Well slap me sideways and call me Senior, I've gone and done another chapter! (Don't ask...I'm tired...) Consider yourselves lucky (or at least those who enjoy my story) that it poured down rain on my camping trip and I decided to finish this chappy off...and maybe start my 11th while I wait! Hope you all like it =) it should tie up some loose ends for now and explain a lot about my character =D Let me know what you think!
Hermione's broken body lay on the cold stone floor surrounded by only two malicious Death Eaters. Snarling, Pandora lunged for the throat of the one with his wand raised and barely noticed her shoulders being restrained by a pair of dark arms. Pandora's fury dimmed the look of shock and anger painting the Death Eaters' face in her mind and the exertion of pressure against her arms as Anastasia held her back from her actions. The strained voice in her ear barely registered in her brain.
"Pandora...please...leave it...relax...leave it to me-"
Hermione was panting as the curse lifted and her eyes flitted wildly around the corridor before resting on Pandora, still struggling against her professor.
"Gentlemen-" She cringed slightly at the term but continued. "-I am sure we can come to an understanding, here. She is simply an innocent girl, whatever problems you may have with her you may discuss with me." Anastasia struggled to keep her voice calm as she fought against Pandora.
"The Mudblood was caught with this-" The bystander, long scraggly hair and a small, round face, tossed an ancient, leather-bound text book at their feet bearing the words, Ancient Magic of Olde in slanted scripture etched into the cover. "-and tried to hide it from us." Anastasia's curiosity was brief, but Pandora barely noticed; her mind seemed to be drowned by the thought of running to her friend and-
Pandora sagged in her teachers arms, hitting her knees in resignation.
"This mean anything to you, blood-traitor?"
Anastasia narrowed her eyes in defiance.
"But, surely, you are not afraid of the wee students of Hogwarts learning dark magic...to use against you lot? Now, that would just be daft, wouldn't it?"
The armed Death Eater sneered and pointed his short wand at Anastasia's chest. Crucio barely left his lips when Pulmopactum left Pandora's. The lightening-yellow curse hit the attacker directly in his chest. He spluttered, his eyes bulged, and he clutched at his robes, attempting to rip them off, fighting for breath. His comrade openly gaped at the Death Eater's torture and turned his shocked gaze towards Pandora kneeling beside Hermione protectively, her normally composed face twisting with rage.
The Death Eater clutched at his throat and dropped to his knees; his face had turned an alarming shade of purple. Pandora muttered Pulmoimpendo and withdrew her wand as the slowly collapsing man inhaled sharply and the pasty colour returned to his face. He glanced at Pandora almost fearfully before forcing himself up on his feet, keeled over as if someone had punched his stomach. His fellow had finally gotten over his shock and glared at Pandora pointedly.
"You..." He shook his head in anger. "You will pay for that, Mudblood. You think Larvil's punishment for your cheek was painful? Your punishment for attacking one of us will leave scars on your soul."
He lunged forward and tore at Pandora's arm, dragging her behind him down the corridor. She never struggled, only look Anastasia in the eye.
"Take her to the hospital wing. Find Ron and Harry-"
"Shut up!" The following Death Eater roared and kicked Pandora across her knee. The only sound after that was the undeniable scream that followed as they turned a corner. Anastasia and Hermione shared a look, one's face covered with shock, the other with tears, as the owners of the footsteps arrived.
:::
Ron burst through the large doors of the hospital wing, gasping for breath and clutching the throbbing pain in his side, and tore across the room towards Hermione. As he fought to even his breathing, he noticed she looked rather annoyed and worried at the same time.
"Made it here...fast as I could...Anastasia said...Cruciatis Curse...Death Eater..." He inhaled and exhaled with purpose and decided to go in another direction of conversation as Harry burst through the doors in much the same fashion. "What's got your knickers in a twist, Hermione?"
Harry had caught up to them, bent over and rasping for breath, when Hermione finally turned her torn gaze to Ron.
"Pandora has to be the silliest-ugh!"
Ron froze; Pandora was involved. Hermione was worried. This could not be good. But he had to sort his priorities for now, as Hermione had been hurt and he needed to be sure she would be all right.
"Pandora? What has she-"
"How are you feeling? I mean, you were..." Ron cut through Harry's inevitable question but found himself unable to finish his own question.
Hermione's features softened. "I'm fine Ron...it was...it was over as soon as he stopped, really."
"So...what happened? What bloody reason did that smarmy-"
Hermione snapped a tattered old book under Harry's nose before he could finish his second question. He took it tentatively and perused its pages. Hermione dropped her voice.
"You have no idea what I went through to find this book. It mentions briefly the importance the creator of a Horcrux puts into their object, or in this case, objects, and it even hints at precisely how one splits their soul and places it into said object. Now, I know you are aware of the importance of the object already, so that's why I found another book, in my bag there, simply about Hogwarts artefacts and heirlooms. It seemed harmless enough to them, I suppose."
Nearly a full minute after Hermione finished her explanation Harry finally stopped openly gaping at her and his face split into a smile.
"Bloody hell, Hermione, this it...this is brilliant! I mean this...this is more than anyone anywhere could ever find..."
Hermione flushed slightly at the compliments but looked nonetheless confident.
"Right, well...this is absolutely silly. No need for me to be in this lumpy bed, I'm quite fine, I assure you..."
"Not so fast, young lady. I need you here another hour at least." said Madam Pomfrey. "Can't possibly walk about those corridors in your condition."
"And what, exactly, is my condition?"
The nurse refilled Hermione's healing goblet and ambled off, muttering something about children talking back. Hermione sighed.
"You had better go and find Pandora. Merlin only knows what condition she's in after that run in with those Death Eaters."
Ron exchanged an understanding look with Harry, gave Hermione's hand a squeeze, and flew back through the doors. He nearly ran into a man cloaked in black standing just outside the entrance and heard only this.
"...see that Mudblood anywhere near here, she'll need a grave, not a hospital!"
Ron swore under his breath and tore down the hallways of the castle, everyone talking about the attack on Hermione and very few about the outcome of Pandora's punishment; he hoped with all his heart she would be well and able to tell him what she had done to provoke the Death Eaters again with a good laugh and a casual wave of her hand, although he knew he was asking for too much. He glanced down a side hallway and almost ran past it before something caught his eye in front of a classroom door. He approached the figure slowly, knowing only too well who it was, though her beautiful face was stained with blood and covered in cuts and her leg was bent at an odd angle as she sat against the cold stone of the wall. He sunk to his knees in front of her and forced himself to look her in the eye, which, he was thankful, was still poison green and fierce.
"Bloody hell, Pandora...what did they..."
He ran a shaky hand through his hair as Pandora smiled weakly.
"'ve had worse."
Ron shook his head slowly.
"Wish I could walk so you wouldn' have to carry me."
"What happened?" He asked weakly.
"Tell you all 'bout it when 'm feeling better."
Ron carefully wrapped his arms about her back and legs, trying desperately to stop the pain flashing across her face as he moved her. She helpfully wrapped her arms around his neck and tenderly rested her head upon his shoulder as he walked out of the small corridor.
"You were right. Too right...about Hermione being a target." Pandora remained silent. "Don't take this the wrong way...I just never thought you'd be the one who'd protect her...who'd give in to her being-"
He swallowed thickly, and it may have been his imagination, but he swore he felt her hands tighten gently around his neck for a brief moment.
"Can't take you to the hospital wing...they're guarding that now. Don't want you around them...I'll bring you to the common room. I can try to help you there...not as good as Pomfrey though..."
"Laughter is the best medicine...'ve been told."
The newfound strength in her voice surprised Ron. She chuckled softly.
"Pomfrey...she has a good heart. Sense of humour like a dragon, though."
Ron chuckled along with her, ignoring the odd looks they received from passing students as they gaped at Pandora's bloody figure and craned their heads at the sound of their laughter.
:::
It had been nearly an hour and Ron had found nothing that would help Pandora's wounds. She no longer felt the pain of her punishment, and admitted grudgingly to herself that Ron had something to do with that. He eventually gave up for the moment and knelt in front of Pandora on the couch, helpless. She moved her hand as if to brush the hair away from his eyes, but stopped before she would embarrass herself and settled for a story instead.
"They insulted Hermione." Ron looked up, curious. "Called her...Mudblood. I saw them torturing her. So I tried to stop it-"
"Why?"
Pandora raised an eyebrow at him.
"No, no offense!" He bared his hands in defence. "I was just wondering what drove you to...this." He gestured to her nearly broken body.
Pandora sighed. "I had hoped you wouldn't ask that. I...I honestly don't know, Ron. Something snapped inside me. I suddenly felt overwhelmingly protective. And then that bloody Death Eater turned his wand on Anastasia-" Her voice burned with anger and hatred. "-and he was about to do to her what he did to Hermione. So I...well, I'm not proud of it. I used that lung-contraction curse on him. Frightened the bullocks off him, I did." She smirked. "So his mate didn't like that too much. Dragged me to that empty classroom you saw me in front of. After a while I barely understood the curses they were-"
"Stop. Please, stop."
Ron had his head in his hands, which were trembling slightly.
"Ron? What's-"
"I just...I just don't like hearing about you...I just don't like it, ok?"
Pandora gently lifted Ron's chin with her finger and looked him in the eye.
"I'm sorry. But you can see I'm fine...can't you?"
"Pandora...your face is covered in blood and your knee is broken."
Pandora shook her head. "I'm talking. I'm laughing. I'm breathing. I can see. I can hear. I can smell. Only thing I can't do is walk."
Ron might have smiled if the sound of yelling and the portrait hole opening hadn't disrupted their moment.
"Pandora! Oh my goodness-"
Hermione all but pounced on Pandora as she rushed to her side and wrapped her arms around her. Pandora froze, but made no move to push Hermione away.
"Why did you-you silly..." Pandora blinked as she noticed tears streaming down Hermione's cheeks.
"Blimey, Hermione, can't you see she's fine?"
Pandora shared an amused look with Ron as he said this, but he seemed to regret his words as Hermione slapped him across the arm.
"You insensitive git! Can't you see how hurt she is? I snuck this potion out of the hospital wing, Pandora, I had a feeling you wouldn't be welcome back, and luckily I've done enough reading-" she shot Ron a dirty look. "-on these spells and curses to heal those wounds enough that...well, they won't be very noticeable." She finished with less enthusiasm.
Pandora's gaze flickered from Hermione's earnest gaze to Ron's anxious one and back again.
"Alright...I'll let you...how did you put it?" She glanced at Ron once more. "Fix me? Yes, that's right."
:::
Exhausted, panting slightly and satisfied, Hermione had eventually found a series of spells powerful enough to tone down the appearance of Pandora's scars and even found one that would enable them to completely heal over time. Sprawled over the worn in chair in front of the fire with Pandora sitting cross-legged and stiff at her feet, Hermione let out a throaty chuckle. Pandora craned her head around to gain a better view of her and eyed her oddly.
"Have I missed the punch line to this crude joke?"
Hermione shook her head lazily, ignoring Harry and Ron's looks as well. The common room had filled up substantially and overflowed with conversations. Pandora swore she heard her name more than once, but found herself unsurprised and, although she found herself joined by Ron's sister, Ginny, soon after Hermione had finished healing Pandora. She had never spoken to this girl and barely glanced at her as she lounged upon the arm of the chair Hermione sat in. Pandora had deduced that she was strong-minded, stubborn, and would not be talked down to.
"I just...I never thought we'd be in this position. Fighting for our lives in a place we thought forever safe. Seeking ways to destroy You-Know-Who. Sitting in the common room forced to act perfectly normal when it should simply come naturally. When exams would simply not matter anymore is a day I just never saw coming!"
Ron snorted. "Well, I'm not really surprised that's one of the things you miss this year."
Hermione glowered at him. Pandora shook her head in amusement. "Pray, tell, please, why you find this dark matter amusing?"
Hermione shrugged half-heartedly. "Maybe I am going mental."
Pandora sighed and muttered, "Going mental may be the most sane thing that can happen to you under these circumstances."
Everyone looked at her then, she knew it. In times where keeping your mind in check should be most crucial, you lose yourself in the seriousness of the situation. If one just let themselves go, let their mind lose control, it would enable a certain amount in normalcy in your thought process once the madness ceased. It is an odd lesson to learn, a lesson no one can teach, a lesson no one needs to know.
She chuckled humourlessly and returned her full attention to the fire, frowning only when someone appeared to have blocked it and made no hurry to move out of the way. Pandora glanced up and was surprised to see Parvati and Lavender standing there, fidgeting nervously with the sleeves of their robes. Pandora exchanged quick looks with Harry and Ron before rising to her full height, nearly six inches taller than both, and crossed her arms expectantly. Parvati bravely drew up her meek form and looked Pandora straight in the eye. The room had gone quiet.
"We-Lavender and I-we wanted to apologize. We judged you, and we were wrong, and we're sorry. We hope you'll forgive us."
Pandora fought hard against her shock at the words the Gryffindor spoke. Her gaze flickered between the two; though Lavender seemed nearly frightened out of her wits, she seemed slightly ashamed and sincere. Pandora inwardly sighed and cracked a small smile.
"There is nothing to forgive." She replied simply. Relief washed over their faces and Lavender looked near to giving her a hug, though she soon thought against it and settled for a somewhat awkward handshake, which Pandora returned just as awkwardly. Pandora had plunked herself unceremoniously back onto the carpet in front of Hermione and glanced around again, her shock undisguised. Hermione sniffed behind her.
"I told you, Pandora. You're a Gryffindor now."
:::
Ron spent the remainder of the night watching Pandora carefully as she allowed herself to be pushed from conversation to conversation with different people in the common room. She had spent nearly twenty minutes talking to a sixth year whom Ron did not know. After well over an hour and speaking with nearly thirty of Gryffindors' students, everyone eventually receded to their separate dorms and left Pandora at peace where Ron found her on the couch, sprawled lazily and breathing deeply. He warily approached her makeshift bed and knelt in front of her, scanning her peaceful face. He made to drape the homemade quilt over her sleeping form but paused in the act when the light from the fireplace illuminated stark white lines along her wrist that stood out painfully against her sun-tanned skin.
Narrowing his eyes, Ron traced the curious marks with his finger to further understand them until his eyes found the longest white line, reaching from her thumb to her elbow. Many things happened at once; he gasped with understanding as a vice grip tightened painfully around his wrist and his yelp of pain caught in his throat as he looked into green poison.
Pandora glared at him, her grip on his wrist never ceasing, and he was briefly reminded of how she used to be with him. Her voice was low and cold.
"What do you think you are doing?"
Ron's gaze flickered to the white scars on her wrist. Pandora caught his gaze and raised a dark eyebrow at him as if daring him to ask the question.
So he did.
"What are those scars on your arm from?"
His voice was stronger than he thought. He felt as if someone had drained him of all of his blood and had replaced it with ice cold water. So many things had shaken him up today, nearly all of these incidences involving her, but nothing could prepare him for the sudden sadness that now lined her eyes. She sighed in resignation and sat up in the couch, motioning with her head for him to accompany her. He did so in a heartbeat, straining his ears so hard that it hurt. She spoke in a small voice that sounded weaker than it did early this afternoon when she was physically weak.
"You have a large family. You fight with them sometimes?" Ron nodded sharply. "You get punished for being bad?"
Ron shrugged. "Yeah...mum usually makes me do things the muggle way for a while..."
Pandora nodded, still facing the fireplace. "You don't get beat on for slouching? Or told how much you embarrass them in public? Or whipped for wearing wrinkled clothing?"
Ron blinked. It felt like the air had been sucked out of his lungs and it took him a moment before he could reply. "N-no..."
The fire only enhanced the pain in her eyes. "My father had his ways of punishment. Had his own ideas of what was right or wrong. He was a very proper man. Not a hair astray on his head nor a thread free of his trousers. And so the very same was expected of his children and his wife. If we ashamed him in any way, made a fool of him, he would hit us. My sister and I. But when we were in public, he would, conversationally as ever, tell us he deserved better children than us and that we were not deserving of all we received from him. He'd never yell in public. Or at home. He made it too normal.
"As his children, we were to be strong, show no sign of weakness. So his lesson for that was to whip our backs or legs - because no one could see the scars – with a thin stick until we began to feel nothing at all. I became so sick of the treatment, of the direction my life was turning to, of being verbally berated daily, that I..."
Her voice trailed off as she looked down at the scars on her wrist. Ron took her hand and looked into her eyes.
"...missed...obviously." Pandora shook her head roughly and continued. "So I took that as a sign and I stayed strong for mum. She stayed strong for us too. Over and over he told her she was lucky to have married into his family and that he could marry anyone he wanted and he made her toughen up the same way he'd toughen me and my sister. So she had to stay strong...for our sake..."
Pandora's voice broke and her eyes moistened as she spoke, and Ron only held her hand tighter.
"So..." she swallowed. "Once my sister was old enough, he became harsher with her like he was with mum and me, says he was teaching her important life lessons, and mum took a stand against that and told him to leave us alone and that she was finished with him, she didn't need him anymore. He wasn't stupid, though. He caught on real quick...saw the hope in our eyes as she opposed him and knew that it was only a matter of time before we started opposing him too...so one day, took mum in their room..." the tears pooling in her sad eyes escaped and leaked freely down her cheeks and she forced herself to look Ron in the eye. "All I heard was her scream and then...nothing."
A heart-breaking sob erupted from her throat as everything she tried to hide all her life spilled out in painful gasps. "So it was...me and my sister...on our own...against this...monster...and I learned how to defend us. That's why i defend myself well, that's why I build these damn walls around me...and I started fighting back...for her...and she got frightened and begged me...to stop because he would do to me what he did to mum...so I sent her away...to a good family...so she would be safe..." Pandora shook uncontrollably and Ron wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight against him.
"I-I tried so h-hard, he still b-beat me but I n-never backed away until these b-bloody robed people told m-me I'm a witch and now I f-found you but he's still there and I-I d-don't want him to g-get you, don't want anyone to g-get you..."
She was inaudible after that. Ron held onto her even tighter, running his hand through her hair and making what he thought were soothing sounds like his mum used to do with him. He absorbed what she had told him, tried to make sense of it. All he knew now was that he wanted to hurt her father more than he had wanted to hurt anyone in his life. He now understood why she was the way that she was, why she pushed so many people away, and why, once she let them in, she was suddenly so protective. He vowed to himself not to let anyone else hurt her for as long as he could.
He was brought back to the common room when he heard her shuddering breaths and felt her body shivering even more violently than before. Moving slowly so as not to wake her, he settled into the corner of the large couch and gently pulled her curled form against his, her hand never releasing its surprising grip on his jumper.
Merlin's pants, over 3,000 words...haven't done that in while! But I couldn't think of anywhere else to end it...let me know what ya think =) Personally, I`d say this is my favourite chapter so far, as it shows what Pandora truly is underneath all those barriers she builds. What are your thoughts? Until next time on...UNEXPECT THE EXPECTEDDDDD! (still tired...)
P.S. Yes, I did make up the unrecognizable spells in this chappy and will continue to do so because it's fun =D Apologies to anyone who actually knows Latin (not from an internet translator page) and sees numerous mistakes; if so, let me know and I will fix them IMEDIATLY.