Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns the Harry Potter characters. Mornan owns Maria.
Maria: Uh-uh, I don't like her... I don't like you readers either.
Mornan: Maria! That wasn't very nice, why did you say that?
Maria: They said I couldn't have my diary back.
Mornan: Oh, don't worry; spoilerspoilerspoiler.
Maria: Oh. Yay! I mean, wait. Is that a good thing?
Mornan: Yes, it makes a sequel where you spoilerspoilerspoiler. Now shut up people want to read the story. Oh, and the spoilers are for MY story, they're not HBP spoilers. And I've had the dreaded writer's block for months, I haven't written ANYTHING, so sorry...
Chapter 10: Chekmate
"Hermione! How could you?" Ron was going berserk and Harry just seemed angry.
"Ron, what is your problem? You act like I turned into a Deatheater!" And Hermione was trying to figure out why the boys were so upset.
"Hermione. Last night we went out looking for the owner of the diary. We saw that girl, Maria, sneaking around the halls. And we told her about the diary." It was the first time Harry spoke up.
Ron just snorted. "You told her, you mean. I was trying to stop you!"
Harry ignored him. "Hermione, doesn't it seem odd that the next day she wants to be friends? And normally you wouldn't be near a Slytherin if you could help it anyway. So we want to know why."
"Harry..." Hermione stopped, not sure how to continue. "Harry, I did it for the same reason you didn't want me to. Because I think she has something to do with the diary. I need to figure this part out on my own. I'll tell you when I find something, alright?" Ron didn't seem sure, he just nodded.
"Hermione, are you sure? I mean, that you can figure this out without telling her anything?" Harry was worried, Hermione had believed the tricks in the diary, what about the diary's owner?
"Harry, I'll do what I have to. I won't promise more." Hermione felt sad, it was almost like betraying them. She might even warn Maria, but she believed that whoever owned the diary was not who Harry thought she was.
The first class of the day was Defense Against the Dark Arts with the Slytherins. Harry, Ron and Hermione sat in front, since this was their first class of the year. The new professor, Professor Goldrod, called attention to the class.
"Today we will learn the Inner Voices Hex. Does the name sound familiar to anyone?" Goldrod nodded slightly when he saw several hands go up. "Good, good. Now does anyone knows what it does?" This time, only Maria raised her hand.
"Yes, Miss... Riddle, was it? Tell us about the Voices Hex!"
"The Inner Voices Hex is exactly what it sounds like. Using the spell on someone else causes them to hear voices that no one else can hear." Maria smirked slightly, remembering that she had used the same hex on Malfoy on the train.
Goldrod was saying something about 'the voices of guilt and fear', but Maria looked at the trio in front of her.
"Odd, isn't it? I mean, they're teaching different years together; and they're mixing up all the house pairings. What do you guys make of it?"
Hermione turned around. "A lot of people were taken out of school this year. Maybe you didn't notice, but there's Ravenclaws in this class to. They're just throwing people together until things clear up."
Harry glanced back, then looked forward. "I'd rather learn the spell than talk about class pairings; or groupings." They all came to attention as Professor Goldrod turned from the board.
"Alright, enough of theories. Let's talk about practical use! The spell is not harmful at this level, but can be used as a distraction. You see, the voices are at head-splitting levels, as if several people are screaming mere inches from your ear. Few have the concentration to keep their head through that!" He smiled slightly at everyone, as if he knew something they didn't.
"Now, repeat after me: Adion Heradatia!"
"Adion Heradatia!" The entire class stared dutifully at the professor.
He merely shook his head. "No, be sure to pronounce it correctly; else you'll get an entirely different spell. Ay-dee-yawn Hair-uh-dah-tya!" This time, everyone pronounced it perfectly.
"Before we go on to using the spell;" a groan issued from the class, "you first must learn where the stresses of the words are. Most wands are very picky about spells, the wrong stresses will cause an ineffective spell. Adion Heradatia!" Again, the class repeated. There was a mutter about a 'pronunciation freak' from the back of the room.
Goldrod ignored it. "Now we can practice. Everyone pick a partner, and cast the spell on each other. Keep in mind that yelling it maximizes the effect, while speaking softly minimizes it. I don't want anyone sent to the Hospital Wing, so speak softly!"
Harry was about to ask Hermione to be his partner when she said "Practice with Ron." She walked over to Maria, and Harry just shrugged.
"What's with her, she's acting very odd. I mean, she's pairing up with a Slytherin!" Ron fumed, still mad at Hermione's unexplained behavior.
"Whatever Ron, she'll figure things out her own way and we cant stop her, Adion Heradatia." Harry whispered.
And Ron fell to the floor holding his head.
He didn't collapse, so he should be okay. But he pressed his hands against his head like he was trying break his skull, so he might not be.
"Ron... are you alright?" Harry wasn't sure what was wrong, and Ron didn't answer. "Ron. Ron!"
"Excellent! Good job Mister Potter! I'm sorry, he can't hear you, wait for the spell to wear off first" Professor Goldrod was beaming at Harry. No one else had even tried it yet; they were afraid of its effects. Ron and Harry had been too busy to think about it. Soon Ron stood up, shaking.
He flashed a weak smile at Harry "It wasn't too bad, just loud; didn't you hear that?" Harry just shook his head, and that set everyone to practice.
Hermione looked warily at her partner. Maria had already told her that she had used the hex before, and that its affects were sometimes devastating.
Both girls were circling, trying to get to a better position for the first shot. Maria almost suggested that they bow to each other, they were acting like they were dueling rather than practicing. But she kept her mouth shut and concentrated.
Finally, Hermione cast the spell. Too loudly.
"Adion Heradatia!" Hermione clapped a hand over her mouth, realizing to late her mistake.
Maria collapsed, just like Ron. She writhed on the floor, whimpering quietly.
"Professor!" Hermione was panicking; she couldn't see what she had done.
Professor Goldrod strode quickly over. "There's no counter charm once the spell takes effect... we can only hope that the spell wasn't any stronger then it seems to have been."
Maria was trying to get off the floor, despite the screeches in her ear. Even through the sounds that pushed out most of her thoughts, she knew that the spell would be worse for her than anyone else, no matter how strong the spell that was cast. The voices of guilt and fear were ringing through her ears...
And then they stopped. Maria found the strength to rise to her knees, her arms shaking violently.
"Oh my god... are you alright? I'm so sorry!" Hermione was looking around frantically.
Maria managed to give something like a smile. "I'm fine. You know, I always wondered; it's more than just a distraction. People could be yelling in your ear and it wouldn't be the same. Why is that?"
Though Hermione looked more upset, the Professor smiles, obviously relieved. "Well, you obviously have a strong resistance to the spell. Most people wouldn't be able to analyze the voices while hearing them. You should be alright."
Maria nodded and stood up. She raised her wand and smirked.
"Adion Heradatia."
Hermione memorized every scratch in the floor as she passed. "I'm really sorry. Honestly, I mean it. I didn't mean to do that. I'm so sorry..."
"Okay, okay. I get it. You didn't mean for the spell to be so powerful. Big deal. I've done worse on purpose." Maria smiled. Act like a friend...
Hermione looked surprised. "To who?"
"Hmm?"
"Who did you do worse to?"
"Oh! A little slime I'm sure you know, Draco Malfoy. Pure-Blood bastard extraordinair."
"You don't get along with Malfoy?" Hermione still had a surprised expression on her face.
Maria calculated her answer quickly. "No. He honestly thinks that Pure-Bloods are better than half bloods or muggle borns, which is stupid. Like him. For example, you are ten times the witch that he is, and he sees fit to insult you. Idiot. Wait, I said that already, didn't I?"
"Sort of. Not as outright."
"Well, outright is the only way he'll even know what you're saying."
They both laughed.
Check, and soon checkmate...
Well, I finally finished the chapter. So the question is, does Hermione know she's being used to get to the diary, or has she really fallen for the friend bit?
Maria: Well, having read this, she probably doesn't notice right now. To upset.
Mornan: Nice... maybe. I haven't decided yet.
Maria: Oh. I thought you wanted us to figure it out.
Mornan: No.
Maria: Ugh. R'n'R.