roxygurl25- I already told you what secret you're keeping from me in an email, so… yeah. Well, we'll see if Adrienne does talk to herself… it certainly would be fitting… I wanted to do something to her in this chapter, but maybe it'll wait. I'm not sure yet, but I really want to show you (and everyone else) something… maybe it'll wait a chapter. And I don't think I've explained even to you why Adrienne 'talks to herself'… I suppose there's secrets we're both keeping from each other! (Did that make sense? Hmm…)
potts- Yes, because of your review I have visited firefawn's quizzes. I had been to quizilla before and taken some HP quizzes, but not firefawn's… go to the "Most Popular" and look for Archery Girl's or Bakastina's (I don't know if I spelled them right; didn't bother checking up). They're also HP. Bakastina's are good. Wait, maybe those are the rated M ones… urgh…
CaliDuchess- Yes, I created her that way. Harry will end up having to spend time with her, and in time he might decide to be friendly… hmm? Who knows what kind of hidden powers Adrienne has that could help Sirius? If any… No, we would not rule out that her father is a Death Eater. Very good, Detective Dana. Yes, I agree very much that Harry can be dim a lot. We'll see about the date. Actually, we'll see about Adrienne.
justplaindork- Wow, I'm touched! Thanks so much! I'll R&R your story whenever I have the time, okies? I promise! You'll see what (if anything) happens between Harry and Adrienne. Just for you: I just got the Confusing Concoction off of a website. Due to your request, I might write some about it later, though I have few ideas what to do with it. Thanks again and enjoy the story!
Chapter 4: Changes
The next time Harry saw Adrienne, it was two days later in the hallway. He raised a feeble hand and said hi to her, but she had just walked on. She abruptly turned around, gave Harry a dirty glare without any acknowledgement, and kept walking.
Harry had puzzled and wondered about it, but had neither said nor done anything.
Sirius heard a soft, timid knock on the tall wooden door. Since he knew it wasn't Harry—because he knew the password—so he stood up and opened the door, curious.
He was surprised to find a tall, gangly redhead boy and a girl with long, bushy chestnut-colored hair standing in his doorway. He looked curious and wondering, but the two teenagers looked scared and worried. The brunette spoke first.
"Uh," she said slowly, "Sirius? Is… that you?"
Sirius looked puzzled.
"Yes, I'm Sirius, but… who are you? I'm sorry," he said quickly at the look on the girl's face, "if you were someone I knew. I just don't remember. Are you…. Are you friends of Harry's?"
"Yes," the redhead squeaked. "I'm… I'm Ron Weasley, and t-this is Hermione Granger. We're… Harry's best friends," he stuttered. Sirius couldn't comprehend why. He didn't think he looked all that terrifying.
"Sirius," Hermione said softly, "Do you remember us at all?"
Sirius shook his head. "Sorry, no." He didn't look the least bit regretful.
"May we come in?" Hermione asked.
Sirius shrugged and stood aside so the two teens could make their way inside. Ron settled himself on a pillow, while Hermione sat in a chair. Sirius guessed she was some sort of honor student, judging by her attitude and the manner in which she held herself.
"So, um, Sirius," Ron stated awkwardly, "What… what has Harry… um…" he looked at Hermione, "reintroduced you to?"
An odd look overcame Sirius' face as he told them. Ron's eyes went wide.
"All that in just a few days?" he asked.
"Well, yes," Sirius confessed. "He said he's going to reintroduce me to some people I once knew next time, but… he hasn't been her for a day or so. He usually comes about every day, so… I wondered what was wrong."
"I know who those people are," Hermione said quietly, "and I don't think you're quite ready to be 'reintroduced' to them quite yet, Sirius. I know you might not believe me over Harry, since… he's your godson and everything, and you… only just met me, but… really, Sirius. Tell him…" she stopped.
"Next time you see him, tell him… that Hermione was here, and that she said… that she was sorry," Hermione said quietly, biting her lip. Sirius looked confused.
"I will," he said, still wondering what was going on. Ron's eyes were wide again.
"But Hermione-!"
"Leave it, Ron," she snapped quickly. "Come on, let's go. Thanks for letting us in, Sirius. We'll stop by later," she said, and Sirius swore he could see her eyes glistening. The two teenagers walked out quickly, leaving Sirius to his own very confused thoughts.
"Wait! Hermione, wait! Please!"
Hermione turned around, losing the battle of ignorance. She saw Harry running up to her and stopping, breathless.
"I've… just been to visit Sirius," he gasped. "And I… I got your message… thanks."
Hermione made an attempt to smile.
"And I didn't 'reintroduce' him to anything, so I hope you're happy," he sneered.
"Excuse me!" Hermione cried indignantly. "I was only trying to help!"
"Well remember all the other times you were trying to help and screwed things up for both Ron and me?" Harry asked loudly.
"Like what, Harry?" Hermione shot back coldly. "In third year it turned out that I was right about Sirius sending you that Firebolt!"
"Forget it," Harry snapped. "Just forget I said anything."
"And forget I apologized!" Hermione yelled at Harry's retreating back. "The effect was lost on you anyway!" She stormed off to Potions, taking the longest route as a result of her will to avoid Harry.
"Adrienne, can I ask you something?" Harry asked while sliding into his seat. Adrienne didn't give him a glance. "Harper, why have you been avoiding me? What is your problem? Ever since detention you haven't spoken a word to me!" Harry said.
Adrienne only snorted slightly and turned her gaze to the far wall.
"Harper!" Harry yelled. "We've got a project to do together, so suck it up—whatever it is—and help me finish this!"
Adrienne sighed.
"Fine, Potter. But only because we're partners."
"Do you honestly mind if I ask you what the hell your problem is? At detention you were so… unnaturally open with me, and then you had some sort of… thing, I dunno, it was like you were talking to yourself—and after that you haven't spoken a word to me!"
"I've just… had a rough time lately, Potter. Just forget it," she said. Harry shrugged off his feeling of suspicion.
"Okay, so," Adrienne said, taking on her authority attitude again, "we've got all the ingredients except the snarled claws and lionfish tails. They're not in the student storage closet, so I'm not really sure…"
"Don't worry, I know how we can get them," Harry said, and whispered something to her.
"No way, Harry," Adrienne said, her nose wrinkled. "At least I show some respect to my teachers, which is more than I can say about you."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Harry asked incredulously. "You mean I'm actually supposed to show 'respect' and 'honor' and all the bull to Snape? You've got to be out of your mind."
Adrienne snorted again. "Potter, you are so incompetent, I don't know why I waste my time with you."
The next day while walking to Charms, Harry bumped shoulders with someone in the hallway. The books spilled out of their arms and were strewn across the stone floor.
"I'm sorry!" Harry exclaimed, bending down to pick up the books.
"No, it's my fault, I wasn't watching where I was going," said a familiar voice, also bending down. Harry looked up in surprise. The girl in front of him had silky ebony black hair, but with bright pink streaks though it on all sides. Her skin was pale but creamy, instead of the sallow, badly-in-need-of-a-tan look Harry had known it to have. The girl's gray eyes had an unusual sparkle to them. Her face glowed.
"Adrienne?" Harry asked in disbelief.
"Hi, Harry!" she greeted.
"Wh-what happened to you?" he asked. "I mean… look at you!"
"This is me, Harry," she said, smiling. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"I…" Harry was speechless. "What do you mean? What happened to… you? I mean… the pink streaks? And… are you wearing makeup?"
"Only a little," Adrienne admitted. "But this is me, Harry. I don't understand. I've always been me."
"Er… you've changed from the last time I saw you. Yesterday you wouldn't even talk to me and now… now…"
A shadow passed over Adrienne's face. "I don't get it, Harry. I'm really, really sorry if I was angry at you, but… I don't ever remember being mad, and I don't understand how I could ever be angry at you. I thought we were friends."
"We… we are, I suppose…" Harry said hesitantly, "but… you're a Slytherin."
"And?"
"And… oh, forget it."
"Harry? What do you say we go down to the Great Hall and work on our project there? It's really drafty up here."
"Can't," Harry explained. "I've got Charms."
"After?"
"Sure, I suppose. See you then," Harry said awkwardly, and walked off.
After bumping into Harry in the hall and hearing him say that she was angry at him, Adrienne realized what must have happened, and was washed over with a wave of guilt. She was angry.
I'll never forgive him. Never.
She knew what had happened now, and she regretted every bit of it. It wasn't her fault, she tried to convince herself, but the guilt wouldn't go away. She had no control over it, but she felt like everything was her fault. Things wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for her. If she hadn't been born… things would be a lot easier on other people. One in particular, but she didn't dare think their name. She was too ashamed.
She didn't think she could do much right. Things were so confusing. Life was so confusing. Everything around her was dissolving—it had been since the day she was born.
I'm full of regret
For all the things that I have done and said
And I don't know if it'll ever be ok to show
My face round here
Sometimes I wonder if I disappear
Would you ever turn you head and look
See if I'm gone
'Cause I fear
There is nothing left to say to you
That you wanna hear
That you wanna know
I think I should go
The things I've done are way too shameful
You're just an innocent
A helpless victim of a spider's web
And I'm an insect
Going after anything that I can get
So you'd better turn your head and run
And don't look back
'Cause I fear
There is nothing left to say
To you
That you wanna hear
That you wanna know
I think I should go
The things I've done are way too shameful
And I have done you so wrong
Treated you bad
Strung you along
Oh shame on myself
I don't know how I got so tangled up
"Harry, may I see you for a moment?" the old man asked.
"What is it, Professor?" Harry asked Dumbledore, curious.
"I'm afraid there is no easy way to tell you this, Harry. I'm extremely sorry. Sirius… has been removed."
"What?"
"Sirius was taken away this morning to St. Mungo's hospital. I tried to stop them, Harry, but they wouldn't hear of it. They had an order from the Minister himself. I'm sorry, Harry—there was nothing I could do. Sirius is gone."
A/N: The song was 'Tangled' by Maroon5. I was reading the lyrics to their songs this morning and decided to include it. I'm sorry it's really short… but I wrote it in a day! Yay for me!
Chapter 5 will be short, but it will be about Adrienne ad Harry's study session that night. Melanie: did you catch the 'just forget it's? Hehe…
Again I apologize about the length! Hope you liked (sort of, anyway). Any questions—ask in your review or email me! I love getting emails!
Love you all,
OutofAzkaban