lap. She picked it up with a devious and eager look on her face, both her companions became slightly afraid, what evil was she doing this time? In only moments she had stopped scribbling, read the letter, and suddenly got up.
"Well I need to go do something, I'll catch you two later."
"Alright, we'll be around here I guess."
"Psh… where you going Bethany?" Paula gave her a "look"; she obviously didn't want to be left alone with Hermione.
"I have some stuff I need to do with Professor Snape."
"Ooooooh going to have another 'private' lesson eh?" Paula smirked
"Get off it." Though she turned around blushing, as she left the library. As she walked down the corridors and up the tower stairs, she wondered why she hadn't come up with a different excuse.
- ♦ - ♦ -
Anna walked down by the lake, Nick right beside her. He kept looking at her, she'd suddenly started acting very strangely, and she'd never gone without saying anything to him for this long.
"May I ask as to what is eating at your brain?"
"Seems you already have."
"What's wrong Anna?"
"Just… some new thoughts to think about. That's all."
"Oh? Would you like to tell me what these thoughts are?"
She stopped walking, oh how she wanted to tell him yet she knew he wouldn't take it well. And more than that, she wasn't sure she could handle it if she let herself admit it.
"These are the thoughts, I need to confine to myself. No one else should be burdened with them."
He looked her in the eye, not quite sure what to do.
"Well… if there's ever any way I can help, just let me know."
Was that hurt she heard in his voice? Not entirely sure, she guessed it was, but decided not to act on the knowledge. They both sat down, in the same spot as they had done many days ago, the same spot they encountered Draco and his punk haired friends. Reminiscing back to the image of his bursting into flames and falling over the ledge and into the water was a good enough one to bring a smile back to their faces. A mere glance between them, and they knew they were thinking about the same event.
Nick was relieved to see her smile, even though rather wanly. Just as he was sure he would not be concerned any deeper than he already was, the now ever familiar feeling of someone watching him crept over him like a fog over a hill. Chills went up and down his spine, and he stiffened. He hated the feeling, but couldn't, wouldn't be able to bring himself to end it. Also the fact that he could never see from where he was being watched kept him from terminating the watcher. Trying with most his heart to ignore the feeling, he began to talk to Anna, like they normally did. Within minutes he coaxed a few more smiles from her lips. It was just enough to help him forget he was being watched. Anna however, was still thinking, watching the scenery around her, and listening to Nick all at once. As if in a dream, she wondered if it were real.
- ♦ - ♦ -
"Delitris!" a whirl of green light burst from his wand, and the entire contents of the parchment vanished.
"Next time, Case, you will be more mindful of the words you use to explain potion making." Snape's face vilely displayed evil glee at being able to push over another of his most disliked students.
"I expect a new one, forty five inches, to be handed in tomorrow. If nothing else, you will learn the correct way to explain all the uses of the ingredients, and their purpose for a Taming Concoction."
Despite his being in the advanced potions class, because of Dumbledore's interference, Caleb was still treated as if he was supposed to be in remedial potions. As much as he hated potions, he liked his standard of understanding all forms of magic more. So he just forced a grin on his face, hoping to annoy Snape just a little more. It worked, he got a real nasty look, before Snape turned his back and went to the front of the class again.
"Clean up your things and get out, the lot of you." they didn't need to be told twice. They all packed up, and left in a hurry. Caleb was no exception, without a look back; he rushed out of the room and ran down the hall. He was running a little late. He turned the corner, looked around, and then stepped in through what looked like a huge painting. Up some stairs he climbed, around and around the spirals he went. Till to a dim room he came, where a fire was lit, and there were a few very comfortable easy chairs set in a circle around a small table. The circular room was perfectly designed for hidden meetings. He sat down in one of the chairs, which adorned the letter "C", and waited.
"Professor Snape give you much trouble?"
"Well he certainly tried." Caleb smiled and turned to his right, where Dumbledore sat comfortably in his chair.
"Much like with Potter, your family has a history with Snape."
"I know that all too well Professor."
"Good, well now I say we give some of the others a few more minutes to arrive."
"Sounds good, I thought I was the only one running late."
The twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes, as always hid some private intuition behind them. Caleb couldn't help but admire Dumbledore; he was everything and more that he would hope to be like.
"Sorry I'm late!" Chorused four voices at once, as Luna, Potter, Bethany and Ginny all burst in one after the other from the only door.
"So nice of you to join us. Please sit, we still have a couple of people yet to arrive." Dumbledore signaled for them to sit down, which they all did.
"And I believe here they come." As some panting and foot stomping became louder.
Gasp, "Ok!" Pant "Here now!" Huff puff…
"Well sit down so we can begin."
Both Seamus and Colin sat down, Colin between Luna and Bethany (poor fellow) and Seamus between Potter and Luna.
"Now, as all the members of the Watching Wizards are here, let me begin by saying that I have the potion made. The twenty forth peak of the cycle is approaching, and this is our last chance to cure the beast inside Nick. This, though mainly is Caleb and Bethany's assignment, you all have been working on the cure so this is why I'm letting you all know we have it."
"Professor, how are we going to make it work though? According to all we've studied about the potion, it only works if he's let the beast out." Seamus, being in charge of the specimen testing, declared.
"We'll simply, wait until he has let it out, and inject it. Bethany and Caleb will do it, they have… a certain ability to deal with his beast." Dumbledore leaned over and looked into Caleb's eyes, "The beast may growl, and may bite, but he cannot overpower a stronger will." For but a moment everyone was silent, and in the moment there was confusion then comprehension on the face of the receiver.
"That is all, about this matter. There are other things, concerning other business I must discuss with only a few of you. Harry, Luna, Ginny if you don't mind, please stay."
Everyone else not mentioned filed out through the only door to the room. Before they left through the painting, in ones, Seamus lingered for a little bit, and extended his hand.
"Good luck to you both. It's going to be a rough one."
They nodded, and shook his hand, then watched him turn and leave. Looking at each other they knew this was a serious matter.
"When?"
"Tomorrow night is when it will break through."
"Meet me behind Hagrid's, I have a plan."
They stepped out together, but walked in different directions. The wheels were in motion, and the events were to take place. Something they knew was a crucial breakthrough
Caleb walked determined, but without any need for haste. There were only a few places in which he would be, and the first one he came to was right on the money. Nick and Anna were both facing away from him as he walked closer; they were watching the sun begin to set on the other side of the lake.
"You two make such a lovely couple." He grinned as he walked up behind them, to gaze over their heads.
"Tell us something we don't know." Nick smiled back.
"Well Nick, you need to meet me tomorrow night." Nick lost his smile, and then recovered.
"Same as last time?"
"No. Same place we first met."
Nick's smile grew wider.
"Very well. I'll be there." Turning back to the sunset he frowned tomorrow was the day the beast would fight to gain control. Why would Caleb have chosen that day to meet, and in the forest of all places. He looked over his shoulder to say that thinking about it he really wasn't going to be able to be there, perhaps another night. But Caleb had already left, and was out of earshot. Boy could he walk fast.
"Something on your mind Nick?"
"Nah, just curiosity, is all." He turned back, without looking at her. If he had he would have seen the hurt look on her face.
Night had fallen, everyone was inside eating; everyone that is but Bethany. Whose silent steps, couldn't even be heard as she made her way into the dungeons, and into Snape's office. She took a look around, made sure there was no one there, then slipped into his potions supply room. From the cupboards she began to summon different ingredients and vials and placed them carefully into her cloak. Just as she was about to summon for the Lump of Gutroot, there came a voice behind her she recognized without much need to think it over.
"Drop it, and turn around." Her face turned white and slightly pink at the same time, there in the shadow of the doorway stood Snape himself.
"You've found me out…" she held her arms high, wand held in her hand, "so what do you do now?"
He looked her up and down, his wand pointed at her chest.
"You can start with explaining the missing details, about why you're in my supply room."
Unable to think of a really good excuse he would actually buy, that didn't involve someone putting her into a jinx and forcing her in there. She'd used that excuse last time.
It was the first thing that came to mind, because of what her friends had made fun of her for.
"I… well…needed to see you." She gave a coy little smile
"You could have looked in the teachers lounge." He replied, more softly than before. Taking a gamble at the possibilities she just said.
"You weren't at supper like everyone else, I just thought you'd be grading papers and when you weren't at your desk, I thought you'd be in here." Again he looked her up and down then lowered his wand.
"What is it you wanted of me?"
A few steps closer, and looking him straight in the eye she whispered.
"I need a favor."
Within about ten minutes, she came out of the door. Slightly unnerved, her hair in a tangle.
"Not even for all the galleons in Gringotts, would I ever do that again! God forbid I remember the event after today." She began walking to the nearest girl's bathroom, made sure no one was inside, and then locked the door behind her. The uncomfortable memory of his hand squeezing her butt cheek made her slap herself, trying to be rid of the thought. A glance at her watch, and she waited patiently, waiting for the inevitable to come. Then she felt it, her face, her hands, and all of her body slightly burning and morphing back into its original shape. She dived into the nearest stall until it was over.
When all the horrible sensations had passes, she came out of the stall and looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair was a mess, so she magicked it back to normal.
"Oh Demon girl you've really outdone yourself this time." She smiled, for she was no longer Bethany. There stood before the mirror with the most pleased grin on her face was none other than Anna.
"Now, to mix this all together for a special… school surprise." Her grin spread from ear to ear, " And to think everyone thinks I'm a perfect angel." She completely loved herself right now. Much like her love, she had a craving for devious fun. As she thought of all her friends, and how they were keeping secrets from her, she became more and more determined to make them pay. On a side note, she thought, she'd already gotten her little bit done on Bethany. Poor thing, she laughed, would have Snape looking at her very interestingly for months… probably till the end of the school year any way.
- ♦ - ♦ -
It was one of the longest nights he'd ever had. Staring at the ceiling of his bed, Caleb wondered what the next day had in store for him. His watch said 4:37 A.M.
"Bah what the heck." Rolling over he opened the curtains, and summoned his shoes, clothes and cloak. It was going to be a very long day as well, he mused and sighed.
"No rest for the wicked… no rest for the concerned either." Silently he bent over and looked under his pillow, where a folded silver fabric was concealed. Pondering whether he would need it or not. Not knowing if he would or wouldn't, he grabbed it any way, and stored it inside his sleeve. Like many others, his sleeves could hold more than just wands and arms.
Silently he opened the window, made sure no one was looking, and then launched himself outside. It was his favorite little trick, a little special magic that Dumbledore had taught him. As he fell towards the waters of the lake below, and enjoyed the rush of the wind on his face and through his hair, he thought the spell and vanished in a puff of black smoke. Unlike apparating and dissapparating, this little piece of magic relied more on your ability of imagination, rather than your knowledge of location. Dumbledore had explained it as a wizard imitation of the phoenix burn apparition travel, bursting into flame and smoke and appearing in another location. Whatever the explanation, Caleb loved this piece of magic. The exhilarating feeling of free falling, and then suddenly being normally still on the roof is just one of those things you have to experience to enjoy it. To think about it, you'd wonder what thrill there would be in that. The answer is simple; differentiating the feeling from the feeling of a dream, makes it all the better to the one who experiences it.
As he now sat on the top of the castle roof, watching the moonset in the west, he wondered for the hundred thousandth time. What would this day, have in store for him?
The moon had gone, and the sun was beginning to rise, when people below began to appear. Either heading to breakfast or just to wake up a little bit more before going, they began to make their appearance. Picking them all out was so much fun at this hour. You could tell who was a real morning person, and who was being forced out of bed just by the looks of their faces and heads from this height. He watched them all go by, and was perplexed when he was Professor Snape come out, unashamedly stalking Bethany, who looked flustered and frightened.
"What in the world ever got into him?" He mused.
They soon disappeared out of sight again, but the very event was both amusing and perplexing. Shaking his head and chuckling he wondered if Nick had put something in Snape's morning toothpaste or something of the sort.
Paula appeared, and Caleb remembered when they'd first met. She'd fought him with evil glee.
"What is the core value of your existence?" he had asked, out of simple curiosity, evil curiosity of course, but curiosity nonetheless.
"The very pleasing fact of knowing that in man's struggle against the universe, I can bet comfortably and safely on the universe. And letting them know it."
As if it had only been five minutes ago, he remembered just how she'd asked Hagrid to bring in a small group of sheep, plain ordinary sheep, to his corral so Bethany could have a little wool loving frenzy. He watched her disappear, and just laughed. He had a memory, a visual replay for every single face he saw below. Lying back against the roof tile, he basked in the now well-risen sun. Perhaps it wouldn't be that long of a day after all.
It was after breakfast that Bethany and Hermione headed into the library to get their studying in. The exams were still on their minds, with only a month to go before they had to take them.
Bethany was leaning soundly over a book, with the library windows streaming in rays of sunlight that gave a serene and supernatural mood to the place, while Hermione was filling in a couple scrolls of notes (and counting).
"Bethany!"
Who responded with a groan, "Go away." She hated being interrupted while studying. Turning around to glare at the speaker, her eyebrows rose at the sight of Nick.
"Bethany I need to talk to you."
His face was ashen, and worry was written all over it.
"What? Can't you talk to Anna?"
"This is about something… I don't think she's ready to hear about just yet."
Bethany sighed, trying to hide her inner gut feeling of curiosity and excitement.
"Since it's apparently an emergency… I'll have to copy some of your notes later Hermione, I'm apparently needed for something urgent." And so she followed Nick out the library door and into the bright sunlight, which blinded her as she first stepped out into it.
"So what is it?"
"Not here!" he was moving swiftly and skittishly looking around, "Know any place hidden or secret?"
She led him up some stairs, and to a painting, which she whispered to and pushed him in. Up around the spiraling staircase they went, and went into the circular room with the easy chairs and lit fireplace.
"Are you sure this is a secret room? No one is here but us?" His eyes darted in and out of the different places around the room.
"I'm very sure this is a hidden room, and no one is here but you and I."
"Okay good." With a heave he fell into the nearest easy chair, and Bethany sat in hers, on the other side of the table.
"There are people…people after me Bethany."
"Calm down Nick. Who's after you?"
"I don't know who, or what they are. I just… just know they are coming for me tonight. And Caleb is with them!"
"Caleb?"
"Yes! Caleb!" he looked around as if someone was going to pop out from behind one of the chairs or out of the fire.
"But why would they be coming after you?" she tried a bit of innocent ignorance; the less he knew the truth the better.
"I have… a secret, a secret, Bethany!"
"So… everyone has secrets, what would be so interesting about this secret?"
"Well I can't really say… but let's just put it at there's a beast inside of me that threatens to come out. And so far I've always been able to control it, but with the constant feeling of being watched, and just… the fact that I don't see and end to it's trying to take over I've become weak. I fear… I fear it will break loose. Bethany you have to help me!"
The look of utter desperation on his face, the pleading of despair, it was one of the rare moments in which Bethany actually felt pity for another person. Nick's fears, and the reality of his secret were now coming into perspective as the hour drew near, she knew it, and it was sad to know he could have been taught to deal with his burden but wasn't.
"I'll do my best to help you." she whispered, "Stupefy!"
- ♦ - ♦ -
Anna couldn't help but walk around, enjoying the sight of Snape stalking her sister. But she decided she had to get everyone else back also, so grabbing up the vial she'd filled with the potion she'd spent all night on, she headed for the kitchens.
"Dobby!" she smiled, as she was welcomed into the kitchens by the uniformed house elves.
"Why hello Anna Kesler, what may I get for you?"
"I need some butterbeer. Can you find about two dozen bottles somewhere?"
The elves smiled, "Of course we can Anna Kesler, how about a biscuit or two while we get them?" A few elves carried up a tray with some of the leftover breakfast delights, and held it aloof for her to choose from.
"Thank you." She grabbed one of the chocolate covered croissants.
Within seconds there were twenty-four bottles of the best butterbeer to be found in the entire wizarding world filed up at her feet.
"I think that's exactly what I was looking for." She pulled out a box from her cloak and summoned all the bottles to fly themselves into it.
"Thanks again Dobby! Goodbye!"
Out she went; oh she was going to get them good. Secrets were what they were keeping, but soon there would be no secrets to be worth being kept. She hid away in her dormitory, and carefully dropped five drops of her concoction into each bottle of butterbeer, each time snickering with pleasure. Soon enough she was done. She repacked them with a flick of her wand, and pocketed the box. Walking over to the courtyard where most of her friends were, she extracted all the bottles of butterbeer and called all of them over. Watching them smile, and thank her too was too much for her to take, she grinned from ear to ear, watching them enjoy they're butterbeers. Soon they would regret they're little thirst-quenching spree.