A/N: Oh my gosh. I am on page 200! That's a lot of freaking words! Since this is a monumental moment in Amanda story writing history I'll tell you how many words this story is: 106, 459. Wow. I rule! Well, sort of. I'm so amazed that I actually wrote that much. I think I have way too much time on my hands. It's so amazing...sigh. Yesterday was the four month anniversary of this baby, by the way. Dang, 200 pages in four months! That's, like, 50 pages a month, though in the first week I had done 50 pages...anyway, you don't really care. Now I'd like to thank my first time reviewers, I'm so happy when I realize there are more people reading my story than my usual reviewers, though I love getting reviews from you guys too!
I had no idea Fanfiction was being a butt and was taking out my exclamation point things that separated my beginning author's note to my chapter number to my chapter. Apparently it's been happening for the last 12 chapters or something but I'm too blonde to notice.
Now for some current events in the life of Amanda even though you people probably don't want to hear about them! Yesterday at my church there was a Halloween party for the youth group. Man, it was awesome! I dressed like my black guy friend Rico and man was it funny. I was wearing bling and a jersey and baggy pants and everything. So we go on a haunted hayride and I end up, against my own free will, sitting in a very compromising position with my guy friend who's like my brother but I think he likes me which is SO weird. Then my bestest friend Lexi and I stayed up late in her sleeping bag talking about guys and how they are such guys. Speaking of Lexi her snogging partner has now changed and she actually has a snogging partner. The sad part is his voice is high pitched and I bet he's not as cool or as Draco Malfoy looking as the other one. But I bet you really don't care so I'll get on with the story.
By the way, Zurine, I know about 5 Richards from PA but none from Virginia.
And if anyone would happen to want to IM me my IM is Twizzlergal613. Smiles! Now READ AND REVIEW!
MAJOR PROPS AND THANKS TO MEAGAN FOR REALLY HELPING ME WITH THIS CHAPTER!
Chapter Thirty-One
"Blaise!" Alana Stoke shrieked, bending over the buy's unconscious form. Professor Giancarlo whirled around to face the class, and Pepper saw she was struggling to keep her wand in her pocket.
"Who was it?" she barked at the class fiercely. The class was silent, and Pepper wanted someone to admit it before the Professor went off on everyone and they all ended up with detention, or worse. "Get Mr. Zabini to the Hospital Wing," the teacher said to Alana, though she still faced the class. "Pepper, help her."
The class remained silent as Pepper mumbled "Wingardium Leviosa," to ensure she and Alana could manage carrying Zabini to the Hospital Wing, and exited the classroom.
"Evil bastards," Alana said as soon as they were out in the hallway. "How you can get some sort of Stunning Spell from 'Expecto Patronum' is beyond me." She sounded angry and Pepper suspected she and Blaise Zabini were boyfriend and girlfriend. "Did you see who did it, Mudblood?"
"I'm not a Muggle born," Pepper replied coldly. "And no, I didn't see who did it. Otherwise I would have said something to Professor Giancarlo. I can't believe they're too dim to admit they did it. Now I bet everyone'll get punished. Thickheads."
"Why would someone do something like this?" Alana wined.
Pepper ignored her. "Why have I never seen you before?" she suddenly thought aloud.
"I'm a year behind you," Alana complied.
"And why have I never seen HIM before?" Pepper asked, indicating Blaise with the hand that wasn't holding her wand.
"You don't pay attention," Alana said matter-of-factly. "Or perhaps you spend too much time paying attention to Draco..." She smirked knowingly.
"So are you friends with Malfoy or something?" Pepper continued, ignoring Alana once again.
"Yes, Blaise is Draco's best friend...but I s'pose we're not as high up with him as you are. After all, you are his little Mudblood."
Pepper almost dropped the wand that was holding up Blaise in her anger. "I am NOT Malfoy's little Mudblood! I'm not a Mudblood!"
Another smirk grew on Alana's face. She had touched a nerve and she knew it. Plus, in Pepper's anger she had forgotten to correct Alana on the first part of her comment...
"And I am NOT Malfoy's!" Pepper added, realizing what she had just done. Now Alana was definitely going to get the wrong idea.
"There's no need to hide it Halliwell; all of Slytherin knows you fucked him." Alana's remark went unanswered because they came to the door of the Hospital Wing. Pepper just tried to ignore her a third time, but she couldn't help wondering if Alana was telling the truth.
Upon their entrance into the Hospital Wing Madam Pomfrey rushed over to them and interrogated them on what had happened to Blaise while she took Pepper's wand and made him comfortable on a bed. They told her everything she needed to know and then the medi-witch ushered them out, telling them to go back to class. Alana was somewhat frantic, almost begging to stay by Blaise's side, but Madam Pomfrey wouldn't have it. So Pepper had to escort a wining fifth year back to Defense Against the Dark Arts.
"Do you think he'll be okay?" Alana asked Pepper.
Pepper thought it was a bit ironic that just a minute ago Alana had been insulting her and now she thought Pepper would try to console her. "I dunno," said Pepper, deciding not to be too cruel but not too nice either.
"I hope he's all right," Alana said. "Though a student probably couldn't perform a deadly curse, so I'm sure it'll be fine."
"Yeah," said Pepper, her mind not on the subject. She was thinking about lying Slytherins...and if none of them really were lying then she was screwed.
"I don't want to go to class, I'm afraid of what we'll find there," said Alana. "What do you say we just go back to our common rooms?"
"You mean skip class?" said Pepper skeptically.
"No one will know. Professor Giancarlo told us to go to the Hospital Wing so she'll never know we wouldn't have to be there all period. And I can't have you go back to class alone."
"No way, Stoke. Personally, I don't want to face the wrath of Professor Giancarlo for skipping class. If you want to, go ahead, but you're on your own," said Pepper.
When the two girls arrived back in the Defense Against the Dark Arts room they found all was silent. Professor Giancarlo was sitting at her desk, scribbling furiously on a piece of paper, and Ivi Spada was standing next to the desk, sneering. All of the students were sitting in their seats, not daring to make a sound. Professor Giancarlo looked up at Alana and Pepper as they entered the room.
"I trust Mr. Zabini will be all right," said the professor.
"We're not sure," Pepper replied. She thought her voice sounded strange in the too-quiet classroom. "Madam Pomfrey kicked us out to tend to him."
"I trust he will be all right," said the professor again. It sounded to Pepper that she was trying to reassure Alana, who looked rather sad. Professor Giancarlo then looked past Alana and Pepper to the rest of the class, to which she said "Seeing as we're not going to learn anything else today, class is dismissed. Do NOT expect this to happen often." The class filed out of the room, still silent, Pepper the last to leave. As she turned the corner to exit the classroom she caught Ivi Spada standing there, looking extremely smug.
"So it was Spada that hit him?" Pepper asked her three friends as they made their way back to the Gryffindor common room.
"Yeah, after you left all hell broke loose...Professor Giancarlo started yelling and Sadie Montgomery gave Spada away," Ron explained.
"What spell did she cast?" Pepper asked. "And why would she do that to another Slytherin?"
"It wasn't a very bad spell," Hermione said. "At least, that's what Professor Giancarlo thinks. Sona Periodo, I think she called it. I think she did it to Zabini because they'd gone out and he cheated on her."
"Oh, yea, I remember hearing about that," Pepper recalled.
"How would you hear about Slytherin news like that?" Ron asked, skeptical.
"The girl network. Bad news travels fast, Ron, and girls talk a lot. News gets passed from house to house like wildfire," said Hermione knowingly.
"Whatever..."
Hermione decided she didn't want any dinner, so Pepper, Harry and Ron left her in the common room in the company of Neville Longbottom and they went down to dinner themselves. Pepper wasn't worried about Hermione since she had someone to watch over her, (though Neville hadn't heard about the incident), so she enjoyed her dinner and talked and laughed with Harry and Ron. She knew Harry was having trouble not telling Ron about the Féminin Vivreencore Curse, and she almost told him that he could tell Ron, but thought better of it at the last moment. It was better if no one knew of their plans. Besides, everyone already had enough to worry about.
"So what are you two going to do about that curse?" Ron asked.
Pepper was slightly taken aback. She thought Ron had forgotten all about that in recent events. Or perhaps he was talking about the Indirect Imperius... "You mean the thing Malfoy's under?" she asked.
"No, the other one," said Ron. "The one with the kiss and the spell..."
"Oh." Pepper shot a glance at Harry, who looked nervously back at her. Unfortunately, Ron saw this and broke out into a half-smile.
"You're going to perform the spell, aren't you. Because you still really like each other and you can't stand not kissing each other..."
"Shut up!" Pepper said, smiling and hitting Ron on the arm. Ron broke out into laughter.
"No, really, are you going to do it?" Ron inquired, his laughter subsiding.
"Dunno," Pepper shrugged, turning back to her dinner.
"And what are you going to do about the other curse?" Ron asked. "Help Malfoy?"
"I don't think so," Pepper answered. "I don't think there will be a way I could help him. Though if we find something in our research..."
"No way," Ron shook his head. "Remember all the stuff he's made us put up with, Pepper."
"I know...but remember what I said the other night, Ron. I'm not that evil that I'd really let him continue with that torture. Plus you guys said that Malfoy's father is a Death Eater, right? Well then he could tell Malfoy to kill people or something."
"It's probably not even real, Pepper," said Ron.
"I know what you think, we've been over this. I just want to find out the facts and then we can go from there," Pepper said with a small sigh. "So can we please move on?"
They left dinner early and headed back to the common room. On the way Ron tried to bring up the subject of Malfoy again but Pepper wouldn't discuss it with him anymore. He was still bugging her about it when Harry said the password and they went into the common room, but the subject was dropped immediately after they saw what had been going on in their absence.
Hermione and Neville were sitting on one of the Gryffindor couches looking rather cozy indeed. Neville had his arms around Hermione's waist, hers were around his neck and their lips were locked.
"WHAT ON EARTH DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING!" shouted Ron. Neville and Hermione immediately pulled apart. Hermione's face was very flushed and Neville looked like he wanted to disappear into the floor. Luckily there wasn't anyone else in Gryffindor Tower to see this.
"Who do you think you are?" Ron shouted at Neville, who's face turned crimson from embarrassment. Ron's was turning a similar color of red, but out of anger. "What do you think you are doing trying to get some from my..." Ron couldn't think of the right word to finish the sentence.
"Your what, Ron? I'm not your anything! I am perfectly entitled to do whatever I want!" Hermione retorted.
This made Pepper laugh. "You wanted Neville? Bit of a downgrade isn't it?" she chuckled quietly.
"STAY OUT OF IT!" Ron and Hermione said at the same time. Harry shot Pepper a dirty look.
"My FRIEND, Hermione. You're my friend!" said Ron.
"That's not what you were going to say Ronald, and you know it!" Hermione said.
"How would you know? What were you doing with him anyway!" Ron yelled.
"You left me here with him, remember? We started talking and I told Neville how stressed I was, so he was trying to make me feel better, unlike SOME people I know! One thing led to another and I kissed him!" Hermione explained.
"You kissed him! After you dumped me and told me about how you didn't want to be in a relationship right now? I can't believe this!" Ron turned on his heel and stormed up to his dormitory.
"I'll go talk to him," said Neville quietly, looking down at the carpet which was as red as his face.
"I don't think he'll want to talk to you mate, why don't you let me handle it?" asked Harry. Neville opened his mouth to protest but then thought better of it and nodded, leaving Harry to go talk to Ron.
"Ron, you know, you two were never really together..." Harry called up to the dormitory as he made his way up the staircase.
"What were you two thinking?" Pepper said rounding on Hermione and Neville after Harry had disappeared up the steps to the boys' dorms.
"Pepper, don't you start on me," said Hermione, eyes flashing. "I can do whatever I please."
"I'm sorry," mumbled Neville.
"Don't be sorry, Neville," snapped Hermione. "I kissed you first because I wanted to. You've no reason to be sorry." Hermione turned back to Pepper. "It's none of your business, anyway," she said.
"Damn right it isn't. Hermione, I'm your friend and I'm Ron's friend, which makes it my business twice over. You hurt Ron so I'm worried about him. You care about Ron but you kissed Neville, and you're really vulnerable right now, so both of those things make it my business."
Hermione looked warningly at Pepper. "Why don't you just let me do what I want, Pepper, I'm a big girl and I can take care of myself."
"Hermione," said Neville, raising his head to look at her. "Aren't you grateful that you have Pepper as a friend? I mean, she obviously cares about you, and it's great to have friends like her."
Hermione looked at Neville thoughtfully before a smile curled on her lips. At that moment Harry came down the stairs, rolling his eyes. "How stubborn can you get?" he murmured under his breath.
"I expect it didn't go too well," Pepper asked.
"Not exactly," replied Harry. "Ron won't listen to anything I have to say. He's really irked, I'm afraid he's going to do something rash."
"He's a stubborn git! I don't think that he should be acting like this at all. It's not like Ron and I were together officially to begin with," said Hermione. "So he'll just have to get used to this because Neville has already asked me to go to Hogsmeade with him next month."
"So you're saying you'll go with me, then?" asked Neville hopefully.
"Certainly," Hermione replied, a prim smile on her face. Harry and Pepper exchanged disappointed glances. They were both upset about Hermione and Neville; they knew that Hermione and Ron cared for each other a great deal and they were meant to be together.
"Um...Harry," said Pepper, becoming slightly uncomfortable because Hermione and Neville were looking fondly at each other, "Why don't we go and take a walk?"
"Sounds good to me," Harry replied, grateful that Pepper had made that suggestion, as he was growing uncomfortable as well.
Neither of them intended to do much walking, however, because once they were down the hallway from the Fat Lady's portrait, they stopped and turned around so they were facing each other.
"Pepper, I think we should really start the potion as soon as possible. Things are getting really around here, what with the conspiring chess pieces and a supposedly good Malfoy and Slytherins cursing each other, and I think Sirius would be able to help out."
"I thought I was the only one that felt Sirius could help us. I guess great minds think alike, or feel, or something," said Pepper, stunned that Harry had felt the same thing she had. "Or maybe we have some sort of bond, being soul mates and all."
"Yeah..." said Harry. He had been eager to forget that he and Pepper were soul mates after she dumped him and apparently she had been too, because she said those two words with hesitation. "Pepper, I think we're going to need Hermione's help with this potion. No offense, you're smart and all, but Hermione's really good at potions."
"She's still trying to get over her parents death, though. She won't be any help at all unless she's really happy. Maybe we should get her to see a physiatrist or something. Because at this point the only way we can make her even come close to being happy is..." Pepper looked at Harry with a mischievous grin.
"That's right," Harry said, smiling as well. "We've got to get her and Ron together, and we've got to do it quick. You know as well as I do that Ron loves her and Hermione cares for Ron. She and Neville just aren't meant to be."
"I totally agree," said Pepper. "So, do you have any ideas on how to show Hermione that Neville isn't worth her time?"
"Not one. But I'll keep thinking. I'm sure we'll come up with something," said Harry. "Though, it would be best if we did it by, say, tomorrow."
"Once again, I agree," Pepper said. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Malfoy strutting down the hallway, but he was alone. She thought this would be the perfect opportunity to cast the Truth Spell on him to see what was really going on once and for all.
"Harry, why don't you go back into the common room while I take care of some unfinished business..." Pepper suggested.
"Sure," Harry said, seeing Malfoy as well.
Harry gone, Pepper walked casually over to Malfoy. "Why are you here?" she asked him, narrowing her eyes in suspicion.
"Taking a walk," Malfoy replied indifferently.
"Well while you're conveniently up here by the Gryffindor common room, do you care to inform me what exactly is going on?" she inquired.
"What are you talking about?" he said.
"Don't play dumb with me, Malfoy," Pepper sneered, and then remembered her plan. "For those who want the truth reviled/ Open hearts and secrets unsealed/ From now until it's now again/ After which the memory ends," she said quickly before he could realize what was happening. "Okay, Malfoy," she said menacingly. "Since I'm in charge now, I'd like you to tell me if you really are under the Indirect Imperius Curse."
"Yes," Malfoy answered before he could even register the question. A suspicious look immediately appeared in his face. "What the hell did you do to me?" he asked coldly.
"Cast a Truth Spell," Pepper answered automatically. She quickly put a hand over her mouth. Oh shit, she thought, it's a consequence...the spell was cast on both of us.
It seemed that Malfoy realized what happened, because he smirked at her. "So your little spell affects both of us then, does it?" he said. Pepper was forced to say yes. She wanted to get all her questions in before he started firing them at her, but he seemed to have the same idea she did. "So you enjoy snogging me, Halliwell?" he said. Pepper, once again, had to answer in the affirmative.
That said, he pushed his smirking lips onto Pepper's, kissing her in his usual way which was much different from the kiss they had shared the other night. Before she let her hormones take over and she kissed him back, she put her hands on his chest and pushed him away. She figured his idea was to keep her mouth busy and she wasn't going to let his plan work.
Before he could start in on her again she said, "Why do you care that I'm the daughter of a Charmed One?"
"You can help me get rid of the Indirect Imperius Curse," he answered. He almost got a question out but Pepper cut him off. "Did your father have anything to do with the Death Eater attack on Hermione's village?"
"I don't know," he said.
"Are you really sorry about all that you've done to Harry and Hermione?" Pepper asked.
Malfoy was getting annoyed now, and she could tell he was trying not to answer her question, but the spell made him do it. "Yes," he answered through gritted teeth. Pepper started chuckling, but she had stopped speaking too soon because that gave Malfoy an opportunity to talk. "Why did you cast this bloody spell?" he asked.
Pepper was relieved that this question wasn't very personal and could reveal many embarrassing things about her. "I wanted to know the truth about a few things. Did you rape me?"
"No," he answered. "I told you I didn't before, right? I didn't need to. Why, are you pregnant?"
"I don't know," she replied. "I hope not, though. Do you know that we're related?"
"No," he said, looking very appalled. "We're related? I'm related to a bloody Mudblood?"
"Yes, we're related," she said. "And I'm not a Mudblood." Pepper realized that he could ask her what Pureblood family she was from, a question she really didn't want to answer. She would just have to keep pelting questions at him. "Why are you always in the Defense Against the Dark Arts room?"
It was evident that Malfoy really didn't want to answer this question. "I've been meeting Ginny there," he replied quietly, though Pepper still heard him loud and clear.