Disclaimer : We don't own Harry Potter and are not making any profit from this fic.
Hermione Granger sat slowly on her bed. She stifled a yawn and sighed contentedly. It was still an early morning, the sunlight was still dim only enough to make her see silhouettes from things in her room. Her gaze traveled to the other beds in this room. She saw shadow of silhouettes of what should be her friends, Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil.
She recalled things from before this year, when the said two girls were usually chatted freely in her presence, when the dorm room was more welcome and homely to her, but now, those things were only some things that stacked in her memory. No one really talked to her nowadays, seeing that she was a constant presence of the traitor and soon Dark Lord to be, Harry Potter. At that she scowled for their stupidity. But she couldn't help to feel lonely. Her dormitory was no longer home to her. Only few acknowledge her, the Creevey brothers and two or three of their friends from younger years, and some of the upper years like Katie Bell and Alicia Spinnet.
She crawled out from her warm bed and headed to the bathroom. She took a warm shower while contemplating the recent events she had. She was often been confronted to leave Harry's side, something she wouldn't do. Lavender and Parvati were often sneered at her when she was struggling a hopeless defense in term of her friend. It was Colin and Alicia who constantly gave her soothing words in the dorm and encouraged her to keep on supporting Harry on their behalf because they couldn't did so openly. And she was blind to the fact that Ron, his siblings, and Seamus often made threatening words to those who oppose them saying Harry is innocent. It seemed that they excluding her since they knew she laid her loyalties openly since the first time, and that she was a prefect.
After a long warm shower, she got ready in her uniform and she stacked her books carefully in her bags, completely ignoring the glares from Parvati and Lavender who obviously were just woken. She didn't need nor want to greet them, all she wanted was out from the cold stone wall that surround her.
Hermione made her way to the elf quarter, to picked her 'sons' to breakfast. She realized she was a bit late today. Just when she nearly said the password, the portrait swung open and revealed Clarissa Aiden, Draco Malfoy, and Blaise Zabini in all their glory. Clarissa smiled to her.
"Hei, Hermione. You're a bit late today," Clarissa chirped. "Harry, Dean and Neville had already down there. Something about Charms essay that hadn't been completed."
Hermione scowled before she shook her head desperately. "They promised me to finish it before today," she said lamely. "How else could I make them understand the importance of doing homework early!"
Clarissa giggled and latched onto Hermione arm. "Come on Hermione, let's head to breakfast. You can scold them later," she winked. "And I can help you to make them understand!"
Behind her, Blaise gave a voluntary shudder while Draco grimaced. "It would be a whole lot awful things, Clarissa dear." Said Blaise.
Hermione smiled, and the four of them took off down to Great Hall. All the way, Clarissa and Hermione engaged in animated chatters, something Hermione unconsciously missed a lot, while Draco and Blaise often glared to the shocked and sneering look from the passer by.
Their entrance was an obvious amazed from the Great Hall occupants, but the two girls paid no heed. They walked separately after a brief goodbye to their respected table. Hermione sat down beside Harry, who scribbled something in furious speed while his mouth munching his breakfast, and gave him a disapproving look. Her expression was no better for she encounter the same activity from Dean and, surprisingly, Neville.
"I've told you to finish it early!" she scolded.
"Morning, 'Mione!" Harry replied without looking at her.
She glared at him and filled her plate. She ate carefully and ten minutes later the said three boys sighed in relief before the rolled their parchments signaling they're done, then she proceed to scowled openly.
"Never again, Harry Potter! Never again I will catch you in sight doing homework in due day while having breakfast!" angered her. Then she pointed to the other boys, "And you too! Now, promise me!"
In reply, she got a stuttered 'yes, Hermione' from three voices. "Honestly, guys, what were you thinking! You're risking your grade! Please, you'll have your O.W.L this year, and I don't see any effort from you to study. You won't pass if you keep it this way!"
Harry and the others looked down in shame. They continued eating in a slow pace while Hermione kept her ranting. She stopped when someone tapped her shoulder, someone with bright flaming red hair.
"Hiya, Hermione, can I sit here?"
Hermione looked warily at Harry, she noticed her best friend was suddenly tensed. Dean and Neville were no better, their already gloom expression had hardened. Obviously the two boys didn't approve Ron's presence.
But Hermione couldn't say no. In her silent plea, she hoped that this time, Ron had finally saw his wrongs.
"Um… sure," she said even though she was a bit unsure herself.
Ron sat down and smiled charmingly at her. She had raised her hope but it was crashed when she saw the dark look from her crush when he stared at Harry. She sadly rewarded herself a cursing word.
"What do you want, Ron?" she asked flatly.
"Nothing, Hermione, I'm just wondering where have you been all this time. I missed you, Herm. I see that you made an acquaintance with… with that Slytherin girl," Ron babbled. "How did you do that?"
"Are you saying that you don't approve my selection of friends, Ron?" Hermione asked carefully, she eyeing his every gesture.
"No…of course not, Herm… that's your…uhm…choice," Ron stated unsurely. "I was just wondering, you see… how you get close to her, that is."
She narrowed her eyes, "She's more like nice to me because I'm Harry's friend! She's their dorm mates incase you forget!" Hermione said in accusation tone, which saying 'if you want to be her friend, then you have to be Harry's first'.
"Potter's friend?" Ron glared at Harry. "So he polluted her too?"
"Ronald Weasley!"
"What!" Ron frowned. "It's true, she is a half-elf, and an elf is a creature of light, she won't fall to the path of dark, unless someone close to her influenced her to become one, that's no doubt was Potter's and Malfoy's work, wasn't it?"
Hermione was enraged and did too Dean and Neville, she nearly dirt her mouth with foul languages she never used before. But the owl post stop her, she then sighed dejectedly and mumbled, "Whatever." That sent Ron off from her arm's length. From the corner of her eyes, she saw Harry tensely read Neville's Daily Prophet while the latter boy preferred to read a letter, same goes with Dean.
Soon she heard murmurs around the Hall. Hermione reached her hand to grab her own copy of Daily Prophet. Her movement was stopped when suddenly Harry stood with widen eyes and hanging jaw, looking at something in the Prophet.
"He's free!" Harry whispered. Then he repeated it with a yell, "He's free!"
Hermione frowned, but then a smile dawned upon her as she finally knew what made her best friend face abruptly lit up. She suddenly was smacked with a body weight that clasped around her tightly, a tangled sob and rasped laugh could be heard from her shoulder. The enchanted "He's free!" was far from stopping in her ear. She disentangled herself and faced a lopsided-grinned Harry.
"Harry, I need to read the article," she gently scolded him.
Harry was practically bouncing on his seat, his grin never leave his face. Dean and Neville fought an inner battle whether to laugh at his antics or frowned. Then Neville proceeded to read the Prophet, and he managed to gasp after he read the headline.
"Sirius Black is free!" he gasped.
Dean knitted his brow together. With a frown, he snatched the Prophet from Neville's hand. And he read.
Sirius Black is Finally Free!
By. Tirena Larnone
Last night, at precise 07.00 PM, Peter Pettigrew, the known dead wizard was presented in front of the Minister himself. The shock was understatement among the ministry workers. For a few moments, none seemed too stunned to make any decision until Lucius Malfoy, the one who brought Pettigrew, demanded to have a speak with Minister Fudge and Madame Amelia Bones, the Chief of Wizarding Court.
After two hours long of private discussion, which we assumed as personal Hearing from Pettigrew, it was finally announced that Sirius Black, the convict which currently on the run, is innocent and free from all of his charged.
Mme. Bones explained in a brief comment about what had happened in the Hearing. "Peter Pettigrew had affirmed the fact that Mr. Black is innocent and did not do the mass murder years ago. He too affirmed that himself is a Death Eater, instead of our belief that Mr. Black is, for he bared the Dark Mark on his left forearm. All of this fact was of course presented under Veritaserum, which can guarantee its validity. Four members of Wizengamots, one of them is Headmaster Dumbledore, were present to be witnesses. That's all."
We, of course, had tried to interview Mr. Malfoy to gain information about how he captured the Death Eater or about the Hearing itself. But the said Lord had decided to give us nothing of his comment about the situation.
As of Peter Pettigrew himself, rest assured that he was locked in Azkaban under Dementor supervision until the official trial, which was hinted to be likely ended up with the Kiss as his punishment.
Dean looked up and once again was awarded with a beautiful smile from Harry. The latter boy couldn't sit still for the past minutes, he was too excited for sure. It seemed that Harry's smile was contagious that Dean couldn't help himself but too smiled. He soon found out that Neville and Hermione did too.
"Oh my god! He's free! Finally free… he now can meet me openly!" Harry sighed with a dreamy look. "Isn't that wonderful?"
Still with his smile, Neville asked, "Why are you so happy, Harry? You've known his innocence for long, yes…but I think your happiness just, you know, overreact…"
Harry and Hermione exchanged their grin. "He's my Godfather," Harry said in shy voice. "He's my only family left."
Dean and Neville nodded in understanding. Hermione was truly happy for Harry. She knew his longing for Sirius' freedom, that and she was grateful to be able saw his genuine smile after a long time. His beautiful, innocent, carefree smile that seemed lost after the death of Diggory. She gave him one-armed hug and he hugged her back.
"You have to thank Malfoy's father though, Harry," Hermione said.
Harry's smile faded, "Why?"
"I take it you didn't read the article's yet," teased Neville. "It was Lucius Malfoy that brought Peter Pettigrew to the Ministry, Harry."
Harry nodded solemnly, "Okay, I'll thank Malfoy later."
"Good boy," Hermione patted his shoulder in mock meaning while Dean and Neville snickered and Harry totally oblivious at that.
They resumed their breakfast with happy atmosphere among them, while the gossips were still likely far from end. Suddenly an eagle owl swooped in and landed in front of Hermione with a rather large package which obviously was spelled with weightless charm. It invited curious looks even from other tables, as most of them knew that Hermione was rarely received anything other than Daily Prophet and letters.
With a confused look, the Gryffindor prefect scrutinized the package carefully. At the top of it, near the writings of her name was a family seal with a serpent as its symbol. She seemed to be familiar about it, but for once she hardly remembered anything related to it.
Harry silently encouraged her to open the package, which she did it immediately out of curiosity. Once the wrapping paper was ripped, it revealed a black wooden box. Hermione took a deep breath in anticipation before she opened the lid. And right after she did so, her jaw was dropped at the content inside it.
At the Slytherin table, three pairs of eyes watched the Gryffindors table carefully, each was eager to find out the reaction of certain Gryffindors since the owl post coming. The saw the happy grin Harry emitted with amusement, as the said boy looked really adorable. And when the eagle owl flew in, a certain blond Slytherin was aware of its familiarity.
Clarissa raised an eyebrow at Draco and asked slowly, "Is that what I think it is?" Draco nodded and watched the bushy haired Gryffindor ripped open the wrapped paper, opened the lid and he saw in deep pleasure the girl's face turned into a full surprise. Hermione then pulled out a rose wooden box. The girl beside him, asked once again, "Make up kits, Draco? I thought I told you only to buy dress and jewelries."
Draco shifted slightly, felt very uncomfortable. He shrugged, "Just bonus." But that's not true. Deep down inside, the blond wizard gave the make up kits as a sincere token for apology.
Clarissa nodded and with a grace movement, she stood which followed closely with Draco and Blaise. Time to pay a visit, she mused.
Back at Gryffindor table, Hermione stared at the beautiful pink dress with black gem stitched in the shape of butterfly at one end of the fabric. She then saw a set of jewelry- earrings, necklace, ring and bracelet- all with the same gem on the dress. She also found a pair of beautiful high heel slipper on the other side of the box. It was Harry's voice that snapped her from her shock.
"What is that small box?" Harry pointed to the smaller box made of rose wood. Hermione took it out and examined it. "Oh, it has your name engraved with golden ink on the lid, 'Mione. Look!" added Harry.
"It's a make up kit, Harry," said Hermione calmly, though her voice toned her amazement.
"Make up? Oh, I know, it's the things to use when you color your face, right 'Mione?"
She chuckled in response. "And, what is that?" Harry pointed to the dress, the gem for more accurate. He was aware to the awed expression from his mates at the black gems.
"That, Harry, is Black Diamonds," a feminine voice startled the four of them. They turned around and face with a smiling Clarissa, Draco and Blaise tagged along behind her. One with an indifference mask, one with amused look. "I see you've got the package, Hermione."
Hermione rounded her hazel eyes, "It's from you?" she whispered.
Clarissa chuckled her rich voice, "Well, not really me, if you understand what I mean, it's more likely from Draco."
More gasps were heard. Their interaction was currently being an open-stared commotion in Great Hall. Most eyes were drawned to them with curiosity and interest. The latest statement from Clarissa was sure added more gossips and murmurs among the student body to be talked for days.
"But….but…" Hermione stuttered. "Why?"
"That's not out of my generosity, Granger," Draco said in a bored to, he folded his arms together in front of his chest. "That's because Claire made me to."
"Remember on the train, Hermione?" Clarissa said. "I apologize and he promised after all."
"But the Black Diamonds…it's expensive… you don't need to give me that if you only want to apology, sorry is enough," argued Hermione.
Clarissa patted Hermione's shoulder, "Now, now dear. Just accept it, will you? Trust me when I say Malfoys have loads of fortune to bath themselves with simple Black Diamonds. Giving you a few won't diminish their galleons at all."
Hermione, Dean, Neville and quite bunch of people who heard this were gaping. Harry was confusedly stared at Hermione and Clarissa in turns. He then leaned to his best friend and whispered, "Is that mean that Malfoy is very rich?"
Of course, his whisper could be heard by Clarissa and the said girl giggled at the horrified expression Hermione wore when she looked at Harry disbelievingly. Behind her, Draco rolled his eyes, while Blaise snickering.
"Please Potter, I can even give you and your children a wealthy life until your seventh generation if I want to." Draco said in mockery. He smirked when he saw Harry ducked his head and blushed.
"Now, now…off with it," Blaise decided his time to interfere. "Claire, just ask them already. We don't have all time!"
Clarissa nodded, she withdrew her wand. "Now…" she swished her wand and the package was magically disappear, "… I've put it safe in my…our quarter, you can have it later, Hermione. I believe it's time for class. And if you already done with your breakfast care to tag along?"
The four Gryffindors stood up. Hermione smiled at Clarissa gratefully and said in a soft voice, "Thank you."
All the seven of them strolled out of the Great Hall in a leisure pace. When they neared the Entrance, Harry suddenly turned to face Malfoy who only furrowed his eyebrow at him. "I forgot to tell you something, Malfoy," he exclaimed in surprised tone. Then he fidgeted and drawled, "I thank you for what your father did involving the case of Sirius Black. He's my godfather so I extend my gratitude on his behalf."
"It's my father you should thank for, Potter, not me. But since," Draco eyed him critically, "I, being a modest gentleman I am, appreciate your courage, then I accept your words."
Harry only rolled his eyes, while a "Snobbish!" comment was muttered by Dean. Soon they resumed their walk, leaving the Great hall and leaving a certain Headmaster with twinkle in his eyes.
xXx
Pansy Parkinson was seething. She gritted her teeth so harshly when she heard and saw the whispers and gestures so intimately shared by the two people beside her. Her anger and jealousy had built for days since the feast. Her dislike to one girl named Clarissa Aiden was shown clearly in her blue eyes. Adding her fury was that Draco seemed to always obey everything Clarissa had said. Like now.
Hell with the pureblood she carried! She snarled in her inner thought. She must have used some dirty tricks to make Draco ignoring me! She even managed to persuade Draco to buy something for those damnable Gryffindor mudblood. Heaven's know Draco won't do such a thing. She will pay, oh, I swear she will pay for snatching Draco away from me!
Pansy balled her fists and began plotting for on something in her head.
xXx
Ronald Weasley narrowed his eyes in a complete jealous when the girl in his dream got in touch with The Infamous Harry Potter.
It's always been him! He growled inwardly. The Boy Who Bloody Lived! What's so good in him? Only that blasted scar, besides he's gotten himself dark! He must have used his dark power to enthrall her. That's it! There's no bloody way an elf like her, such a creature of light like her! getting along with somebody so dark like Potter and Malfoy!
Then his gaze situated to Hermione Granger. And her, Potter must have trapped her too. Perhaps using blackmails or so, he must have threatened her. Or…or worse! She got herself being Imperius curse victim. I knew it! Oh, Herm... I've lost such a sweet and intelligent friend like you, but I swear… I swear I'll get you back, with our elf all along.
The thought somewhat satisfied him for that moment. He then lost in his thought about getting some real evidence about Potter going dark.
xXx
Snape walked in with a dramatic movement, his robe billowed in a grace manner, his pace quick but silent. He passed the students without giving them a side glance.
"Sit," he commanded coldly.
With a wave of his wand, he closed the door. The student bodies obeyed silently, no one dared to talk, not even to move. Snape's presence was intimidating enough for some persons to even hold their breath.
"Before we start today's lesson," Snape walked to his desk then stared at them all. "It will be a better chance to remind all of you that in the next June you will face an important exam. In it you will prove your knowledge from all this years about the composition and usage of magical potions. Although, I must admit that few of you are not clever enough, I still hope that you will gain at least 'Acceptable' in your OWL, or, should I say, you will taste a drop of my… disappointment."
At that, Snape's gaze intensified at Neville, who gulped slightly under his scrutiny.
"After this year, I believe, most of you will not have to study with me anymore," Snape continued. "For I only accept those with the best marks in my NEWT class." Snape sneered at Harry who stared back at him with unreadable face. "However, the year has just started, and for you who have decided to take my NEWT class, I suggest you to focus your effort to gain the highest grade start from today!"
"Now we will make Calming Draught, you will make this potion with a partner. The ingredients…" Snape flicked his wand. "…are on the board and after I call your name, you will move to your partner and start to work. Longbottom with Parkinson, Finnigan with Goyle,…"
The list went on and on. It's obvious that Snape was paired the two house. It resulted with Hermione paired with Blaise, Dean with Crabbe, and Harry with Draco, as usual. The students walked silently to their partners although with grumpiness, it was until someone decided to go against Snape's words. And that someone was Clarissa Aiden. She caused the ruckus right after her name was called and being paired with Ron Weasley.
"No way, Professor!" she yelled. That sure got the class' attention. Every pair of eyes stared at her.
Snape rubbed his temple tiredly, the girl again! "What do you mean with no, Ms. Aiden?"
"There's no way I will be paired with….with weasel!" she scowled, her hands on her hips. "You better re-arrange the pairing, Professor. I prefer to choose pairing with Neville Longbottom."
Most students were gaping at her courage. They looked at Snape with fear, afraid the said man with exploded. But he did not, instead he had a stare match with Clarissa. The girl only intensified her glare.
"Professor…" she pressed. "No re-arrangement, no fire."
For the first time, the students saw the shock look on their Professor's face. "Care to explain, Ms. Aiden? I'm afraid I don't get what you mean."
"I have in my power to prevent any fire being lit in this class," she drawled her threat in low voice. "So, Professor you decide. No re-arrangement no potion for today. You re-arrange it, then I will smoothen your class." She said smugly, knowing she had won.
Snape narrowed his eyes for a moment, then stated in defeated tone, "Choose whoever you want to be paired with."
She smiled so sweetly that made Snape gag inwardly, "Then in all modesty, I choose to be paired with Harry Potter, thank you."
"Potter, you paired with Aiden, and Mr. Malfoy, you with Weasley. No argument this time. Get to work!" Snape roared with displease.
Draco and Ron glared at each other, while behind them Clarissa and Harry sat in peaceful silence, getting to their work. Once, after Harry was back from getting the potion supply, Clarissa leaned down to lit the fire. Her long black hair decided to intervene her way. Luckily, with his seeker reflex, Harry caught the hair first. Clarissa smiled thankfully at him. She then ordered him to hold all her hair for a moment while she conjured a black ribbon to tie her hair. Once it was settled they got back to their assignment and stood side by side while talking in low noise.
At the time, Hermione spared a glance at them and her eyes immediately widened. She thought about how familiar the both of them, how look a like, and how she now knew what troubled her mind since the first time she saw the elf descendant. A nudge from her side, set her back to her partner. Blaise Zabini smiled softly and pointed to the ingredients. She looked down in shame and started to prepare the ingredients. The thought about Harry and Clarissa soon faded from her mind when she concentrated to the task before her.
Back at Harry and Clarissa, they worked together in synch. Harry was so pleased that he never enjoyed every single potion's classes when he paired with Draco. Clarissa was a genius in potion, just like Draco, the difference was that Clarissa didn't order him around like some servant he was only to do the hard job like cutting, chopping, and slicing. Instead, she gently taught Harry how to do the potion with extra explanation of the consequences if you do the otherwise. Even Hermione never taught him this way and with Clarissa's method, he was sure he needed not to read the damn thick nasty book anymore about the Calming Draught. Soon their cauldron emitted a light silver vapor, a signal that theirs was done. Clarissa smiled widely and Harry grinned. They finished 15 minutes faster than the assigned time. She grabbed a blank vial and filled it with their potion.
"Professor!" she called, waving the vial up her head to catch the teacher's attention. "We're done."
With a horrified expression, Snape gave out a strangled sob. "Ms. Aiden… stop the waving!" he snapped. "You've just ruined the calming effect!"
Clarissa stopped abruptly, her expression changed to a surprised one then she sheepishly smiled, "Oops! Sorry, Professor, I forgot!" she said innocently. Beside her, Harry was giggling softly. "Don't worry Professor, we can give you another vial."
Clarissa grabbed another one and filled it. She gave it to Harry who proceeded to gave it to Snape. On his way back to his seat, Seamus tried to trip him. He lost his balance, but luckily Crabbe got his arm, prevented him to hit the floor. Harry muttered a small thanks before resumed his way.
Once he was on his seat, he opened a conversation with Clarissa, "Why did you refuse him?" he asked quietly without looking at her.
"Who?"
"Ron… Weasley, I mean. Do you realize that you had humiliated him in front of the class?"
"So?"
The ignorance tone in her voice made him turned his gaze. What he saw made him frown. Clarissa was extending her right hand up on the cauldron, seemingly holding something with silver color. Veela's hair, Harry noticed.
"Erm….Clarissa…" he called softly.
"Hmm?"
"What are you doing?" he asked, seeming very unsure.
"I'm about to add this Veela hair to the potion," answered Clarissa lightly. Her tone was full of play.
"I…don't think it's a good idea, Clarissa," insecurity was thick in his voice. "What if it turns to be harmful?"
She pulled back her hand and looked at Harry with annoyance. "Oh, please Harry. It will be okay. It's just experimenting, besides Veela hair usually used to change the color of a potion and strengthen its effect, so it will be, absolutely harmless. Trust me, I'm the potion master here compared to you. Watch!" she, once again, extended her arm. "I'll count to three then… ta-da! You'll see nothing's wrong with it. Ready? One…"
Harry gulped. He stared at the cauldron warily.
"Two…"
Harry held his breath.
"Two and a half…" her face grew unsure.
Harry groaned, "Claire…I don't think it's wise….honestly!"
At his remark, she steeled her bravery. "Three…!" she then dropped the Veela Hair.
Slowly, the potion gave a small sound of bubbling and the vapor turned into purple. Harry sighed in relief while she was snorting. She ooh-ed, clearly amused by the result.
"Oh, wow! It changes into purple!"
"Yuck purple!" How I very hate the purple, Harry grimaced. "Besides, I thought you knew what would happen, Clarissa. You told me so."
"I actually didn't," she shrugged. "Veela hair does usually used to change the color and strengthen the effect of a potion. But it also gives different reaction to any different potions too."
Clarissa grabbed a palm dust of Unicorn's horn. She smirked when she saw a contradict feelings that shown on Harry's face. A battle between uncertainty and interest. She slowly added the dust and watched the changing in the cauldron, which means nothing except the vapor turned into gold. She wrinkled her nose, she was sure that she smelt something…
"It's sweet," Harry mumbled making her turned and stared at him. Harry's face was lit up with excitement. "It smells something sweet, like lollipop from Honeydukes."
Clarissa pondered the thought and nodded in affirmation. "It is indeed," she said and smirked at Harry's eager face. She knew the boy was waiting for the next adding ingredients. "Do you want to try it, Harry?"
His face was priceless. The confuse, eagerness, doubt, and dumbstruck were mixed altogether. "But… I don't know how, Clarissa," he said finally. The doubt took over his whole feeling. "What if I mess it up?"
"It will be okay, Harry. I too only put things in random," Clarissa shrugged. "Come on, Harry, it's fun. You can try with Unicorn's Hair first." She put a few strands of golden locks in his palm.
He gulped and added it silently. They were waiting and the content in cauldron did change but for no entertaining. Harry was trapped in disappointment and relief.
"It turns transparent, like plain water," Harry said. He thought for a while. "Do you think I can drink it?"
"Well… I think you can. But…" she seemed to be in a deep thought. "But I cannot guarantee your safety, Harry. Of course you can take a sip if you want to know for sure. We'll figure what will happen to you after you have a go."
Harry grimaced at her calmness, "Err…. No thank you, I guess. I still have a duty to do, and surely it requires me in full condition," he said in half joke and half serious.
"Oh yeah… you're right!" she stated. She looked into the cauldron and sighed. "But at least we know something now."
"What?"
"That we cannot add the Unicorn's Hair while having some fun in potion because it's just plainly boring!" she exclaimed. "Now… What else should we add?"
Unknown to them, right before their desk, Draco Malfoy heard their every activities since the last ten minutes. Every time they added new ingredients, he would recite everything he knows about all the possibility that could be happened from the books he read. It was a good distraction from Ron Weasley's continuous grumbling which seemed to irk him more and more.
Bloody prat! Draco scowled. He did nothing with this potion, I sure as hell will persuade Sev to lower his mark.
"Oh… how about the Doxy's Egg, Harry?"
Right after Draco heard Clarissa said the words, he tried to recall the effects of Doxy's Eggs in Potion. Calming Draught has Moonstone Dust and Hellebore Syrup in it. When Moonstone Dust meets with Doxy's Eggs in a potion, it will likely result the potion with black or gray shade in color. With The Hellebore Syrup in it too will change the taste to be slightly spicy. But the calming effect will be destroyed in process and turn the potion into… Draco held the chuckled after he realized what had just the two people behind him unconsciously made.
Draco calmly put his own Calming Draught in an available vial and silently levitated it up to Snape's desk. The Potion Master directed his gaze at the boy and nodded in approval while Draco only smirking. A soft gasp could be heard from behind him and Draco was eager to find out whether the two figured what had they made.
"It's black!" said Harry.
"Yeah, and the smell is strong, very strong…. With a hint of herbal, spices, and mint….wait a minute…I've read this potion befo-…" she stopped and blushed right away. "OH. MY. GOD!"
Seems like Claire figured it out, Draco mused.
"What is it, Clarissa? What potion is it?" Harry's innocent remark could be heard.
"Oh…uhm…it's nothing…no special potion, Harry," Clarissa said in discomfort and finally sighed in defeat. "It's… it's aphrodisiac (1), Harry." Clarissa whispered.
Harry was gone silent and Draco wondered whether the shy boy knew what the Potion was. Draco was tempted to look behind, but he resisted.
"How… how about we add this next? Dragon Blood?" Harry stuttered.
He did seem know indeed, Draco thought smugly. Then the blond was back to calculate the result from adding Dragon Blood to the potion might had. He guessed the potion would turn into blood red in color and would have a very foul smell. And he snorted silently in smugness when he heard a gagging sound behind him, affirming that half of his guess was true indeed.
But soon his smugness wiped away from his handsome face when the said two behind him mentioned 'Mermaid Scale' and 'Newt's Eyes' along their lines. Draco was having horrible feeling by then. He turned his head slowly only to find the two insane people behind him were really holding the two said ingredients over their cauldron. Slowly he scooted away from the two. He knew exactly what would happen, and that was very nasty. The potion would explode and would splash the….
The next minute the cauldron did explode its content and the class soon covered in black smoke. Shrieked voices, yelped, and cursed could be heard from the class. Much to his relief, he had scooted away far enough to save himself from those sickly jelly green liquid. He too caught the sight where the wind shield covered both Harry and Clarissa before the black smoke hindered it. Draco thought it was Clarissa who emitted such power of protection. Only much later on he knew otherwise.
Harry felt something blew softly at his very skin. When he opened his eyes, he could see a thin layer of wind covered him, and a person behind him. He stared with awe for a moment before startled in surprise when he realized what had happened. He had instinctively moved between the cauldron and Clarissa to protect the girl. He turned abruptly and checked the elf who stood behind him. He gasped when he saw what he saw. Since Clarissa tied her hair before, her pointy ears and her, now opened, slit pupils were now very visible, at least to Harry. But when Harry blinked, the elf traits were gone.
On the other hand, Clarissa felt a pair of eyes watching her closely. She opened her eyes only to face the similar cat-like green eyes, which full of concern. She smiled secretly.
"Err… Clarissa…you okay?" asked Harry.
"I'm fine," the slit pupils were gone from Harry's eyes. "Don't worry."
"Nice job you have, Clarissa, the wind shield?" Harry teased. Clarissa only smiled in response.
Severus Snape was irate. He cursed and cursed and swore that James Potter had sent those two brats to make him in hell. First was that insufferable brat that practically screaming James Potter in and out. He was sure as hell that the boy was his father incarnation. Now, with the Aiden girl added in his own house, he was assured that someone up there must hate him thoroughly. He waved his wand and in a second the black smoke was dissipated. He prepared himself for the worst.
But when the man saw the result, half of him was cheering. There, covered in jelly green liquid was a Gryffindor Ronald Weasley. Half of the class whimpered in disgust and the other half giggled at his funny appearance. Ronald Weasley himself seemed to be very uncomfortable and very irritated.
Snape took a deep breath. "POTTER, AIDEN! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!" he roared. Snape quickly swept across the room to face the two ghost of his ex-enemy. "Now, care to tell me, both of you! What's your reason for this explosion?"
"Uh…we were just….experimenting, Professor," Clarissa tried to look as innocent as she could be. Her appearance had come back to normal. "You know, because we've finished early…I thought we could use the extra time to…well, learn something…"
"And what, pray tell, have you learn from your self-learning today?" Snape narrowed his eyes, trying to suppres his impatience.
Clarissa grinned like a little brat should grin after doing some naughty prank. "That we can't mix Mermaid Scale and Newt Eyes into a potion in the same time. Because it will turn the potion to be all sticky and sickly green….like that!" Clarissa added with pointing her index finger to Ron. "Eww!"
And Snape was actually smiled, giving Harry some bad feeling about it, that and Harry thought the man named Snape shouldn't or couldn't be smiling!
"Ten points…" Snape awarded still with those horrifying smile on his face. "To Slytherins for an initiative to actually learning from experiences." At this Clarissa smiled widely while Harry groaned for the unfairness. "And twenty points each from Slytherin and Gryffindor for ruining my class! And no Hogsmeade visit for this weekend for both of you! Class dismissed!"
With the last words growled in finality, Snape's face turned back to his usual scowl and he was gone with his robe fluttered dramatically. Leaving Clarissa and Harry gaped like golden fish out of water.
xXx
"I can't believe that he can be such a nosy big prat like that!" Hermione sulked as she slumped on a couch with hands folded in front of her.
Dean and Neville looked at each other before sighing. "Who, Hermione? Snape or Weasley?" asked Dean.
"Ron!" she shook her head. "It's an accident! Harry and Clarissa had no idea what would happen after all."
"Well, you have to admit it went nasty for him, Granger. He turns to be a green-walking-human, I mean…he's literally green! From head to toe, and it won't disappear until it worn off, incase you forgot," chuckled Blaise and he winked at her slightly. "Though I found it hilarious, nice distraction."
Hermione glared at the boy across her. Currently they, minus Harry and Clarissa, were talking in common room in the elf's quarter. There was a little banter happened at Gryffindor table in lunch time. The incident at Potion sure drove a certain red-head mad. The youngest male Weasley was irritated enough to throw snide remarks at the three outcasts, mostly to Harry.
"Where's Claire?" asked Draco.
"Upstairs, take a bath I guess," Hermione answered.
Draco took out his wand and muttered, "Tempus." The clocked clearly showed five in the afternoon. "Finite." Another wave of his wand, the clock's gone. Draco looked up at his fellow Slytherin. "Come on, Blaise. We have to go. It's nearly dinner."
"Yeah…yeah…," Blaise rolled his eyes. "Just don't take the bloody bath too long Draco, or I will hex you senseless," he added under his breath.
Both the Slytherins stood up, while Blaise smiled charmingly to Hermione, Draco only nodded for goodbye greeting. Soon they were out from the quarter. Dean snickered while Neville tried to hide his mirth. Hermione frowned at them.
"What?"
"Hermione, do you realize that he was…he was…" Neville blushed. "He was indirectly flattering at you…" he whispered.
"Who?"
"Zabini," Dean shrugged. "I saw him constantly staring at you when you're not looking. I think, well, I think he might check on you, Herm." Dean winked at her. This time, Hermione blushed.
"Maybe it doesn't mean a thing, you know that he flirts with nearly everyone. Girls or boys…" she drawled. "Oh, come on guys… you can't possibly be serious…."
"Well, no, that's Harry's godfather," Dean teased.
Hermione rolled her eyes and pouted in result. She was saved by Harry's arrival. She looked at Harry and worried at the pensive look on his face. She let him walked past them and took a seat at a single couch near the fireplace, ignoring all of her…their gazes (Neville and Dean included). He seemed to be in a deep thought which sent Hermione's mother instinct to kick in. the girl stood and walked to him silently. She patted his shoulder gently, only to have him flinched away slightly. He looked up and met Hermione's hazel eyes stared back at him with concern.
She leant down and sat at the arm chair, one hand still laid on his shoulder. "Harry, are you okay?"
"I'm…fine, I guess."
"You lie," she simply stated.
Harry sighed and smiled weakly, "I… it's nothing, Hermione, really, no such a big deal. You don't need to worry."
Hermione was about to say something when Clarissa decided to came down. The latter girl walked calmly to their direction. Her hands were holding a box which all recognized as Hermione's.
"Hey…Harry, you're back already," she said with a serene smile.
Harry nodded and Hermione sighed. Clarissa smiled at her and handed her the box she was carrying. "Where are Draco and Blaise?"
"Down, to their House," answered Neville. "Preparing themselves for dinner, I guess."
"Speaking of them," Dean drawled. "There's something I really want to ask you since… well, since you've been introduced by Headmaster, actually, but I haven't got any chance, seeing Malfoy and Zabini always pestering you around…"
"You're not asking me for a date, are you Dean?" Clarissa joked. "Because if you do, you have long queue to wait…"
Dean laughed out loud. "No, please… I still want to live a silent, comfortable school life until the Last Battle," he said between his laugh. "With Malfoy and those fan-boys hunt me down, surely will depleted my chance to flirt with any blossom flowers, don't you think?"
"Definetely!" agreed Clarissa seriously while the other laughed. "So, what do you want to ask then?"
"It's simple actually. I just want to know, why did you move to Hogwarts, Clarissa? If it's an academic comparison, Beauxbatons had the same level of standard with Hogwarts. Besides, you left you parents far away across the sea, in France. I… just don't get it. Why did you move? Why now?"
Clarissa smile slightly, "Nice question. Well, my movement was made because of the current events, let's just say… the dark evil has been lurked into the shadow and me, being a powerful witch I am from my inheritance, of course, decided to become a heroine!" she cackled cheerfully. "That's the big plan, but for more personal reason, let's just say, that I have a destiny to fulfill. I'm here to help my other-half."
"Your other half?" asked Neville. "So the tale's true?" he blurted out without thinking.
"Tale?"
"You know, about the twins and such…" Neville nervously fidgeted on his seat. "I mean, when you showed up and claimed yourself as the heiress of Aiden, being a half-elf and all, only by yourself, I thought the story about the twins only a made up one. I… I mean…"
"That why I'm not with my twin, my half-set, the one who carry the title of the Heir," Clarissa nodded understandingly. "Who say that my half is my twin?"
"It's not?" asked Neville obviously confused.
"Well… I didn't say no… did I?" Clarissa smiled in secretive gesture.
All the Gryffindors shared a confused look. No one saw that Clarissa's gaze lingered at Harry for a moment.
"So?" Hermione frowned. "What's actually the truth? Do you have a twin or not?"
"Hmm… tell me, what do you actually know about Aiden?" she asked.
All eyes stared at Neville who cowered under their scrutiny. Clarissa smiled encouragingly at the pureblood young wizard. Neville gulped and then retold the story he knew by heart from his Grams. By the end of his story, one of the two girls in the room could be found in a very deep thought.
"From what Neville said, you're supposed to have a twin. That if the story is true, is it Clarissa?" asked Hermione.
"It supposed to be, according to the story that is," agreed Clarissa. "But as I said myself, I didn't say that I have a twin, or I have not, right? So, just drop the matter for now, okay. It's not time, not yet. All I can say, your definition about my family, Neville, is half true and half complete."
All was silent, but one bushy haired girl had a calculative look in her eyes. Then she said, "Your other-half, where is he or she?"
"Oh…my other half is…actually near, but unreachable, at least not for now," Clarissa smiled inwardly. The glint in her eyes signaled that she knew that being a very clever witch Hermione was, the latter girl must have had suspected something.
And Hermione did, actually, but she decided to keep silent until she had a solid prove in her hand, not only rambling thoughts and tales to be relied on.
Harry opened his mouth in an attempt to speak his thought but then decided otherwise. Clarissa raised her eyebrow in question.
"Yes, Harry?" she asked.
"The… things that I saw in potions…was that real?" Harry asked timidly. "I mean, one moment when I saw you, it's there, but then I blinked and they were gone."
"That's part of my inheritance, Harry," Clarissa explained. "My pointy ears and cat-like eyes…" three other people were actually gasped. "are true. I have the elf-blood runs in my veins, it's in my nature to have such traits when I came into my inheritance. But it's not permanent thing, I'm only half-blood, not full-blood elf, so I can switch them back to normal. Usually the traits occur when I lost control of my feeling. You know, like spontaneous feelings such surprise or angry, or even over reactively happy."
"I see…" Harry pondered.
"Definitely have to read more about the elf," Hermione mumbled to herself. "Well, I guess I'll have to go back to Tower. I still have to take a bath and keep this present and bag in my trunk. Thank you again, Clarissa, it's so beautiful. And Malfoy too… I haven't properly thank him."
"Nah…don't mind it," Clarissa waved her hand. "Anyway, I'm keeping the make up kit here, Heaven's know that you need to learn how to use it. So you will have to be here very often to study applying make up, and I volunteer to keep it as to not trouble you on your way here."
"Oh…it's…okay, I guess. Just do what you think is the best," she noted.
"Then let's go to the Tower," Clarissa clutched her arm and dragged her off from the armchair.
"What?" Hermione asked bewildered.
"I'll accompany you to the Tower, Hermione. Then we head down to the Great Hall for dinner together."
"But Harry and…Malfoy…"
Clarissa rolled her eyes, "Please, they're not kids. Besides, they haven't taken their bath. It'll be a waste of time to wait for them. We could use the spare time to make you well presented."
"It's just a dinner, Clarissa." Hermione tried to object.
"Just do it, 'Mione, you have to see for yourself that you're beautiful," said Harry with encouraging smile. "Right guys?"
Dean and Neville both nodded in agreement.
"Oh, fine…I'm out of vote," Hermione sighed.
Hermione hugged Harry and kissed his forehead softly. She was reluctant to leave, but she knew Harry wouldn't reveal anything to her. So she just hoped the two other boys could make Harry speak. Perhaps, it's a boy thing, so Harry is too ashamed to tell me, she thought.
Hermione shot a glance to Neville and Dean who nodded in understanding. She gathered her things and let herself be dragged away from the quarter by an excited Clarissa. Before the two girls disappearing behind the portrait, Clarissa stepped back and with a wide grin she teased, "Go take a bath, boys. You all smell! See you in Great Hall!"
"Yes, Ma'am!" all the three teased back.
When the giggling sound no longer could be heard, Dean and Neville sprang on their feet. They pushed Harry to sit along with them on a long couch. Harry was surprised but the hard stare from both boys told him the question already.
"Harry, what had happened?" asked Neville gently.
"Nothing, really!" Harry sighed weakly. "It's just… a minor thing, don't worry…"
"Now, Harry, don't try to give me the bullshit, 'cause I don't and won't believe it," warned Dean.
"Dean!" Neville chided softly. "Harry, you can't bottle things up. You can tell us if not Hermione. There's only us in here, all boys and all Gryffindors outcasts, no one will know… if that's what bothering you."
Harry resigned eventually. "Just…don't tell 'Mione, okay? She'll throw a fit if she knows." Dean and Neville nodded solemnly. "It's… you see, right after lunch Angelina came to me, said she needed to talk with me in private."
"And…?" Neville pressed gently. He touched Harry's forearm, offering some kind of silent support.
Harry swallowed the lump in his throat. "It's about Quidditch… She… they banned from the team. They confiscated every access I have to even go to the locker room."
Dean's eyes widened, "But your Firebolt…"
"Is there, yes I know!" Harry groaned. "And few of my properties…"
"Just ask McGonagall, I'm sure she'll let you in, into the team I mean," suggested Dean.
"That'll only make them angry for more, Dean," Neville debated. "Then, they will give Harry's life as a hell everyday."
"Precisely my thought," Harry muttered darkly. "But, at least, I still can fly. I love flying more than the Quidditch itself. I'll just have to find a way to get my Firebolt back. I can't lose it. It's from Siri."
"Why don't you try to ask Hagrid?" asked Neville. "He's still a Professor after all."
"I can try…" Harry nibbled his lower lip.
"But Harry, if this is just about Quidditch, why you don't want Hermione to know?" asked Dean. "You use to speak nearly everything with her, and I mean it literally you know…"
"Ron Weasley is the new Seeker," Harry muttered. "That's why."
Dean and Neville came into the same understanding. They knew, hell, all knew that Hermione had a crush on certain red-head boy and the said boy seemed fond with her either. Their current relation, however, sent many questions about whether they would set together or not.
"I don't want to make her sad more than she already is. Though they're not in agreement term right now, I can't just put aside the fact that Hermione adores him. If she knows what the team, no doubt been persuaded by Weasleys seeing not only Ron but also Ginny placed as the new Keeper without try-outs, had done to me, she will exploded right on his nose. I can't mess them more than this," Harry sighed heavily.
"Well, that's sucks," Neville offered and Dean clapped Harry's back gently.
"I kept thinking that perhaps, perhaps Ron will come around. I will be lying if I say that everything he did to me wasn't hurtful," Harry added quickly seeing the two friends ready to protest. "But I will be lying too if I say I don't hope for it. He's my very first friend after all. Anyway, I'm still glad that my school life now isn't as hard as I imagined would be."
Neville smiled at him, "If you mean about the reaction from students for those articles, well I should agree with you, Harry."
"What?" Dean seemed to be scandalized. "Do you mean being kicked out from dorm, isolated from other gatherings or activities, sneered by most students, pranked and tripped every now and then, and now, banned from sport team were not hard? You must be crazy!" Dean shook his head.
Harry laughed at his friend's antics while Neville grinned amusedly. "Honestly, it's still tolerable, you know. Besides, if you notice it, apparently The Daily Prophet has stopped talking about me since the school started. Clarissa has been on the Headlines instead. That's good, a progress, right?"
"Aww…. You're just jealous that your spot was taken by some stranger, Harry," teased Dean.
"I do not!" Harry pouted then laughed. "But I mean it. It's not something I can't handle anymore, unlike my previous thoughts. Now that I have both of you here, supporting me, I can't help but feel really glad. I realized, somehow in these hard times, I can distinguish the truth better."
Dena shoved Harry playfully, "You're such a sap!"
Harry laughed heartily, "It's true… from now on, we'll watch each other back, okay?"
"Deal, Potter!" teased Dean and Neville laughed. Harry grinned contentedly, swearing to whoever heard his oath that he would never ever trade them even for the world.
xXx
Dinner at Great Hall that day was not included in happy occasion for certain people. First was for Ron Weasley. Obviously enough he was still angry for the Potions accident. The green color on his hair, faces, and spot-able skin wouldn't wear off that easily. It's better than the lunch though, at least he got a bit of his natural hair color back. But still, it successfully depleted Harry's and co's appetite. "It's a sick reddish green, for God's sake!" they all whined. Hermione could only shake her.
She looked lovely that evening, by the way. Her bushy hair had been somewhat tamed into lovely little curls at the end of it but straight flat on top her head. It was now framed her oval face and shown her soft and calm feature. But her beautiful figure was somehow disrupted with the dark shadow clouding her smile.
At this point our story was being written(2), Hermione was the barrier that protected Harry from any physical assault from one Ron Weasley. Fortunately, the said Weasley boy had not try to do anything, physically at least but his tongue was lashed out words of malice.
Harry was aware of the restraint look on Hermione. Clearly something was really upsetting her in the Tower, since she had the look on when she and Clarissa stepped into the Great Hall. And clearly it has something to do with Ron, based on her displeased behavior at him and his smug look that's completely annoying.
Hermione rolled her eyes with suffered sigh. "Please, Ronald…!" she snapped. "Stop this childish behavior at once!"
"Childish! Me? Hermione…. I knew that Potter boy had planned it all. Or you just couldn't see properly? I'm green, Hermione!" Ron seethed.
"Yes, I know that! I'm not blind, beside you've been throwing tantrum since lunch, honestly!" Hermione hissed, getting annoyed.
All Gryffindors and few students from other tables were tense. Some were looking at Hermione with building rage, some were looking at Ron with disapproved look, and the rest just watched with either curiosity or boredom. Harry rubbed Hermione's back soothingly, and from the corner of his eyes he could see Neville trying to calm Dean, who now narrowed his eyes dangerously. Harry looked helplessly at the Head Table, for once feeling irritated at the absence of the teachers. Where are they when you need them! he thought desperately.
"In case you forgot, Ronald," Hermione hissed, ignoring Harry's whispers to stop. "The accident you've mentioned involving a girl you seemingly very fond of, does a name of Clarissa Aiden ring a bell here?"
Ron's face changed into a frown. "Well, it must be him who decided to pull a prank on me!" he defended. "She won't have any idea at all, it must be him luring her to do that… to make her agree! If not, how could I am the only victim here, while Draco bloody Malfoy could evaded it. It must be a conspiracy between the two."
"Honestly, Ronald!" snapped Hermione back. "Which part in the phrase 'it's an accident' you could not understand!"
"Because it's not, Hermione!"
"It is, stop being stubborn!"
"Hermione!" Harry yelled, successfully knocking some senses and dignity into Hermione.
Ron's eyes narrowed with hatred glint in it. "It was you, Potter," he said in low menacing tone that made Harry turn to face him. "It was you who stole them away. First you took Hermione, then you corrupted Dean and Neville, after that, as if it was not enough, you with Malfoy persuade Aiden to stand on your side."
Ron was being irrational, Harry knew that already, but somehow it still made him gaped and wondered why his former friend was so blind. Harry shook his head dejectedly. He looked at Dean and Neville who both had incredulous look on their face.
"What did you do, Potter? What did you use?" Ron asked tauntingly. "Or, perhaps it's your muggle upbringing running in your blood, hmm? The blood which came from your mother's line. It must have been tainted with the worst kind of muggle blood which gave you the ability to allure people into your path. You filthy half-blood."
That did it. Hermione shrieked in rage while Harry blanched, the boy was torn between anger and hurt. Dean jumped to his feet and Neville made no attempt to stop his friend. Neville's face was flushed red, but this time it wasn't because of embarrassment, but from fury.
Hermione surprised them all. With her lithe body, she dragged the stunned Ron with full force without any gentle touch at all outside the hall. Dean was helping her by pushing the said boy from behind, and Neville simply restraint Ron from breaking free. Ron's sibling stood up and was ready to help their brother. But Harry, who stayed behind, gave them the look that put them down back to their seat. Just after that, Harry strolled down the path where his friends went in a leisure pace.
None of the four noticed yet, that Ron was getting himself piercing glares from most of muggle-borns and half-bloods students who had heard his exclamation. Now, with Ron's gone, getting himself punished, the glares were directed to the rest of the Weasleys clan, cowering the on their own seats.
xXx
Something unpleasant happened in Slytherins table too. It was started with Clarissa's gloom mood which was recognized since Draco and Blaise arrived at the table and sat at her each side. They didn't go to the Great Hall together, instead Clarissa went down with Hermione.
"Clarissa…" Draco muttered in warning. "Stop playing with your food."
"I'm not in the mood to eat, Draco!" Clarissa replied with a scowl.
"What happened?" Blaise asked, his mask still intact.
At this Clarissa scowled, "That good for nothing Weasel!" she hissed. "He was hitting on me when I went to Tower, and being a bloody annoying git! Just then I found out that Hermione adores him, seemed like she's upset. She didn't rude to me after that though, what a rational girl, unlike some annoying jealous bitch. But she did a bit withdrawn and…and civil."
"That's what I like about her, her head keep stirred in clear even though her heart tells otherwise," Blaise nodded solemnly, inviting a suspicious look featuring Draco's face.
Suddenly Clarissa felt something in her heart, like a bee sting. She gasped quietly and brought her hand to her heart, Draco and Blaise looked at her questioningly. All three looked up at Gryffindors table direction when a loud screech could be heard. They saw Hermione forcefully and non too gently picked Ron by the collar and dragged the boy outside with the help of Dean and, surprisingly, Neville. The scene left them impressed, for they rarely saw such fierceness from the three. Then they saw Harry stood calmly, looked at the Weasleys on the table with a cold calm fury, then stalked off without hurrying and gently closed the Great Hall door.
"Is that…" Draco whispered, he realized he shuddered in fear because of the look even though it was not directed at him.
"It is," answered Blaise with an equal shiver hinted in his voice. "Such fierce! Wonder how it tastes on bed!"
Draco pressed the urge to roll his eyes and stomp his foot impatiently, "I don't think we're talking the same thing here, Blaise! Clearly you were too taken with that brunette witch!"
"Hell, yeah!" Blaise smirked. "She's hot! I can't help it, can I?"
"Pervert!" Draco muttered amusedly.
Just then Clarissa made a move. She slowly stood and nearly walked away when two strong hands held her still. She turned her gaze in question. Draco shook his head in disapproval.
"No, it's their problem," he said quietly.
"So?" Clarissa asked.
"It will be no good, Clarissa, it's not in our rights," explained Blaise.
"Why would I care?" she drawled under her breath, quiet enough so that could only be heard by the three. "I only care for one person. And that person is out there! Or you want to tell me, that I have no right at all to watch over my twin?"
"Err… no, but..." Blaise stuttered.
"Then let go of me!" she said calmly.
Seeing the two boys didn't do what she asked, she impatiently yanked her hand. It accidentally swapped a pitcher of Pumpkin Juice, making it fell and tainted her, Draco's, Blaise's, and Pansy's robes. Pansy quickly jumped to her side, where Millicent Bullstode sat. Their face was in disgust at the smear of juice on the table. Then they looked at Clarissa with unadulterated hatred which replied with a dark un-guilty look from Clarissa.
Draco sighed. Both he and Blaise drew their wand and muttered the cleaning spell on table and robes.
"Behave, Clarissa," Draco chided gently.
"You just won't let me go," she muttered.
That's the time Pansy decided to interrupt. The girl was not pleased at all. At lunch, she got owl from her father, telling her to stay away from Draco, like few of Slytherins did now, and to forget her dreams being with the man, all because Lucius Malfoy swore his allegiance for the elf-girl. She became very bitter, and thought that if she couldn't have Draco then she would make sure that no one would.
"That's it!" Pansy screeched. "No 'sorry' from you to me, missy?"
"Why should I?" Clarissa quirked an eyebrow, her chin held high, and she folded her arms in front of her.
"You tainted my expensive robe, you bitch!"
"I see it cleaned!"
"Still, you have to say sorry for me, and I want you to kneel down and beg me sorry," Pansy sneered in frustration. "What? Your mother didn't show you any manner? Ha! A royal without etiquette, how funny!"
"Pansy!" Blaise warned with wide eyes, he stood in process.
"What?" Pansy glared, daring him to say anything against her. "It's not as though I'm wrong. Just look at her, no royal behave like that. Unless…"
Pansy stirred her gaze at Millicent. Both shared a nasty smile for a moment before Pansy turned back to face Clarissa.
"Unless, of course, that Gryffindork friends of yours influenced your actions. Oh my," Pansy gasped mockingly. "What did they do to change your attitude, sweety? Fuck you senseless, you slutty bitch?"
Draco was seeing red at the two laughing girl. But a pale, slender hand stopped him. Draco looked at Clarissa and backed away at her blank cold face. Behind them, Blaise muttered silently, something about "Death sentence" and "Punishment".
"Who is your favorite, Clarisse dear?" taunted Pansy. "That mudblood Thomas, the shy Longbottom, or the famous Potter? I bet for the last, hmm?"
The girls laughed again. Just then Draco realized a thin sheet of smoke hanging in the air. The girl, Pansy and Millicent, were not aware of it yet, still looked smug and their laughs were full of humiliation. Clarissa simply flicked her fingers and suddenly, fire could be seen on the girls' robes. Their laughs stopped, instead they were busy to dry the fire. Pansy shrieked in panic while Millicent was on the brink of tears. Their expensive robes were slowly turned into ashes.
The commotion made most students gasped and backed away with fear. Clarissa held her chin high, her eyes narrowed and looked down at Pansy and Millicent as if they were nothing but dirts. Her elfin traits only came up as the slits in her eyes.
"You will not use that tone again on me, young Ladies. Remember this as the first warning," she said in a tone that screamed superior. "Do not forget who you are talking with, who I am and your position, so you better hold your tongues. Shall this be repeated, I will hold none of my instinct to punish you more, and you'll face to lose more than nice expensive robes. Trust me!"
Another flick and the fire were gone leaving only a small fire fairy to fly and sit tamely at Clarissa's palm. But it was enough to leave Pansy's robe sleeveless and Millicent's robe hung around her belly. Clarissa smirked at them before giving a small thank you to the fairy, who nodded gracefully and kissed Clarissa's nose in return before vanishing.
Clarissa turned around and elegantly strolled down the hall, Draco and Blaise silently followed her. She opened the door only to face a scene where Hermione punched Ron straight in the nose.
xXx
Hermione slammed Ron harshly against the wall just outside the Great Hall. After Ron was out from his shock, he scowled at Hermione and made his way to get her back. But his step stooped by two wands pointed directly at him. He backed away at the hard look on Neville's and Dean's face.
"What was this, Hermione?" Ron growled at her, not inching from his spot.
"I am the one who should ask you, Ronald Weasley," she yelled in front of him. "What was that! How dare you insult anyone's lineage! Just who do you think you are, young man?"
"What? I'm not wrong, Hermione. He is a half blood!" Ron pointed his finger at Harry who just had arrived.
"Yeah, he's a half-blood. So? Just because you're an almighty pureblood, didn't give you the right to judge someone's lineage. You looked at him like some dirt he is. If that's what you thought about him being half-blood, then what do you think about me? Me, being the muggle-born I am. Ones you lot call mudbloods. Answer me, Ronald!" but she didn't give him any time to answer. "Oh, Ron… what had happened to you? The Ron I knew never had any problem with bloodline before."
"It's not about problem, Hermione. It's never been problem to me," Ron tried to sweet talked her. "It's just… well, it is a fact that the purity of bloods do have err…advantages and privileges. You can't deny that. It will give you a place in social rank and certain power. It's the tradition, Hermione."
Hermione narrowed her eyes in desperate gesture. Hurt and disbelief were clearly shown in her hazel eyes. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath in her effort to calm herself. In the moment she opened her eyes, those pools of chestnut brown contained with betrayed intelligent glint.
"Tell me, Ron, just what do you think of me? Forget Harry and…any other things, just tell me."
"I like you, Hermione. I like you," Ron whispered in soft, gentle tone.
"Is it true if I assume that you made, no… I mean that you stopped your advances on me this year because of Aiden?" she asked calmly, staring right into Ron's eyes. Ron nodded reluctantly. "Why?"
Ron, being unable to draw his eyes anywhere beside into those intense gaze, slowly answered, unaware of his inability to lie. "Because she's a pureblood and royal descendant of elf."
"You like her, flirt with her, and give up on me, all because of her blood and family status?"
"Yes."
Then Hermione face was hardened. She balled her fist and without warning, she punched Ron on the face. Then she yelled, "YOU PATHETIC WORTHLESS BASTARD!" and took off.
Dean and Neville were surprised at her outburst and glared at Ron in full hatred. Dean was ready to hex him when Harry stopped him.
"I believe this is between Ron and me, Dean," Harry growled and drew out his wand. "Go and find Hermione."
Dean stepped back and gave Harry a curt nod. Just then he realized that three Slytherins had joined their small party and Neville had voluntarily filled in their lack of knowledge. Dean moved to the side and tugged at Neville. Just when they moved to find the Gryffindor girl, Harry and Ron had started throwing hexes and the three Slytherins watched at it leisurely.
It was until then when Ron in the verge of losing the duel, he put a stop on using his wand. Instead, he made a physical advance towards Harry, resulting the smaller boy got his lip bleed.
Clarissa widened her eyes. Fury started to build in her once again, making the temperature decreased ever so slowly, her eyes turned into slits, and her pointy ears started to reveal. The boys had been fighting hand to hand for about five minutes when other students and teacher came into view. Before any of the teacher managed to put a stop, Dumbledore himself prevented it, seeing clearly Clarissa's state at the time.
The duel was obviously in Ron's favor. He being the bigger one between the two had more power in physical strength than Harry. But to his unknown, it only triggered a fierce anger deep within Harry's soul. Without none of them realized it, there were a thin layer of red aura between them and for those who could only watch the duel, they could feel the changing atmosphere around them.
Clarissa was not a happy half-elf at the time, she loathed that her brother was sickly beaten by a guy she found worthless. And when she could no longer contain her elf's magic, she broke it free. The temperature was getting low in a significant decrease, enough to send a chill breeze through the hall and freeze anything solid if she didn't focus it on certain object. She concentrated her power for one man and froze him slowly from the toes. By the time Ron made an attempt to punch Harry's face, he was frozen from chest to down, stopping his action. Harry blinked in surprise but his anger never left him.
Slowly, Clarissa walked nearing them. She stopped in front of Ron, her slitted eyes were intimidating enough to make Ron gulped in fear.
"I can't believe my friend adores a person such as you, Mr. Weasley. I've never met any wizard just as low as you, you hypocrite good son of nothing!" she spat. "Never again I see you hurt what dears to me, understood!"
She didn't wait his response as she walked away in elegance air around her. She nodded to Dumbledore, who nodded back. Clarissa controlled her emotions and soon the elf traits were gone as she disappeared from all sights. Professor Flitwick brought out his wand and tried to counter-spell her magic on Ron to no avail. Then Professor McGonagall came into view to help him. But the ice didn't melt or vanish. While the teachers tried their best to free Ron, one student still looked at the latter boy with loathing glare.
"Chilled, Weasley?" taunted Harry in a whisper then smirked. "You deserved worst, do you know that?"
Harry drew his balled fist and made a contact with Ron's jaw. At once, the ice broke and melted into water, leaving the teacher's jaw dropped. Ron fell on his ass with a sore jaw, looked up in fear at Harry.
"That's for Hermione!" Harry yelled.
Then the boy stomped off in fury. Teachers looked at each other in calculating look before they all set their gaze at the Headmaster who nodded knowingly.
Students looked in awe and fear, soon whispers and murmurs could be heard among them. Only two Slytherins knew what had happened and they were too surprised with the fact that when the ice melted into water, Harry's eyes turned into two deep emerald slits.
xXx
A.N : Finally! (I admit it's very hard to type those angry moments, since I'm the typist is currently in a happy, sappy mood, not helping at all! sigh) okay, here is the new chapter. We hope you like it, and don't forget to review. Pleaseeee….. we will be delighted even if it's just a few words.
okay we don't know the spell. Anyone know?
It's just a bit of joke… we just want to insert ourselves in it tee-hee…. .;