ATTENTION TO ALL MY READERS: Please continue to review my story. I am most definitely sorry that it has taken this long to continue with my chapters. I was a graduating student last school year so it was obvious that I was busy. But I do wish that you will all still give me reviews-be it bad or good. I accept all of it. Thank you very much. Now this is chapter fourteen. It's my longest chapter so far. It's basically leaning on the Oliver/Harriotte relationship and a wee bit of Harry too. Please tell me if you like my Harriotte character.
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CHAPTER 12- Take It As It Is
"You know, Harriotte, there really is something about that Parkinson girl that really ticks me off," Oliver told Duke Henson's only daughter. It was a late Tuesday morning, at around 10:30, and the 'lovers' were caught up with their discussion about the recent dance classes. They were inside the Great Hall, a number of Oliver's students with them writing an essay Oliver had asked them to. Oliver had asked Professor Dumbledore to have his class inside the Great Hall considering the fact that he had a different style in teaching and Dumbledore gave him the approval right away.
Oliver glanced at his second year students all scattered around the Great Hall tables. He had arranged for them to be in that way as to assure that no one would be able to copy from another one's work. He had been a student at Hogwarts after all and he knew that when it came to essays, the students would do anything just to be able to write something in their parchments.
Harriotte smiled at her fiancé. He was always like this. Of all the years that she had known him, Oliver has not changed one bit. He remained to be the strict and responsible person that he was. Although they were of a four-year age gap, Harriotte and Oliver maintained a healthy friendship. They had always known that they were arranged to be married, but Harriotte and Oliver had never placed into their minds that they were a couple knowing then that they didn't have any relationship other than being fiancés. They knew that their supposed engagement was for convenience and they didn't complain about it. They understood very well what their parents had wanted them to do and they stuck to it.
"You have such an extremely extensive imagination. You are just giving too much attention to what she has been doing," Harriotte said, taking a sip of tea from her cup. This is what they looked: a couple seated in the far corner of the Slytherin table watching the second years busily scribbled down on their parchments, taking a sip out of their tea cups and patiently discussing numerous events that had happened for the past five weeks.
"That's just the point, Harriotte. All she ever did were mistakes. How embarrassing it was to see that the very teacher stepped on the foot of her student while teaching her very own lesson," Oliver retaliated.
"Yes, I understand your view, Oliver, but you do not have to give to much contemplation to it. I am pretty much certain that she will learn from her mistakes soon. Just confer her some time."
"There is no more time left for that girl. Three weeks from now the Ball will take place at this very room and I have no idea what kind of embarrassing thing Parkinson will be doing there. I just hope that she will not embarrass us all to the guests."
"Why are you so apprehensive about what the guests will think? My dear, it is only a Ball."
"Harriotte, you are forgetting that the guests that will be coming are no less than your parents and a number of refined people from all over the world. A member of the royal family such as you is expected to be in his best behavior. Much more now that my parents know that we have guided those sixteen students in teaching, they would expect highly of what we have done; most especially your parents."
"I am sure that my parents would not give much importance to it, but I comprehend what you mean. It is moderately a fatal night. Let us just hope for the best, Oliver. If ever any of them makes a blunder, there actually is nothing that we can do. We cannot even censure our selves for it. After all, whatever their performance might be on that day is not in our control."
Oliver sighed and glanced back at his students. Classes were about to be dismissed and soon it was time for lunch. He stood up and told his students to submit their parchments and to be ready for lunch. Soon after, Oliver had started to see students pilling up outside the Great Hall, waiting for the lunch period to begin. He quickly returned to Harriotte's side and took his cup.
"I heard that your father had arranged a meeting with Professor Dumbledore and Sirius Black regarding Harry," Oliver began. "What are your thoughts about this?"
Harriotte placed her cup down on the table and sighed. She watched as the students began to enter the Great Hall as the signal for lunch had been given. She only saw most of the first years entering and not a single fifth year or sixth year had entered yet.
"My father has his reasons for speaking to Professor Dumbledore and Sirius Black. There really is nothing that I have to say regarding that. I have no intention to meddle in his business," she answered blatantly.
"Yes, you do not intend to meddle in, but you cannot deny that you are also curious as to what your father had discussed with the Headmaster and Sirius Black, of course," Oliver stated nonchalantly.
"It seems that my fiancé knows me more than I had thought."
Oliver smiled at her and whisked his wand on the teacups and made all of it disappear in thin air. He stood up and smiled at Harriotte.
"I take pride in being your fiancé, my lady."
He bowed and extended a hand towards her, gesturing her to stand up. Harriotte gave him a plain look before taking his extended hand. As the number of students entering the Great Hall had increased, the couple went their ways to their respective tables for the beginning of lunch.
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Harry walked through the halls of his school on his way to the Gryffindor Common Room to take a rest. It was only early in the afternoon but his last class had already ended. This is one of the privileges of being in the sixth year.
Harry sighed heavily as he walked. He was so tired form Quidditch practice in the early morning; he didn't even have the chance to take a rest because he had a class after then. He was so bushed. He didn't get to eat much during lunch due to the fact that he was very tired. Now he was on his way to take his rest and no one can stand in his way.
It was a surprise for most students to find Harry alone at such a time. Not a shadow of Ron or Hermione was to be seen. But the people had their own guesses as to where Harry's two best friends were currently occupied. Harry hurried his steps as he was beginning to feel even more tired. He wanted to just sleep the whole night.
As he was about to reach the Portrait of the Fat Lady, he saw a figure walking out of the Portrait Hole. He scrunched up his eyes and looked closely to the figure to find Lady Harriotte slowly walking away from it.
"Harriotte," Harry said, walking towards her as Harriotte stops to look behind her.
Harriotte looked to where the voice came from and found Harry walking towards her. She smiled as he smiled at her. There is just something about you, Harry, that still entrances me. I don't know what that is, but I am willing to find out soon.
"Hello, Harry," Harriotte said. "Is there something I can do for you?"
"Nothing really. I saw you walk out of the Portrait Hole, what were you doing inside?" Harry asked, rather curious to what she had done inside.
"Oh, I had a discussion with Ginny regarding Draco. I found her to be very curious as to what his background was. I was baffled with her questions. She is a very interesting girl."
"Draco? Ah, I guess she is more into him now. After all, they had started going out."
"Going out? I was not informed about that. Well, I guess being his cousin entitles me to look after what he is doing, and, of course, to look after the girls that he is dating."
"You don't have to worry a thing about Ginny. She is a nice girl. Nothing to be worried about."
"Yes, I have learned of that from what Draco had been saying about her. That was why he started acting strange. He talks too much nowadays. I am more worried about what he is able to do rather than Ginny."
"Well, I'm sure Draco will not do anything rational."
"By rational, I mean to say is that he might do something extreme as to propose to her this instant. You might not know this, but Draco is a really very sweet guy. He will do anything to make his loved ones happy. I know that for sure. He loves his mother very much."
"That's good for Ginny then. They won't have much of a problem if Draco will be very nice to her."
"Yes, that is right."
Harry remained silent for a few seconds. He actually didn't know what to say. He was out of words. This was the first time that he was left alone with Harriotte and so he didn't really know what to do. He was quickly scanning his brain for any topic to talk about next. What do I say?
"Where are you off to?" he heard her ask, breaking the uneasy silence between the two of them.
"Oh, I was going inside the Common Room to take a rest. I'm pretty much tired for the day," he answered rather shyly.
"I see. Well, please, do not let me keep you from doing so."
"It's okay. It's no bother. I was the one who called after you anyways. Uhm, where are you going then?"
"Nothing in particular. I will just be strolling around the school for a while."
"Oh, then, I won't keep you any longer then. I'll see you later."
"Yes, it was nice catching up with you. I will see you later as well."
Harriotte gave a Harry a simple bow before going in her way. Harry watched as the maiden slowly walked away from him and right then he wondered to himself. I might as well get it over with. I can take a nap later.
"Harriotte!" Harry called out to her.
Harriotte looked back at Harry. He was running towards her and when he finally caught up he was almost out of breath. Harriotte wondered why Harry ran after her. She stared at his tired face blankly, not knowing what to say or do.
"Is something the matter, Harry? Why did you suddenly run after me?" she asked.
"I'm sorry I startled you. I just wanted to ask if you would mind if I join you for your walk," Harry spoke out.
Harriotte remained silent. She stared at Harry with a blank face making him wonder what she was thinking of. Oookkkaaayyy, this is getting pretty uneasy right about now. Maybe I should learn how to read people's minds. But then she would've studied occlumency right about now.
Harry looked at his left then to his right before looking back at Harriotte's face. It was still blank. He wondered how Oliver put up with this. It was hard to read her having such a blank expression. He thought to himself if this was because of having a Malfoy gene or was it just because she studied in a mysterious school.
"Harry," Hariotte finally spoke out.
"Yes?" Harry asked looking at her eyes.
"It would be alright with me if you would join me. The company would make me delighted," she said, smiling at him with obvious cheerfulness.
Harry smiled the biggest smile he could give. Somehow, he felt happy, very happy. He didn't know how to explain it. He just felt happy after hearing Harriotte's answer. He stood up straight and they began walking side by side to wherever it is they are to go.
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"Hermione, Hermione Granger!" Oliver called after his brightest student of all.
Hermione stopped in the middle of her walk and looked at him. She smiled as he came near her and asked what he wanted from her.
"You have only three weeks left before the Ball. Professor McGonagall told me to tell you that by the end of this week, the teachers are to watch you perform. She, along with the Heads of the Houses, will be watching you perform the dance that you have taught the students. Be prepared. So, I am asking you to talk to your students and get them to shape up by the end of the week. Any embarrassment will cause rage for the teachers, knowing you've already practiced for such a long time. I'm expecting something great from you," Oliver related to her.
"What?! But, isn't that a little too early?" Hermione asked.
"Hermione, it has been more than a month since you've started the classes. Of course, Professor McGonagall will be expecting something good by now."
"I know, Professor, but, it's still yet too early. We haven't even…"
"Don't tell me you haven't even perfected a dance."
"Well, it's not exactly like that. It's more like, we haven't finished…"
"Hermione, you do realize that it has been almost two months since you began your classes. Within those two months something is to be expected, at least a good result, maybe not the best, but a good one would be alright. Please, do not tell me that such rubbish is at hand."
"Look, I promise you, we will do whatever it takes to fix things. This afternoon, we will perfect it."
"I will be expecting that. Now, go on ahead. I will see you later."
As Hermione parted ways with Oliver, she couldn't help but think about what he had said. There is definitely something that we have to do. I cannot let my students, most especially us the teachers, look like a total fool in front of the teachers. We have to fix this as soon as possible. I gotta find Ron and Harry to discuss this with them. Harry must be in the Common Room, Ron, I think, must be with Lavander. I gotta find them.
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The clouds were all together in a big bundle that afternoon. It seemed that it was going to rain very hard. Harry looked up at Harriotte's smiling face as she stared up at the sky. It's not wrong to be in this situation, is it? I mean, we're not doing anything wrong anyway. We're just spending time together-as friends. But why does it seem like a feel something different when I'm with her? What does this mean?
"You seem to like the sky," Harry commented, not looking away from his companion.
"Yes, I love the sky. It makes me feel at peace," Harriotte replied, smiling even more.
"Would it be a problem if I ask you if we could move along now? You seem to be shivering."
Harriotte looked at Harry after what he had said. She stared at his eyes that resembled his mother's. She looked away when she noticed that he was also staring at her. She didn't want to make the situation very unusual.
"No, not at all. Thank you for thinking about my condition. I did not even notice that I was already shivering. I just enjoyed that view so much."
"I can say that."
They both began to walk again as the rain began to pour. Harriotte began to shiver even more. The wind was actually blowing very strongly inside the halls. Harry frowned as he saw her having a difficult time walking while shivering from the cold wind. He sighed and took off his cloak.
Harriotte was shivering very much. Even though she loved the rain, she had to admit that she wasn't prone to being exposed to cold weathers that much. Blasted cold wind. Harriotte suddenly stopped short of her walk when she felt a warm object surround her. She glanced at her shoulder to find a Hogwarts cloak draped around her. Harriotte shifted her gaze to her companion Harry, giving her a questionable look.
"I just couldn't help but feel bad for having you walk all this way knowing that you are shivering so much," he said, sheepishly.
Harriotte smiled at him. Harry then felt his heart beating so fast. He didn't know what was happening. Something about her smile just makes me feel happy. I don't know what it is. Is this some sort of magic?
"Harry, is something wrong?" Harriotte suddenly asked.
Harry returned back to reality when he heard her voice. He shook his head and returned back to her side, walking again.
"I never imagined Hogwarts to be this huge. It is magnificent," Harriotte told him.
"Yeah, it's big alright, but I'm sure Wardsworth is just as big. I remember when I first arrived here. The very first day of my class I got lost with Ron. We didn't realize there was a map. Then, we also got lost when the staircase that we were on suddenly shifted, having us pass another way-which led us to something not pretty," Harry related.
"That is unquestionably something I would not want to experience."
"Well, it was fun actually. Sometimes you just have to be in a certain situation to mature."
"My school is very different from this. It is far more, how do I place this, eccentric."
"I think I have heard of that somewhere before."
"Oh, please, that statement was unmistakably out of the line."
"Haha. Don't be mad, Harriotte. I was just kidding."
"You are clearly out of the line then."
"Okay, I'm sorry. I didn't know you'd get upset by that."
Harriotte peeked at Harry's apologetic look. She couldn't help but giggle at his face. He looked very apologetic; she was definitely moved by him. He is most categorically dissimilar from all the men that I have come across with. He, forgive me for saying, is sort of cute. How interesting. My family would surely faint if they ever hear me say something as bland as that.
"I am not irate, Harry. I feel absolutely fine. I take what you had said as a simple joke. There is nothing to be worried about."
"I didn't think you would."
"You see, I love my school just as much as you do yours. Even though many say that it is a very atypical school, I still love it. Wardsworth is, it is not exactly like this-no, not very much like Hogwarts. Wardsworth is indeed more mysterious. I have to admit that. We take pride in our school. It is just the way that we handle things that we are sometimes leveled as mysterious."
"Why? How do you handle things?"
"Ever heard of, oh, I'm sure you have."
"Heard of what?"
"Azkaban Prison."
"Azkaban? Of course, why, what does that have to do with you?"
"Well, a number of people that are in Azkaban now were sent by us-the people of Wardsworth."
"Huh? How did that happen?"
"Our Headmaster and Headmistress believe in what they call practicality. It is where we, the students, come face-to-face with reality. Very different from most schools, Wardsworth exercises real life challenges in which as wizards and witches, we step into the real world beyond that of our school. Our Heads believe that we should not just watch from the sidelines, instead, we must take our stand and be in the center of all the happenings. Just like what Oliver once told me, they want us to be in the center of all the action."
"So, basically, you go out into the real world as licensed wizards and witches?"
"It is somewhat like that. Although I am seriously denying that we are already licensed wizards and witches while still studying in school. We are just active in the real world. That is why we, I mean they have sent many prisoners inside Azkaban."
"Have you sent anyone to Azkaban?"
"Me? Ah, no. I have not sent anyone inside Azkaban Prison. My parents have strict regulations over the use of magic. I simply cannot go off running about without any permission from them. They would certainly throw a fit if ever they found out that I have been outside the campus and fighting off ghastly wizards and witches."
"I agree on them with that. It's dangerous for you to be out alone."
"Are you saying that I am incapable of taking care of myself?"
"Oh, no, not at all, I would never say that. If ever I do, Oliver would hex me into the next millennium."
"Very funny."
"Haha. Well, all I am saying is that you just can't go about alone in situations like those. You are a public figure, most important to England. I am sure that your parents are just worried about you. I am also sure that Oliver would go much against it."
"Oliver, yes, yes, he would certainly go against it."
They were passing by a huge gargoyle statue when two huge looking Slytherins suddenly popped out of no where, eating caramel muffins out of a bag. Harry recognized them to be none other than Crabbe and Goyle. He sniggered and gestured for Harriotte to turn left.
"What was all that about?" Harriotte asked him.
"Nothing. It was not a big deal," Harry said.
"You are one peculiar guy."
He looked at her and watched as she inhaled the scent of flowers that were on display in the middle of the hallway. When it comes to Oliver she seems to be very distant. Is something wrong between them?
"Lady Harriotte?"
Harriotte looked at him and gave a weird look.
"Why the sudden 'lady' address?"
"What is really going on between you and Oliver?"
There was a sudden silence between the two. Only the sound of the wind sweeping in the air was heard. The rain was pouring very hard outside and the wind was blowing very strong. Harry watched as Harriotte's hair was being blown by the strong wind. He waited for her to answer. He gazed at her eyes to look for any trace of emotion. He found none. She was as empty as she was before.
"Is there anything wrong with my relationship with Oliver?" she asked.
"Nothing. That's just it, Harriotte, there is nothing. You both don't act like a-a-a couple. You say you're engaged. You say you have known each other since you were born, but where's the real deal there?"
"You are asking me what my relationship with Oliver really is?"
"Yes. I want to know what it is."
"You very well know that my relationship with Oliver is none of anyone's business other than mine and his. I am not saying this to be arrogant. I am just saying what is a fact, yet you choose to ask me this question. Why?"
"Why? I-I-I don't know. I just do."
"Mr. Harry James Potter, I find you to be very scrutinizing. You have noticed the obstruction between me and my beloved fiancé."
"So, you admit that there really is something in-between?"
"Oliver and I were betrothed since then. I have no recollection of how it all began; I just know that we were legitimately engaged in a signed agreement between my grandparents and his. We did not have time to disagree, or more likely, we just did not care to oppose. So, we lived our lives as fiancés. We grew up together, having been trained to live a life as a matrimonial couple. I admit it, Harry, I am not sure if I am in love with Oliver."
"Y-y-you don't love him?"
"I love him, Harry. Believe me, I know in my heart that I love Oliver. I am just not particularly sure if I am in love with him."
"I don't understand what you're saying."
"There is a fine line between love and being in love, Harry. You can say that you love someone, but you cannot just say that you are in love with them that casually."
"I get it, I get it. So, you're saying that you are unsure if you love him in that way or not?"
"It is like that. I do feel that he is at the same state of affairs."
"You mean, Oliver too, doesn't know if he is in love with you or not?"
"I believe so."
"How do you handle this situation then?"
"We just deal with it. What comes, comes in due time. We need not force it to."
Just as Harry was about to say something he heard a familiar voice call his name. He whipped around and saw Hermione running towards them. Her expression was with obvious horror. It was like she had seen a ghost, or in Hermione's terms, a failing mark in her grade.
"Hermione, what's wrong?" Harry asked as she came close to him.
"H-H-Harry, y-y-you have t-t-to come n-n-now. It's an e-e-emergency," she answered, catching up her breath.
"What happened?" Harriotte suddenly asked.
"Oh, so sorry, Harriotte. I didn't notice you were standing there. Anyway, I just received news from Oliver that the Heads of the Houses will be watching a performance from our class this coming Friday! We have to hurry and prepare our students now! We have not much time left. So come on! We have to find Ron and inform the others soon!"
"But, I…"
"It is alright. You had better go on ahead. It seems that this catastrophe is very much needed to be resolved as soon as possible. I will go to Oliver now to discuss this with him. I suppose that he is also concerned that is why he confided with Hermione here. We had better get going as soon as possible."
"Well, if you say that. I'll just see you around then. Bye."
Lady Harriotte bowed a bow of respect to the two retreating Gryffindors. She watched as they continue to talk to each other without glancing back at her. Those two, could they be? I do not understand this. I must be erroneous. Now, I have to locate Oliver. I have a very strong feeling that he is pacing quite hastily now inside his office.
Harriotte smiled to herself and imagined at what her future husband looked like right about now. She knew that he was probably sweating incessantly by now, thinking of many ways as to how to avoid the impending glitch to come.