Hey guys.
I've updated the previous chapter, and I hope you guys enjoy this chapter.
"Yo guys!" Natsu smiled and waved as he squeezed next to Harry and Neville, who were sitting across from Ron and Hermione. He looked around the Study Room, not many people were here. Only the four sitting with him and Cho and Padma on the other table, Gajeel snoring away on the table, book covering his eyes. Plus a few familiar faces Natsu saw around school, but never really bothered to talk to.
"Whatcha guys doing?" He asked, looking between the two. "We're studying for the Transfiguration Test for later today." Ron replied, not looking up from his book. "Wait, what? Test?" Natsu muttered, his body going stiff.
"You idiot! Weren't you listening the past few weeks?!" A fed up voice told him. Everyone up, and saw Lucy, one hand around a book, the other on her hip. "Jeez, you really need to pay more attention in class." She sighed, her head moving down with her sigh. Natsu searched his head for an excuse, but he couldn't find anything.
"Anyway, you still have three hours before the test. You better get cramming as much as possible." Lucy sighed, as she walked off. "AH! I'd better go study!" Natsu screamed and dashed out of the Study Room towards the library. "He is so clueless…." Hermione muttered, rolling her eyes and went back to her book.
Harry stared at Lucy for a bit, then remembered something. Something important about her. He leaned forward, trying to see if his guess was right. He stood up, forward, back, but he couldn't see, as Cho was blocking his vision. Ron looked up from his work book, and scanned him up and down. "What are you doing?" He asked, a bit skeptical.
"Ron, is Lucy wearing gloves?" Harry asked. Ron raised an eyebrow and leaned back to look at Lucy's hands. He sighed, then looked at Harry. "I don't know, I can't see. Why?" He asked, Hermione looking up as well. "Well, didn't you guys notice? Lucy always wears gloves!" Harry whispered over to them. Ron and Hermione looked at each other, then at Lucy, who was smiling, and talking to Cho and Padma.
"Now that I think about it…." Ron muttered. "You don't think…. That the mysterious woman…." Hermione whispered, her eyes widened. "Is Lucy?!" She whispered aggressively, looking at Lucy once more. "No way! The woman we saw was way taller and looked WAY more mature than Lucy. So it can't be her." Ron whispered, looking at Lucy.
"But didn't Myrtle say something about her being "changed"? Maybe Lucy altered her body somehow…" Harry thought out loud, only for Hermione to shake her head. "I've never heard of such a spell. Even if it was real, I would suspect it to be a forbidden spell. And also, I doubt that there is a transfiguration spell for it as well…" Hermione sighed.
Suddenly, Natsu rushed in, carrying five books on Transfiguration and ran to the end of Lucy's table."Hey guys! I need he-!" Natsu suddenly felt his toe stump into something, and felt himself fall forward. "Ah…" He gasped. As he did, his body began to roll down the long table, spilling books, drinks and ink everywhere.
Gajeel fell back of his chair, hitting his head with a hard thud, Lucy and Cho screaming, moving their work out of the way in time. A book flew out the window, smashing the glass, slight screams coming from below. Another book flew on a candle, tipping it over making a curtain catch on fire.
"AHHHH! FIRE!" Lucy screamed, her hands in the air, eyes white and flooding with tears of panic. "Aguamenti!" The girls chanted, pointing their wands at the fire water flowing out at high pressure putting out the fire.
Natsu flew off the table, finishing upside down, his back hitting hard on the wall, resulting in a huge crack in the wall. "Ugh…." He slurred, sliding down the wall, his eyes swirling. "What the hell you moran?! How can you destroy a room in five seconds?!" Gajeel snapped, holding him by the collar, shaking him back and forth.
The room's floor covered in spilt ink, wet and torn paper, and damaged books. Wax covered the smoldering curtain, students on the ground murmuring about the broken glass and window, not to mention the new crack in the wall. "Natsu! Are you ok?!" The Gryffindor boys rushed over to their friend, who was groaning and rubbing his head.
"Oh no! My uniform!" Lucy cried, her uniform and gloves soaking wet with black ink. "Lucy! Are you alright?" Cho cried, snapping a handkerchief out of her uniform, dabbing Lucy's uniform before it had a chance to stain. "Here, let's get you cleaned up…" Padma said sweetly, helping Lucy to the bathroom. "Oh no please! Don't trouble yourself! I can do it!" Lucy denied politely and made her way to the bathroom.
Hermione stayed silent, watching Lucy walk away. She then turned her head to Natsu, who was still out of it. Gajeel was slapping him across the face to wake him up, while the other boys tried splashing water on his face or speak him out of his shock.
Hermione looked left and right, until she silently groaned and followed Lucy. Even though she thought to find out about this until after they get the information out of Draco, it was still odd that she was the only one wearing gloves. And with her washing up, this was a golden opportunity for her to see what was under her gloves. Not to mention she had a feeling that Lucy was hiding something. Maybe today was the day she found out.
BANG!
"Oi, did you guys here something?" Ron asked, looking behind him. "Like what?" Neville asked, wondering what Ron was talking about.
Stomp stomp stomp stomp….
Heavy footsteps could be heard down the hall, getting heavier and closer.
Stomp stomp STOMP STOMP! STOMP! STOMP!
CRASH!
Everyone gulped and gasped at the doors' sudden opening. There stood a twisted shadow in the form of a woman. Eyes glowing gold, hair waving like a wild flame. Clearly, she was mad. VERY mad. "NATSU DRAGNEEEEEEL!" She roared.
"P-Professor Scarlet?!" Everybody screamed in fear, sprinting back from Natsu. Erza growled and grabbed Natsu by the shirt, and began to shake him back and forth, even harder than Gajeel. "How DARE you do this! An innocent life was lost because of you!" Everyone's eyes opened wide, and ran towards the window. But there was no body. Only glass mixed with a smashed plate and some kind of yellow food and something white and red.
"Because of you…." Erza stopped shaking him and gave a sniff and clenched her fist. Everyone turned around, staring at Erza. "A delicious strawberry cake never got the chance…! I will not stand for this!" She snapped furiously and shook him even harder. Ron and Harry looked at each other in confused amazement. She wasn't mad about the mess. About the damaged books, the broken window or the half burnt curtain. But of a Strawberry Cake.
"UhUhUhUhUhUh!" Natsu slurred. By the time Erza stopped shaking him, Natsu sweared that everyone was blurry and spinny. "Ten hours of detention with me! Starting now!" Erza dragged Natsu out by the collar and dragged the almost unconscious Natsu out the door. Everyone stared at the door, then at each other. "Well, at least he dodged the test somehow…" Ron muttered, turning to Harry.
Hermione softly followed Lucy, making sure that she didn't see her following. Lucy finally entered the bathroom, Hermione leaning near the door. She waited for a few seconds, until she heard running water. Alright. It's now or never.
Hermione slipped into the bathroom, heading closer and closer to the running water. She leaned behind a column and stuck her head out. She could see the Lucy from the diagonal left, her left hand glove still on. But she couldn't see anything on her right.
"I must say, Mister Dragneel is getting more and more reckless by the day."
Hermione shook her head a bit. That was a voice she had never heard before. It sounded almost…. Robotic. She took a peak, and saw a pair of gloved hands help Lucy take off her uniform. So there was someone there…
Lucy sighed. "I wish he would think about things before he did them…" She complained. "That is highly unlikely princess." The voice said. "Wait…. PRINCESS?!" Hermione silently gasped, her eyes opened in amazement. "Here is your new uniform Princess. Is it time for punishment?"
"NO!" Lucy yelled, a bit flustered about the question. "Wait, so is she a house elf? No, can't be. Those hands are one of a human." Hermione pondered. Hermione could hear the ruffling of Lucy's uniform. "And here are your new gloves Princess. I've even added the modifications you asked for." The lady said, handing Lucy a pair of gloves. "Thank you, you're a lifesaver Virgo!" Lucy smiled.
"Virgo?" Hermione thought. She needed to get a peak, but she couldn't move a muscle, as it would give away her cover. "I am only doing my job Princess. Punishment?" The lady asked. "No!" Lucy denied again. Lucy reached for her left hand first and slid the glove off. Hermione held her breath, keeping an eye out on the back of her hand.
It was as if everything went slow for a minute…. Hermione stared intently, Lucy pulling the glove off with the middle finger of the glove. She could hear her heartbeat as she watched Lucy's glove slowly slide off her back hand.
And….
Nothing. There was nothing on the back of Lucy's left hand. Then Hermione remembered… The symbol on the lady's hand was on the right! Lucy slid off her right glove, but Hermione couldn't see it. She silently tisked in annoyance as she slid her gloves on.
"If the Princess has nothing else, I will be on my way."
"Thank you Virgo. Keep me updated with the others." Lucy smiled. "Yes of course Princess." Lucy smiled and headed Hermione's way. Hermione gasped and tightly squished her back against the gap in the column and the wall and held her breath. Lucy finally walked past without her knowledge of Hermione being there. Lucy turned left, exiting the bathroom. Once she did, Hermione sprang out of her hiding spot and into the main bathroom.
But no one was there….
Hermione painted, and ran to the closest stall. She opened the door, but there was no one. She checked all of them, but nothing. "What the…? Where did she go?!" Hermione whispered. She looked behind her and ran out of the bathroom and looked left and right, but there was no one around. She ran back into the bathroom and checked all the stalls one more time, every hiding place she could think of.
"There's no way she could be gone!" Hermione yelled in confusement. She ran out again and turned right, running down the hallway. "I have to find Ron and Harry!" She gritted, heading towards the Study hall she was at. She ran through the doors, but Harry and Ron were gone. Only Neville was there. "Neville! Where did Harry and Ron go?" Hermione asked, panting at the door. "They went to the Common Room to relax before the test." He told them before going back to his work.
Hermione hastily thanked him and ran towards the Common Room. She burst inside the room, Ron and Harry sharply turning their heads towards her. They were in a lying position, clearly lazing off before the test. As Neville said. "Hermione? Where'd you go?" Ron asked. "You'll never believe what I just uncovered!" She panted, stomping in front of the fireplace, placing herself firmly between the boys and the fire. "Lucy is a princess!"
"A WHAT?!" The boys exclaimed, placing their legs down. "I followed Lucy to the bathroom to see if her hand had the mark, and there was someone with her! I don't who it was, I didn't see their face! But only heard her voice... And I've never heard her voice…. So I don't know who that was! But I heard Lucy call her Virgo."
"Virgo?" Harry repeated and looked at Ron. "I don't think there is someone named Virgo here." He said to Hermione.
"Wait wait wait…. Lucy Heartfilia is a PRINCESS?!" Ron repeated again. "...Well I guess that explains the arranged marriage." Ron muttered. "Wait, I thought it was because Lucy and Natsu were getting married because their fathers were businessmen..." Harry muttered to Ron. "So does that mean Lucy was lying…?" Ron asked.
"Anyway the weird thing was after Lucy left, the this…. Virgo… vanished into thin air! I checked all the lavatories and there was no one there." Hermione explained. "And it seems that this Virgo knows Natsu…. She addressed him as Mister Dragneel." Hermione explained. "How does someone disappear in thin air like that?" Harry asked, his hands a bit flustered. "I don't know…" Hermione whispered, slightly shrugging. "But then again, Dobby could disappear into thin air, so why can't this Virgo?" Harry hummed. "I guess that's true…" Ron hummed.
CLICK!
Everyone looked at the entrance to the door, Natsu stumbling in. "Ugh…. I'm saved…." He sighed, rubbing his head. "How'd you escape Scarlet?" Ron asked, his eyes a bit concerned. "Hm? Oh Professor Strauss came up and bribed Professor Scarlet with a strawberry cake and said that if I passed the test, I won't have detention. Though she reduced twenty five points from me for accidentally damaging the study room…." Natsu sighed, slouching over.
The three students looked at the pink haired boy for a few seconds. Natsu stood there, looking at them, then darting his eyes left and right before looking behind. "Uh is something wrong…?" Natsu asked, feeling a bit uneasy about the stares he was receiving. "Natsu…. Do you know someone by the name of Virgo?" Hermione asked, turning her body towards Natsu.
"Hm? Virgo?" Natsu repeated, blinking a bit. Hermione nodded, shifting her body towards Natsu. "Yeah. She's Lucy's maid." Natsu replied bluntly. "Lucy's maid? So she really is a princess!" Ron exclaimed. "Yeah, she's a princess alright. She has a fancy house, servants, everything! Though she could lose a couple of pounds…" Natsu smiled mischievously.
"And does Virgo have any special… powers…?" Hermione asked, cautiously. Natsu blinked a bit, before giving Hermione a stern eye. "First, how do you know about Virgo, and why are you asking questions about her?" He asked, turning tables on her. Hermione's eyes widened and looked at Harry and Ron. "Uh… Well after Lucy got inked, I went into the bathroom to help her and there was someone named Virgo with her…" Hermione explained.
"I see…. " Natsu said darkly. Hermione held her breath as she looked into his eyes. Harry and Ron slightly shifted away from Natsu, they too afraid of his eyes. They were stern and black. It was almost as if they stumbled across something… Something they shouldn't have.
"Welp anyway!" Natsu snapped out of his glare and gave a smile. "I'd better get going to study! Erza will kill me if I don't pass and Mira won't save me this time!" Natsu screamed, running up the stairs.
Ron's face suddenly twisted from frightened to suspicion. As soon as Natsu left, Ron leaned forward and whispered to his friends. "Hey, why does Natsu refer to the teachers by their first names?" He asked. "Yeah, come to think of it, he addressed Professor Scarlet as Erza didn't he…" Harry realised.
Hermione looked at the clock, and immediately picked up her bag. "Natsu told me once that he was homeschooled by his father. So he may not be used to calling his teachers by last name." Hermione explained. Ron and Natsu gave a look of understandment. "Yeah… Maybe that's it…" Ron sighed, a bit relieved as he stood up.
"But those eyes…" Harry mumbled. "It was as if he was saying don't get involved in this…" He whispered. "Then that confirms it. There's definitely more to this than meets the eye." Hermione confirmed as the three of them left the Common Room. "Then what should we do?" Ron asked. "We'll stick to the original plan. One thing at a time. First we get information out of Draco, then we'll deal with this." Hermione explained, making their way to the Library.
"Right. So Draco and the Chamber first, then everything else?" Ron repeated Hermione nodding.
'WHAT?! Hermione saw Virgo?!" Makarov yelled, Natsu nodding. "She followed Lucy into the bathroom and saw Lucy and Virgo." He explained, looking at Lucy, who had her hands on her mouth. "No way… I didn't know she was watching…! When I went into the bathroom she was just there!" Lucy gasped. "Not only that, they're getting suspicious of us." Gajeel chipped in. "I over heard them talking outside." He explained. "I see. Then we'll have to step back until this all blows over…" Mavis ordered.
"Well, all of this wouldn't happen if flame brain didn't make a trip down pain lane." Gajeel growled, eyeing Natsu. "Hey! It's not my fault the floor is uneven!" Natsu yelled in self defense. "Now now Gajeel, be nice to Natsu." Levy scolded Gajeel. "Levy is right Gajeel. You shouldn't blame Natsu on uncertain events." Lily agreed. Gajeel tisked and folded his arms.
"Well, for now, we'll step back. Lucy, give your spirits a run down. And we'll be separate for now." Everyone nodded and stood up to leave. "Oh and one last thing." Everyone stopped and hummed as Mavis made them wait. "There is a Dueling class tomorrow. I want you to observe the magic they use, as it may hold the key to who is pulling the strings." Everyone nodded.
"Alright. That will be all for today. Make sure you complete your rounds. Especially in the Fifth Floor Corridor. Turns out that room is the key to the Chamber of Secrets. And don't be seen. Good night everyone. And good luck."