Chapter 16 – With the exception of evil cousins.
I awoke with a start as I heard fireworks going off in the distance. I got up and changed into my Pj's and wrapped the blanket around me. I left my Ugg boots on and went on a search for everyone. I saw everyone sitting around a small bonfire roasting marshmallows.
I sat down and yawned. "That was the best sleep I've had in ages," I said smiling.
"What about your sleep last night?" Hermione asked everyone laughing as I blushed.
"I could say the same about you and Ron," I said as she blushed as well and everyone laughed at her.
I leaned back against Harry's knees and picked at some of his marshmallow and ate it. I looked up and saw Cho evilling me 'What happened to her?'
"Hey guess what?" I said as everyone turned to look at me.
"I can read your minds, ooohoOOOOooohhhHH," I said waving my hands in a fake ghostly way as everyone laughed.
I put my hands to my temples and looked at Sean, "I'm reading your mind…" I said thinking about it "-Eww." I said looking at him grossly as I dropped my hands. I threw a marshmallow at him giggling.
"So what was I thinking about?" He asked cocking an eyebrow at me. I smirked.
"You were thinking of a foursome with me, Cho. Hermione and you," I said laughing as all the guys threw Marshmallows at him.
I heard music start playing in the background from a muggle campsite and smiled. I stood up and jumped up and down giggling as I danced around the main bonfire. I ran over to Cho and Hermione pulling them to their feet. They slowly began getting into it as everyone else started getting up and Sean joined us.
I saw Hermione pull Ron to his feet as a familiar song came up. Cho and me ran over to the guys I pulled Harry and Sean to their feet and began dancing with the both of them singing along to the words.
I looked at Sean as he sung the chorus to me "You should let me love you, let me be the one to, give you everything you want and need, baby good love and protection, make me your selection, show you the way love's supposed to be, baby you should let me love you, love you, love you…" He sung. I twirled around him giggling as I stood away from both of them.
"Listen, your true beauty's description looks so good that it hurts, you're a dime plus ninety - nine and it's a shame don't even know what you're worth, everywhere you go they stop and stare, cause you're bad and it shows, from your head to your toes, out of control baby you know!" I sung smiling as the 2 laughed at me. I held the fake mike to Harry and he sung the bridge as Sean sung the twiddly bits "You deserve better girl (you know you deserve better) we should be together girl (baby) With me and you it's whatever girl, hey so we can make this thing ours?" He said looking into my eyes. I laughed playfully as Hermione and Ron came over with Cedric and Cho as we all sung the lyrics playfully.
As the song finished we hear applause and saw a small audience, I smirked and curtseyed as everyone else followed suit
I heard the next song come up and Cho stood up next to me; she smirked and configured a mike. I saw the guys sit down on the logs in front of us and I pulled Hermione up as we started dancing through the crowd singing along another song.
Eventually after something like the 20th song we tired out. I plopped down on Harry's lap and stole his drink. I gulped it down handing him back the empty cup.
"Thanks," I exclaimed as I breathed heavy.
"Your welcome?" He said looking at his empty cup. I giggled and took in his scent. I smiled at him '…he likes me?…yes!'
He looked at me smiling as I hugged him tightly. I looked over and saw Hermione looking at her bracelet as Ron had an arm around her waist and Sean talking up some 3rd years. I caught a glimpse of someone watching us and looked over my shoulder to see Cho resting her head on Cedric's shoulder as they slow danced.
"Care for one last dance?" I asked looking at Harry, he smiled and nodded his head. I stood up and held my hand out for him. We walked over beside Cedric and Cho. I waved at Cedric and put my arms around Harry's neck as he pulled me close to him. I couldn't help but smile.
"So…how are you feeling now?" He asked awkwardly.
"I feel great…now," I said into his chest. I could almost feel his smile on his every muscle.
"Excuse me? Mind if we swap?" I looked up and saw Cho looking at us smiling at Harry. Harry nodded his head almost unwillingly and I stepped into Cedric's arms sensing his worry.
"Is something up with Cho? She's been acting all weird…" Cedric said glancing at her as he put his arms around my waist. I put my arms around his neck loosely and glanced at his worried expression.
"Not that I know of," I said trying not to worry him even though I was worried as well.
"You think she…'likes' Harry?" He asked sadly. I gave him a big hug.
"I hope not, but if she does she doesn't know how lucky she is to have you." I said as Cedric smiled down on me.
"Your too nice to not be a Hufflepuff. How come your in Gryffindor?" He asked as he ruffled my hair. I fake frowned at him.
"Because I'm…Brave? Full of bravado? A bit of cockiness? Hell I don't know ask the stupid rag they put on my head?" I said as he laughed at me.
"I'm worried about them 2, are you and Harry an item yet? I mean cause he's a faithful person so…" He began stopping mid sentence.
"I'm not going out with Harry…yet. And I'm not worried, you shouldn't be either, it's my cousin and Harry. As in Harry, scar on his forehead, girls fawn over him all the time; Harry?" I said as if everyone knew. Cedric laughed heartily as the song ended.
"Don't worry, if they do anything we've got each other for support, and 'that'-" I said pointing at the both of us "-is an unbeatable team!" I giggled as if it were common knowledge; he gave me a quick hug watching the 2 come over.
"You're right, how's about we head over behind the bushes…" He said cocking an eyebrow. I slapped him playfully on the arm.
"You've been spending too much time with Sean!" I said laughing as he shrugged his shoulders. I sighed inhaling deeply his scent of cheer, which was soon replaced by horror. I looked up into his face confusedly and saw him looking at something. I followed his gaze slowly as everything in my mind went silent. It was as if time came to a stand still as I watched Cho and Harry kissing.
I felt my taste fade as tears streamed down my face. I felt something snap inside me and clutched at my chest.
"Kimmy are you okay!" Cedric asked as I doubled over but I only saw his lips moving. I pushed his arm away and ran towards the beach. I fell onto the sand gasping for air my sight blurring everything in front of me. I closed my eyes trying to focus myself as tears fell from my eyes. I smelled fear, worry, care…love emotions running towards me. I squeezed the sand in my fingers and realized I couldn't feel it. My body had gone numb. I inhaled deeply trying to calm myself. I looked up and saw the blurry figures standing in front of me.
Hermione was looking at me worriedly with Ron by her side both saying something I couldn't hear. I saw Cedric and Sean running towards us as more people I didn't know came around me. I saw Harry come to stand in front of me with Cho by his side. My eyes almost popped out with my pain. I clutched at my heart as everything around me turned black and I fell to the ground.
Hermione's Point of view.
I paced the corridors outside the surgery room as Ron watched me anxiously. I glanced at Harry and expelled an angry breath. I saw Cedric sitting next to Sean opposite Cho and Harry. Sean was rubbing Cedric's back comfortingly. I slammed my hand against a wall angrily. I turned around and began pacing again.
"Hermione?" Ron asked timidly.
"WHAT!" I retorted irritably. He looked terrified as everyone looked at me. "Quit staring!" I yelled and everyone looked to the floor. I looked back at Ron.
"Sorry I'm just-" I stamped my foot angrily not being able to find words to express my anger as he placed an arm on my shoulder.
"Its oka-" He began I slapped his arm away.
"No it's not okay!" I yelled. I pulled him around the corner quickly, I glanced around the corner and made sure none of them could hear us.
"Promise you won't tell Harry or anyone ever?" I said pressing him against the wall. He nodded his head vigorously and I explained about the spell placed on her many months ago as he stared at me in shock, horror and anger. He stormed back into the corridor pacing, glaring every now and than at Harry as I had once done as I sat down in a chair wringing my hands I looked up at Harry and swore I saw him looking at me.
"Those here for Kimmy Chang?" I looked up at the doctor and stood up walking over to him as everyone looked up expectantly.
"She's going to be fine," I expelled a sigh of relief "She…well it is a most unusual thing that happened, and I was wondering if you could answer a few questions?" He said pulling a pen out of his pocket and holding it about a piece of parchment.
"Um…I'm sure I could answer them all if we could um step inside?" I asked. He nodded his head as we entered the room. I saw Kimmy stir in her sleep and looked at the doctor.
"Her heart…it tore in 2…literally." I clapped a hand to my mouth in shock "I don't know how to explain it? It had clear lacerations as if torn apart in the inside, we managed to save her but had to use muggle means as you can see by all the equipment," He said gesturing the equipment, I nodded "-but when we operated we couldn't find anything that could show us how she…well…how it broke?" He said. I nodded my head and explained the spell and told him it was confidential and that the only people who knew about it were Ron and Dumbledore and a few of the professors and her father. After I finished he looked at me in shock as his pen and clipboard fell from his arms clattering loudly in the room.
"It explains so much and so little at the same time…I didn't even know a spell exited as such, I thought that kind of spell would have killed you instantly as your body can only contain so much power unless you're a…well, have the powers of the ancestral wizards from Tristram and we all know that can't be possible cause even than if she was to gain maximum power…well, she'd have to be pre-" He began only to see the door fling open and Kimmy's I suppose father rush to her side.
"Is she okay?" He asked looking at us fearfully. The doctor nodded and explained the situation to him as I stood there unsurely.
"Daddy?" Kimmy asked weakly reaching around for his hand. I sighed and smiled 'She was okay,'
Harry's point of View
I looked at the floor angry with myself 'Why didn't I push her off? Why did she have to come on to me? Why? I'm not even that cute. And god I'm so stupid! When I saw the look on Kimmy's face…I wish I could have died. It was painful to watch her run away tears covering her beautiful face.' I placed my hands on my knees as Hermione slammed her fist on the wall. I heard someone's feet padding over to her. 'It must be Ron'
"Hermione?" Ron asked timidly 'Man he sounds scared,'
"WHAT!" She yelled back. I looked up and saw her looking the most furious I had ever seen her. She turned to look at us
"Quit staring!" She yelled. I looked back at the floor hating myself for what I'd possibly done to her as well. 'What if Kimmy doesn't make it? It'll all be my fault.' I felt my eyes water and wiped it angrily.
"Sorry I'm just-" I heard Hermione exclaim as she stamped her foot angrily.
"Its oka-" Ron began
"No it's not okay!" She yelled. Before dragging him around the corner. I sighed aloud as I felt a small hand on my leg and looked up into her eyes, glaring as her smile fell.
"Get your hand off me," I stated angrily as Cho took her hand back looking at the floor.
"It isn't your fault Harry, don't blame yourself," She whispered not looking at me. I looked across at the window as I saw the doctor checking his clipboard, as Kimmy lay on the bed resolute.
"That's right it's not," I said looking back at her with utmost loathing. "It's your fault." I said as her jaw fell and she looked at me gob smacked.
"How is it my fault! You-" She began
"No! You kissed me! Kimmy would be fine if she hadn't seen you kissing me! I told you once, I told you twice, I don't like you that way anymore!" I said as a tear fell from her eye.
"Oh don't bother crying! The sympathy card doesn't work when the girl I love is lying in St. Mungo's possibly on her death bed!" I said angrily staring across through the window. I saw Ron stomp down the corridor and he began pacing again, he glanced at me and glared death. I shook my head and looked at the floor 'Why am I being punished for something I didn't do?' I saw Hermione sit down visibly more relieved, she turned her head and I looked back down.
"Those here for Kimmy Chang?" Everyone looked up at the doctor. I stood up walking over to him but Hermione beat me to it. I sighed 'I guess it is best if she saw a friend right now…considering she probably won't even want to talk to me after this…'
"She's going to be fine," He said, I expelled a sigh of relief, as did everyone else minus Cho.
"She…well it is a most unusual thing that happened, and I was wondering if you could answer a few questions?" He said pulling a pen out of his pocket and holding it about a piece of parchment looking at Hermione.
"Um…I'm sure I could answer them all if we could um step inside?" Hermione asked. He nodded his head as they entered the room. I saw Hermione stand in front of the window looking at the doctor intently.
I saw his lips move but couldn't hear a thing. She clapped a hand to her mouth in what I think was shock. He began talking again gesturing the equipment around Kimmy as Hermione nodded.
I saw him hold the pen in his hand looking at her asking her something. She began talking animatedly and the doctors face lost colour in complete shock, after Hermione finished I saw the pen and clipboard fall from his grasp. He began talking animatedly. I saw a body of robes fly past my view and saw them enter the room; he strode over to Kimmy's side brushing a hair away from her face. 'I wish I could do that right now…' He looked at the doctor and they began talking animatedly.
Kimmy's point of view.
'I'm never drinking pumpkin juice before I dance ever again,' I thought as something clattered to the floor loudly. I heard people talking around me their voices sounding shocked. 'Are they talking about the spell? Maybe the doctors here know a counter curse, I really do hate not begin able to control it around Harry…oh Harry, how could you…?' I inhaled deeply hearing a beeping noise, which sounded like a heart monitor. I heard the door swish open and a hand brush some hair out of my face as a familiar voice reached my ears.
I reached a hand out and found his. "Dad?" I asked my voice sounding weak. I opened my eyes and saw a tear fall from his face. I smiled tiredly
"Daddy don't frown it causes wrinkles and don't make me start on tears…" I muttered smiling as he smiled down on me. I tried to sit up but found my body was like lead. My dad pulled his wand out and my bed slowly lifted so I could see. I looked across and saw Hermione smiling at me weakly, hers eyes shiny with tears.
"You gave us a right scare," someone said, I turned my head very slowly and looked at the doctor. He picked his chart up from the floor and began explaining everything to me. I yawned tiredly.
"You done? Cause I'm so weak my brain is barely functioning and I'll get Hermione to explain everything to me later and more thoroughly in words I actually understand," I said looking down at why I was so uncomfortable. I lifted the cover and gaped at all the wires sticking out of me as the doctor laughed.
"I'm-Jeebus! This is a lot of cords, was I that bad?" I asked looking at him. He nodded his head and walked over to a cupboard, he poured some potion into a cup and I smiled at the goblet he handed me. I twirled my fingers tiredly over it and smirked at Hermione as the Doctor shook his head. I removed my mask and I sipped the drink.
"Woo! What do you guys put in this? It's like-Wow!" I said as my body buzzed with energy.
"Powdered dragon heart strings," He said and I nodded my head understandingly.
"When can I leave this place?" I said looking around at the white room. Which seemed dreary and tired.
"In about 3 hours, Dumbledore said he'd come pick you up." He said smiling. I nodded my head and gestured for Hermione to come over to me. She came over to me smiling.
"What?" She whispered.
"Bribe him to let me take out the cords, they're mega uncomfortable and are going to leave massive scarring…" I said as Hermione smirked at me.
"I heard that! And don't worry I have another potion for you to get rid of them and you can take the cords out in an hour," He said handing over a small vial of pink liquid. I went to grab it but it fell onto the bed completely missing my hands.
"I'll get the use of my hands soon right?" I asked. He nodded his head. I looked over and saw Cedric and Sean at the window pulling faces at me, I giggled.
"Can my friends come in?" I asked he nodded and I beckoned them in. Cedric kissed me on the forehead and I smiled up at him.
"Hey, how you doing?" He asked. I held my arms out to him gesturing the cords sticking into my hand, chest and crook of my elbow.
"I see your point, I'm just glad your okay," He said smiling. I smiled back at him and took another sip of my potion.
"Where's my butterfly?" Sean asked pushing past Cedric and hugging me. I smiled at him.
"Since when did I become a butterfly?" I asked as he leaned back smiling I finished the potion and handed it to my dad, he put it on the bedside table.
"Since you finally came out your terrifyingly ugly cocoon of death and was reborn as a living beautiful butterfly," He said laughing. I began laughing with him and soon started coughing and put the mask back on.
"I'm not out of the blue yet, don't get your hopes up" I rasped gesturing the cords. He nodded sadly.
"Hey," I looked up and gestured for him to come up to me. I gave him a hug. "How you doing?" He asked.
"I'm doing fine Ron, how is…Harry?" I asked. He looked away angrily.
"He's outside, he's blaming himself for the whole thing," Ron answered looking away angrily. I smiled weakly though my mask as Ron held my hand comfortingly. 'Well he should since he kissed Cho'
"Hey," I looked up and felt my blood boil, "Ow!" Ron yelped releasing his hand from mine.
"Out!" I rasped. She turned away walking out as I glimpsed a small smile.
"Could everyone leave for a moment, I need to talk to Kimmy about something…" My dad asked. Everyone waved goodbye as my dad sat on the side of my bed.
"Kimmy?" He whispered.
"What?" I asked as the doctor left.
"I know how you feel for Harry-" I made to protest but he shushed me "-no let me continue, I want you to be careful. I recently discovered a spell, which can lower your senses to normal ability for short bursts of time, but if you (as I know you will) end up with Harry you need to be careful not to fall in-love with him," He said looking intently at him.
"Little late for that dad," I muttered to myself.
"No- you have to understand that…I didn't want to tell you this but your mother…she was a power hungry person, you were what made her so power hungry…you see she knew you had lots of powers and tried to take them from you as a child," He began I looked up at him like he was crazy.
"Well that can't be right you can't steal an ability not like this one anyway, you have to be born with it," I said pondering the crazy idea.
"Your mother was a death eater." He blurted. My jaw dropped open as I gasped at him. "but-" I began
"No listen, she became a death eater a few years after you were born, she wanted to be known as the most powerful witch of the wizarding world but…well even in your cute little pink booties you were the most powerful, even if you didn't know it at the time. The thing is He Who Must Not Be Named told your mother he knew a way to get your powers. But when your mother tried to steal it, I took you with me and we took refuge with the Arlian Meckinsites, which is how the war came about and your mother died," He finished. I nodded my head '…I can't fall in love with Harry.'
"Wait? So I can't be with Harry? At all?" I asked fearfully.
"You can be with him…just don't fall in-love with him," He said. I sunk lower into my seat.
"You know that really sucks butt crap!" I said pouting. He kissed me on the cheek.
"Don't be like that it's for your well being," He said. "Well, I have to go, here" He handed me a note with lots of writing on it "The spell lasts for around 3 hours at a time, love you sweetie I got to get back to work, write me," He said striding out.
I sat there thinking for a while. I looked up and saw everyone start piling into the room and I saw Harry come in and sit down in a dark corner of the room. Cho had gone. I yawned and looked at the clock. 'Great I can take out these…'
I leaned forward and closed my eyes as the door opened I pulled the cord out of my elbow wincing. "Miss Chang, I recommend I do that otherwise you'll- oh dear," He said looking at my elbow as blood oozed out. I felt kind of woozy and fell against my pillow.
"I'm never doing that again," I muttered as he pulled his wand out and healed it handing me another goblet of purple potion. I sipped it 'Hmm…blood regenerating potion, half painkilling potion…smart' I gulped it down as he pulled the cords out of me. I looked around at everyone dazedly.
"Are you done yet?" I asked he pulled the last cord out and I yelled the pain coming back ten fold.
"Ow! A little warning would've been nice," I said angrily as he healed the puncture holes leaving a big scar after healing it
"Don't worry, it'll go away once you take that potion I gave you earlier, along with the scars" he said smirking at me. I rolled my eyes and pulled the stopper out of the vial and drunk it quickly, the pain quickly easing. He raised an eyebrow and I glared as he laughed at me.
"Is Miss Chang ready to leave?" I looked up and saw Professor Dumbledore. The Doctor smiled at him and nodded as he checked some stuff off the charts.
"Just check out at the front desk and you can be off back to camp," He said looking at the chart.
I stood up shakily only for my legs to give way. "Damn legs," I muttered as Ron caught me deftly. I smiled at him thankfully.
"Your legs will be a bit wobbly for a while, so do you want a wheel chair, I can send one up from E.R?" He said looking at me. I shook my head.
"I want to at least leave with the little dignity I have, since I have to wear this stupid outfit which flashes my butt," I said holding the gap of material together as Sean attempted to peep. I glared at him and swished my fingers putting on a nice big pair of light Green Pyjamas.
Cedric stepped forward "Here, I'll carry her," He said slipping a hand under my knees and one around my waist hoisting me into the air.
"Great friends you have there," The doctor said smiling.
"Yea most of them," Ron said looking over at Harry. I frowned
"All my friends are great…with the exclusion of evil cousins," I said laughing as Cedric carried me out with Hermione getting some extra potions from the doctor and leaving. We got to the front desk and I signed my name on the piece of parchment, I saw the lady wink at Cedric and scowled at her.
I felt Cedric adjust me in his arms. "I knew I should've taken that aerobics class with the old lady down the hall, I'm fat," I said giggling as everyone joined in my laughter apart from Harry. 'I can't fall in-love with him. Nobody said anything about being friends? Plus it's not like me and him were ever…like a couple?'
"Hey Harry," He looked up at me surprised. I beckoned him forward and wrapped my arms around his neck. I nodded at Cedric and fell into Harry's arms.
"Everyone's being greedy with me, I'm sorry," I said smiling at him; he smiled half-heartedly unbeknownst as Dumbledore smiled down on us.
"Hands out everyone," Dumbledore said holding out a plate from the campsite. I placed a hand lazily out splaying it on the entire plate as everyone placed their hands on mine.
"Awww…. Kodak moment," I said giggling. I looked back at Harry and saw him smiling weakly.
"3-2 and 1," Dumbledore said as I clutched tighter to Harry's neck as we came to an abrupt halt. I felt Harry's knee's buckle and someone call out to him.
"Oh Hey? Kimmy you alright?" Lavender asked. I felt Harry situate me in his arms again as he regained his composure.
"I'm fine, I think? Oh well I'll be all good after tonight, just need a good nights sleep," I said looking at Harry. He nodded at lavender and walked us over to the tent. Hermione opened it for us watching Harry with apprehension. He opened up my bed and placed me in it. I yawned tiredly.
"Thanks for carrying me," I said lazily as I rolled over pulling the covers up and sighing.
"Stop staring at me, I'm trying to sleep," I muttered. I heard everyone leave and than some shouting outside. I clicked my fingers and silenced them laughing to myself as I fell asleep.