Chapter 16
Ruined
Don't kid yourself
And don't fool yourself
This life could be the last
And we're young to see
'Awe! How adorable! Is that a drool spot I see?' a voice came, making Ron open his eyes to see a common room full of people. Hermione was already making her way though the cheery crowd looking slightly embarrassed.
Ron left in the same fashion as Hermione with friendly shoves and catcalls, looking frazzled and embarrassed. Harry was sitting on his bed, pulling his socks on. Ron pulled off yesterday's cloths and pulled on his school robes and uniform.
Harry looked at the lazy eyed Ron and then to Ron's bed where his pajamas lay out and his bed undisturbed.
'You were up all night?' Harry asked looking shocked. He stood up off the bed, felling a little sore from yesterdays game.
'On the couch- I slept on the- couch' he managed through a yawn.
'Okay then. Let's go eat.' Harry said and the two headed off to the great hall, where Hermione was waiting for them.
By mid April the atmosphere of the school was getting more apprehensive as OWLS, NEWTS and exams were coming up. Hermione was once again coaxing Harry and Ron to get a start on their reviews.
The three were waiting on their next class in the common room. Neville was feverishly trying to finish his paper, but with no success. He did not understand what he was talking about or what Darling was talking about…ever. He had asked Hermione for help but she was too busy with her Potions review to be bothered by anyone.
The grounds were thawing and everything was becoming soggy and wet with the persistent fall of rain.
'Shall we go?' Hermione said after putting away the written half of her potions review. Harry and Ron, who weren't doing much of anything, nodded and left the common room accompanied by Neville.
Hermione and Ron were holding hands again and talking, (more like arguing) about study habits.
'I'm dead.' Neville said to Harry. 'I'm not done my paper, it's not even edited or anything!'
'Well, I'm sure spelling errors won't matter that much.' Harry said reassuringly.
'But its only half done, Harry!' he whined.
'Oh, well, that's not good.'
Darling's class filled up quickly. There was a crowd around the front desk where Harry knew the papers were being handed in. Hermione didn't hold her breath to make sure hers was there first.
Neville sat down at table in the back, looking frightened. He's always handed things in, good or bad, he has always! Handed things in. The papers started to sort themselves out in alphabetical ordered and Hermione looked disappointed.
'Mr. Longbottom, would you kindly join me at eight pm tonight we have to discuss your working behavior.' Darling said looking at the stack of paper.
'Why so late? Practice stats at five. She's so stupid.' Hermione said to Harry and Ron quietly looking like she was listening to the silly questions other students asked her.
'Maybe she's busy doing some voodoo ritual.' Ron said truthfully.
'Yeah, like her book cult club anyway, I thought he was in the play?' Harry said and Hermione looked displeased. Ever since Harry had told her what he had over heard she was having a hard time judging her. Was she just using Hermione to get to her two friends?
The last few hours of the day were speeding by quickly and now, Hermione and Ron were walking to their ninth dress rehearsal.
Excitement filled the classroom. Some were already changed into their costumes others were off changing. Hermione grabbed her first outfit hanger off her cloths rack and went off to change.
All in all the play was going smoothly and was quite a success in Darling's eyes. All the fight scenes were brilliant as were the 'love' moment scenes.
Hermione was on her best behavior while playing Juliet. She really took to heart what Darling had told her several months ago. She wasn't Hermione kissing Seamus, she was Juliet kissing Romeo…or if need be, Ron. She smiled at this thought.
Everyone was feeling stressed (excited, but stressed) at the moment because of the long practice hours. There was barely any time to study or do homework as the practices started at 5 and ended at 8. Then it was off to dinner, so it left very little time in between. Most students were finishing their homework in the wee hours of the morning.
'We'll be starting at act four, for those of you who were late.' Hermione sighed as she heard this and rushed back over to her cloths rack and picked out the article of clothing she needed for this particular act.
Dean was dressed and ready to go for his part as Paris but Neville wasn't ready, he wasn't even there.
'Um, Professor, Neville isn't here yet, why are we starting on this act?' Hermione asked, wondering why Neville wasn't here.
'Mr. Longbottom is finishing an essay for me so he will not be here, and as for the scene it needs work.' She clapped her hands together, silently telling Hermione to hurry up.
'Who's going to play Friar Lawrence?' Hermione asked again, pulling on her cloak. Darling randomly pointed to a student and they started to furiously rip through the pages of the script to find the section.
Dean and Malcolm made their way up to the "stage" to open up the scene.
"On Thursday, sir? the time is very short." Malcolm read off the script in a dull voice.
"My father Capulet will have it so; and I am nothing slow to slack his haste." Dean said with passion. Hermione rolled her eyes. She was off to the side awaiting her entrance queue, but it was hard with the talent less Malcolm.
"(Aside) I would I knew not why it should be slow'd. Look, sir, here comes the lady towards my cell.' Malcolm looked like he was having a hard time reading the lines, like he had never heard them before. That was Hermione's queue to go on, but hesitated because she was unsure of what she said.
'Hermione!' Darling yelled.
'Sorry…I couldn't hear' she said hotly.
'Happily met, my lady and my wife!' Dean said, grasping her hands, Hermione let her hands slip away and then replied, 'That may be, sir, when I may be a wife.'
'That may be must be, love, on Thursday next.'
'What must be shall be.' Hermione said sadly, looking off towards the audiences' direction.
'That's a certain text.' Malcolm said blankly.
'Come you to make confession to this father?' asked Dean.
'To answer that, I should confess to you.' Hermione held her hands together loosely in front of her and walked slowly towards Dean's character, Paris. She hated this scene, there was so many movements and gestures that she had to remember.
'Do not deny to him that you love me.' Dean said energetically moving across the stage towards Hermione, who had turned her back on him.'I will confess to you that I love him.'
'So will ye, I am sure, that you love me.' He caressed her face. Hermione moved her head away from the hand. 'If I do so, it will be of more price, Being spoke behind your back, than to your face.''Poor soul, thy face is much abused with tears.' He reached for her face again.
'The tears have got small victory by that; For it was bad enough before their spite.'
Darling looked like she was about to cry. 'Wonderful! Wonderful, wonderful, simply wonderful!'
Practice went good. Ron was happy because they actually were able to get to his death scene...again. ButHermione didn't quite understand why he was happy about dying and she didn't think she ever would.
'You are all certainly ready for July. We're ready enough to do it tomorrow!' Darling exclaimed, tossing her hands into the air.
Hermione took her time hanging up her outfits on the rack She did have a lot of outfits but she didn't need to take so long. She was slowly hanging each hanger, waiting for Neville to come bursting though the door with his essay, but he didn't come yet.
She felt arms wrap around her waste and she jumped, dropping her last outfit. She put her hand over her heart. 'Ron you scared me.' He laughed slight and then kissed her neck. 'Ron…' she hissed. 'The teachers right over there.' she scolded, with a playful tone on her voice.
'So.' He replied and then started to kiss her neck again. She placed her hand over his and giggled. 'Come on, why are we still here?' he said. Hermione nodded, she wasn't able to stay any longer for Neville.
Ron and Hermione could have gone the most distinctive route that anyone would have taken to the Gryffindor tower, but they wanted to take a path where they wouldn't be seen or bothered.
'Shouldn't we meet up with Harry?' Hermione said.
'About how I've acted…I never mean to…I just-' Hermione stopped, turning towards Ron and pushed two fingers over his lips, shook her head and then lowered her hand.
'Everyone knows how you get, Ron Weasley.' She smiled then continued walking, slipping her hand into his.
'Right, that was thoughtful.' He jested and she let out a small laugh, but stopped.
'What was that? Was that a scream?' She asked quietly, trying to hear it again. Sure enough there was another loud shrill cry coming from the Gryffindor Tower area. Hermione ran ahead, followed by Ron.
'Hey-wait up Hermione, it could be dangerous.' But she was already out sight. Ron pushed the drape aside and ran into Hermione who was dumbstruck.
'We found him like this!' A first year girl shouted, tears were running down her face, her friend was too scared to say anything. As Ron lowered his eyes to the floor he say Neville lying in a pool of blood, unconscious. There was a deep gash in his left arm where blood was still seeping from it.
'Go find Professor McGonagall. Now!' she shouted to the two girls, who ran away down the corridor to find McGonagall.
'Ron, stay here. I'll bet this has something to do with her.' Hermione said angrily but Ron grabbed her arm and tugged her back.
'No. It could be too dangerous.' Hermione looked at Neville pulled out her wand and did a simple spell that stopped the bleeding.
'I'll be right back!' she tugged her arm back and ran down the hall. Out of breath Hermione wrenched the door opened to Darling's room.
'About time, I-' She stopped talking as she turned around and realized that Hermione was standing there. 'What do you want?' she asked surprised but Hermione didn't answer, she shook her head angrily and then simply ran back to Ron. Neville had already been taken to the infirmary. However, Harry and many other students were circled around the spot where he was attacked.
'Darling's in her office.' She panted.
'She's probably not the only one.' Ron said and handed Hermione a rectangular piece of material.
'What's this?'
'Don't you recognize it?' Harry said. 'Remember what that man was carrying? It was something rolled in this cloth.'
'I guess this mystery man still is alive and working for Darling.' Hermione said as she tucked the cloth out of sight from any of the teachers who were ordering students into the common room. McGonagall had inquired Ron about what had happened and Ron told her everything from when Hermione had heard the scream. He lied and said that she went to find McGonagall, however.
'This is bad. Remember when she said "another's blood" Harry. It wasn't Ron's they needed, it was Neville's or yours.' Hermione tenderly said. 'And that means whatever she's planning to do she's able to do it now.'
Ron's stomach growled. He had forgotten he hadn't eaten yet. Neither did Hermione who was too, starting to feel hungry.
'I suggest you find what she's up to, Harry…but be careful.' She firmly touched his shoulder and whispered to him, 'use the invisibility cloak, we'll meet you back at nine.' Harry nodded then went to the Gryffindor tower, while Hermione and Ron hurried off to dinner to grab what was left, chatting bitterly about the situation.
It was odd and angering. It was like the man had disappeared, either that or Darling was pretty sneaky. Harry had waited in her room for hours and he got nothing. She was perfectly clean there was nothing in her room (that he could see).
Neville was fine; he had lost a lot of blood but between Hermione's quick patch job, Madam Pomfrey was able to fix him up right away. Neville was excused from some homework but not exams. The teachers were certain that he would be completely recovered by then.
He was in the hospital for a week before he was released but no one knew who had attacked him. Darling seemed quite content to have him back in the play, commenting on the "amazing' performance by Malcolm.
Hermione asked him what he remember about his attacker but he didn't remember too much. He just remembered walking to Darling's room when he was hit on the head. None of the paintings saw anything either.
Time was running short and Darling was clean. June was just around the corner, then exams and then home. They would be leaving Darling to do whatever she was going to do. She seemed happy that they were going to perform Romeo and Juliet. Hermione felt that she was WAY too happy for them to performing Romeo and Juliet.
She was confused. She didn't know why Darling wasn't doing her stupid spell, she surely would have thought that nearly a month after the attack on Neville she would have done something. Ron and Harry shared interest in Darling just as inquisitive as Hermione.
'Maybe she's lying low.' Ron suggested.
'You think.' Hermione bit irritably. She had tones of homework and reviews to do and there were so many play practices that she couldn't even sleep without thinking of her lines.
'Don't take your bad study hour out on me.' Ron said hastily.
'Guys.' Harry butted in lazily. The two didn't squabble as often but when they did, it was still annoying.
'We've fifteen more days before the play Ron. Not only is Darling getting away with this she is probably going to so her little voodoo when no one is around.' Hermione said sarcastically.
'She's probably going to try it during the play. Then entire school is going to be jammed into the great hall.' Harry pointed out suddenly.
'Exactly' Hermione said in an excited tone.
'Right, and that's different from breakfast, lunch and supper how?' Ron asked Hermione and Harry, who looked shocked.
'Well…' Hermione started. 'There much be something that we don't know.' She said leaning on her palm.
'Maybe she doesn't have what she needs.' Harry said to Hermione who was writing down notes on how to properly brew a potion.
'I'm sure we'll find out soon.' Ron said comically and got a "that's not funny" look form both Hermione and Harry. 'I'm just saying' he said and went back to his Herbology review.
'You're right though.' Hermione said behind her book. 'I'm sure we'll find out eventually.'
June third arrived in no time. The school was let out of classes early so that everyone could go and see the performance of the play (which Darling was now hyperventilating over).
The Great Hall was magnificent. All the cast members and crew were busy all day getting it ready. The roof was filled with suspended lights, which seem to fix themselves to point towards the stages.
The area on which the teachers sat was empty and in front was a beautiful red velvet curtain hiding the prop-laden stage. The rest of the hall was filled with comfy chairs for the students. Each member in the play was able to reserve a seat in the front for a friend. Hermione had invited Ginny and Ron invited Harry. All the teachers were, too, privileged to the front rows of course.
Now it was a matter of push and shove to get the good seats between the other students who attended the performance, which, by the way was supposed to be everyone.
Twenty minutes before the performance Hermione was getting antsy because she wasn't able to find a piece for her outfit and Darling was nowhere to be found. Pansy, who was angry because she didn't get the lead sent Hermione running all over the place looking for Darling when someone said that she left about an10 minutes ago to sit in the audience.
Hermione and Ron started to peek through the curtains looking for Darling and neither of them spotted her. The place where she was supposed to be seated was empty and she wasn't talking to any of the other teachers. Hermione was so angry that it took her a little while to notice the little "reserved: Harry. P" sign sitting in a plush seat beside Ginny, who seemed to be looking around for Harry too.
Hermione pulled Ron over to her and asked him, 'Where's Harry?'
'Probably with Ginny, late as usual' he said with a grin.
'No, she's there. And damn it where is Darling! Have you seen her at all tonight?' She whispered harshly in frustration. 'This is going to be a disaster. I can't find half my costume for act 4, this play is going down!' Ron shook his head at her previous question and nodded along with her rants to make her happy. Frankly, he didn't care if the play sucked; he only did it because Hermione asked him to.
'Ron, we've got fifteen minutes before the performance. Don't you find it strange that Darling disappeared just as the hall started to fill up?' Hermione looked back out of the curtain and saw Ginny talking to Parvati's sister, Padma. She poked her head out.
'Ginny.' She hissed. She didn't hear her. She sighed. 'Ginny.' She yelled a little louder and she looked up quizzically. Hermione motioned for her to come over there and talk to her and Ginny slowly got out of her seat and walked over towards the stage.
'Have you seen Harry?' Hermione bent down so that she was near eye level of Ginny. She shook her head.
'I was supposed to come down here with him but he told me to go down ahead of him because he had something he needed to do or something. He went back into his room I don't know if he's still there.'
'Thanks Ginny, enjoy the play.' Hermione stood up again and grabbed Ron by the wrist and pulled him from the crowd into a corner. 'Ginny said Harry didn't even come down to the performance, I can only imagine what he's up to.'
'Maybe he doesn't feel like coming down to the play.'
'Ron! Darling and Harry are missing…what don't you understand.' She looked over to Pansy who was complaining quite loudly about the size of her part. Who is your understudy?' Ron pointed to a fourth year who was currently fixing something and scolding the person who was helping him hold it in place, telling him that it was not for sitting.
'Why?' Ron tensely questioned.
'Come on, you believe that Harry is just sitting in his room doing nothing? We're going.' Hermione looked around to see if anyone was watching and slipped out of sight, leading Ron behind her.
Doesn't time fly by in my story…wow… anyway…It's almost finished typing up the chapters (they're already written) but I start school in like, 3 days SHIIIIIT! I was excited to go back now, I'm all nervous about who's homeroom I'm gunna be in! PLEASE NOT THIRD FLOOR FORHEAVEN SAKES, NOT THIRD FLOOR! Actually, the only thing I hate about school is getting up early…damn you alarm clock
Doesn't time fly by in my story…wow… anyway…It's almost finished typing up the chapters (they're already written) but I start school in like, 3 days SHIIIIIT! I excited to go back now, I'm all nervous about who's homeroom I'm gunna be in! PLEASE NOT THIRD FLOOR FORHEAVEN SAKES, NOT THIRD FLOOR! Actually, the only thing I hate about school is getting up early…damn you alarm clockAnyway, please review and tell me whatcha think! Okies… thanks to all the new people who reviewed my story.
Yours truly,
Sweet Roses