Chapter Thirty Four: Keep Helping Green Hamsters Get Fried Radishes, Darling!
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The room swayed as Kit let out another shriek. She knew it wasn't helping, but she couldn't think straight. Nina was standing by the door, her wand pointed at it in case anyone tried to come in. She could hear someone banging on the door, pawing and trying to get in any way possible. Clinging to the chair, she pushed herself up, her head still spinning. Nina looked over at her maliciously.
"Tsk, tsk . . ." She shook her finger, "Is poor Kit getting sweepy? I guess the potion worked fine, although you are being rather loud. You had better be glad Weasley is here to save you, otherwise I might've killed you. I guess I'll have to settle for keeping you here. Don't want little Draco getting distracted while the dementors rush in, now do we? His daddy would be awfully angry if he stayed because of you."
"But . . . I-I don't understand . . . " Kit managed, looking pleadingly at her, "Just let me go, you're not doing any good keeping me here. They're attacking, damnit! I should be there! I should be . . . helping."
"And what help would a little girl like you be able to do?"
Nina laughed throatily as she heard a shriek from outside the hut. Kit glared at her as she regained her composure, potions never lasted too long on her. She ran at Nina, her arms flailing wildly as she screamed, punching and kicking every inch of her. Nina tried to wrestle her off, her eyes wide with fright. She hadn't expected this at all, and that was just what Kit had planned on. It was such a release, but she knew how bad that could be for everyone.
Kit jumped off quickly. She realized that if she got any more riled up, she could start using her powers without knowing it, and that could be even more dangerous.
Nina looked up at her, terrified. It was the weakest and most pathetic Kit had ever seen her, and it almost made her laugh. She could see the same fear in Nina's eyes as she saw in her own. She knew the feeling, and she didn't like the way that look made her feel. She heard another scream outside, then a yell. Finally, she heard Ron.
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Ron pulled at the door again, kicking the ground in frustration as he heard Kit scream once again, "There's no getting in!"
He looked over at Harry, who was watching for any sign of movement in the hut. He just hoped that Kit was alright. He heard a shrill shriek coming from the woods and looked nervously at Harry.
"That was Hermione, wasn't it?" He asked cautiously.
"It sounded like her, but it seems odd that she'd be out here, doesn't it?" Harry asked, looking into the woods. "I'll go check it out."
They heard another scream and saw the sky darken. Harry gasped and started running to the woods. Ron couldn't leave, not without knowing if Kit was alright. He saw, in horror as Hermione ran past him without noticing, into a mass of dementors that were covering the castle entrance. Harry was blasting his way through, keeping them off of her. She made it inside just in time, but not Harry.
"Shit!" Ron yelled, as Harry blasted a bright silver Patronus at the dementors. He ran back to Ron, his face bright red from the exertion. "Are you all right?"
"I'm alright, but Hermione didn't see me. She kicked me in the leg when she ran off, I think she thought I was a dementor or something, or she just didn't see me." He looked at the door once more, "We've got to blast it, it's the only way we're getting inside."
Ron nodded and, they both pulled they're wands up, ready to say the charm.
"One." Harry looked at Ron, his eyes steady and set, "You know Hagrid might kill us now, right?"
"Two." Ron looked back, "We'll get him a new door, alright?"
"But, what if we blast more than the door?" Harry asked apprehensively.
Ron shrugged. "Three!"
Before anything happened, the door burst open, revealing Kit. She jumped back, their wands in her face. Harry gasped and lowered his quickly. Ron pocketed his and smiled sheepishly.
"Just in the nick of time, eh?" Harry said, scratching his head. Kit rolled her eyes and closed the door, sealing it.
"It's best if we leave her there for a bit," She pointed at the door, "y'know, let her cool down a bit."
"Wow." Ron muttered, "She beat you up pretty good, did she?"
Kit looked more than worse for wear. Her hair was pulled halfway out of a ponytail and her right eye was slightly swollen. He noticed her leaning on her ankle slightly too, as if it were twisted. Her clothes torn, and she looked deeply exhausted. In sympathy, Ron reached and put his arm around her, giving her support as they slowly made their way back to the castle.
Kit shook her head, "I hurt her far worse than she did me. I only twisted my ankle trying to get at her. She gave me the black eye when she knocked me out to get me there."
"Why'd she even try that? What was she trying to accomplish." Harry asked, holding his wand up in case the dementors came back. "It seems odd that she try this at such a critical time. She could've been hurt even worse if the dementors got a hold of you two."
"She said something about making sure Draco doesn't try to stay behind for me. I think his father told him to leave for safety, and she thought I'd be in the way. She got me as I was coming out of the dormitory. Clocked me good with the lamp from her desk."
Ron blushed as Kit leaned her head on his shoulder. "You look really tired, maybe we should take you to the nurse . . ."
"No, I can take care of it," she grinned up at him, "Nina drugged me with some sort of potion, but my powers. . . You didn't forget that soon, did you?"
"What about your leg? Do you think you should mess with it?" Harry asked.
Kit shook her head, "No, it'll heal pretty quick on it's own, no need for me to waste time on it. But my eye is probably not good to leave alone if I want to be of any help. As for the fatigue, I'll be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed before you know it."
Ron grinned, still holding her. "I hope you are as reay as you sound, because we're going to need a lot of help . . . "
"What are you planning on doing?" She asked, looking at him quizzically. "I thought that--"
"You'll see, but for now, we need to get back to Gryffindor." Harry looked at her, "If you'll come?"
She grinned deviously, "I owe it to you, don't I? Besides, they all can't still hate me!"
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He looked into the dimly-lit commonroom, glad to see that all of the Slytherins had finally left. Zema was sitting on the couch, looking more nervous than he had seen her in a long time. Her hair was drawn up, and she looked stately in her uniform. She wasn't wearing any make-up, but she still looked radiant. He ached to go out and console her, for he knew he hurt her, but he wasn't sure if she'd accept his consolance.
"I know you're there, Severus."
He stepped out with ginger grace. Smiling, she ran up to him, throwing her arms about him. Bracing himself, he tried not to hug her back. It was harder than he thought it would be.
"I'm sorry," She said, biting her lip as she backed away, "I just . . . I'm sorry. I know you came to apologize, but you odn't have to. I can understand you're reaction now, and I actually think I'm glad for it. At least I know you were being sincere."
"You know I would never try to hurt you on purpose," Snape said, smiling slightly, "I missed you, and I thought that all of this time . . . you were living it up happily with your husband and children. I guess I was harsh, and a bit rash, for insulting you like that."
She shook her head, holding up her hand, "No more! We don't have to dwell on this. I know what you want to say, and I know you never meant anything. So, now that this is all settled, will you please help me find my daughter?"
"I thought you talked with her earlier!"
"No," Zema frowned, "A girl, I think it was your niece, she told me that Kit left earlier to meet someone. I think she said that someone wanted to talk with her about a certain event that was soon to take place, but I have no idea what she was talking about."
"That does seem quite . . . odd."
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"Where did they go, Granger?!" Draco asked, glaring at Hermione.
She backed against the dungeon wall, rolling her eyes, "Don't start with me, I haven't seen them since breakfast."
"You didn't see them leave?"
Hermione bit her lip, "Well, yes, but I don't know---"
"Where did they go?!?!" Draco yelled again, "Did you go after them?"
"Yes, but I couldn't find them. I was surrounded by those damn dementors, and I think that was occupying my mind a little more than finding them."
He rolled his eyes and stepped back, "Dammit, I can't find Nina or Kit and I think that Weasley might know where they are."
"What happened?" Hermione asked.
Draco sighed, "I just . . . I don't exactly know," He admitted, "All I know really is that Blaise said Nina was going on and on about how Kit was too much of a distraction for me, and she needed to be dealt with, then Kit's mother comes and asks what Nina would want to talk with her about."
"Well, I thought I heard screams coming from inside Hagrid's hut . . . but, I don't know if I was really hearing them. Dementors were everywhere and I just... I don't know if it was real or just in my head."
Draco nodded, and turned to walk down the hall. Hermione grabbed his arm, "I don't think you should be going out there, it's far too dangerous!"
He just glared at her, pushing her hand away, "I can take care of myself."
Hermione bit her lip, "I'm coming with you."
"No you are not!"
"Yes," She glared at him, "I need ot find Ron and Harry too, and I might hate you, but I don't want you dead. Not right now . . ."
He nodded, still glaring, "Well then, let's get going."
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A/N: Now then, you should be glad! Two more chapters left, then the finale, which will only consist of a few little stints, so it won't be that long. I plan on having the next chapter finished by next weekend, so don't worry this time. I have more time to write now that I'm all settled into my new school. I hope you enjoy this chapter! Reminder: the next chapter is just the war and the 'last' will be Kit's decision/the Bewitcher's Song. Whew....