Chapter 8: Eventful Hallowe'en
It didn't dawn on Novi that Oliver may have been asking her out until she was skipping towards McGonagall's office the next day. She wasn't sure, but Oliver usually never quite formally asked her about sneaking to Hogsmeade in the past. They usually would just be strolling about the castle, and when the opportunity presented itself, they would casually do so.
Novi decided that she was probably only getting her hopes up. The two of them had snuck out to explore the many secret passages, alleyways, and caves on many occasions, and those weren't 'dates'. Perhaps asking was his subtle hint that he needed to go to the Spintwitches to get new practice gear.
"Well, are you going to come in, Black? Or are you going to just stand there?" McGonagall's voice broke Novi's train of thoughts. Unknowingly, deep in thought, the young witch had already been standing in front of the open Transfiguration classroom.
"Sorry Professor, spacing, as per usual," Novi grinned seating herself across the Professor who gave her an amused look with both her eyebrow raised.
"So it says here that your electives were Ancient Runes and Arithmancy," McGonagall started, looking through the files of the young witch with her oval-shaped glasses. "What types of career were you looking to pursue after your graduation from Hogwarts?"
"Well… it may sound silly, but I was hoping that I could learn wandlore?" Novi questioned more than stated.
Professor McGonagall gave Novi a surprised look. "Well I don't think it is silly at all, Ms. Black. But I am curious to know, why? With your level of academic success I had assumed that you would be pursuing a job at the Ministry?"
Novi chuckled. "Well, it has always been a subject of interest for me – wandlore I mean. I would never be interested in a big function such as the Ministry, I prefer more personal, and private line of career," she said before her face became dark. "This is not to say, I have never been interested. In my earlier days, I have thought to become a barrister. That idea was quickly abandoned as I grew older, with who my father is, it is not a possibility."
At this, Professor McGonagall gave the girl a sympathetic and grave smile. "Well, Ms. Black, learning the art of wandlore is a wonderful idea, but it is a big commitment, indeed. Have you started looking into apprenticeship yet?"
"The discussion came up once or twice with Mr. Ollivander. He was interested in teaching since his own son had pursued a career as a broom designer as opposed to a wandmaker," Novi shrugged. "I never thought to seek out Gregorovitch, and Mr. Ollivander always told me that he'd rather set his own toe on fire than to see me studying under Mr. Kiddell."
McGonagall gave a small smile at this. "Well, if Ollivander has taken an interest in teaching you, I have no further advice to give to you, except to keep your marks up, Ms. Black. If you have a change of heart, however, I will be more than happy to reference you, and give further advice."
At the dismissive tone, Novi got up, about to leave the room when she heard the Head of House clearing her throat. The young witch looked back. "Ms. Black. I have noticed that you weren't causing as much disruptions this year. However happy I am with this new development, I must not overlook that this may be because of Mr. Potter's arrival at the school," she paused, looking at the young witch's familiar gray eyes. "You're your own person, don't let false sense of guilt interfere with your life. Well, have a wonderful rest of the day, and see you at the feast."
Mona, Percy, and Oliver knew better than to interrupt Novi's brooding when she had gotten back from her interview with McGonagall. They didn't know what had gone wrong, but something had definitely ticked the girl off. On days like these, they preferred to stay away from her vicinity, knowing she would come to them when she was done fuming.
Meanwhile, Novi had, what some may view as, unnecessary internal battle. What Professor McGonagall has said to her made sense, it wasn't as if she had any direct relation to Sirius Black's betrayal to the Potters. However, just the fact that her father was the reason for Harry Potter's unfortunate events made her irk. She felt responsibility that others did not understand. She felt the obligation to pay him back somehow, although she knew that no payment or actions could replace the boy's state of being parentless and the constant misery he had to face because of it.
"Hey, Novi, why the long face?" the said boy asked when he entered the common room.
Her friends snapped their heads towards them immediately, almost fearful for Harry. They were sure that Novi was going to lash out and curse the poor boy when she surprised the lot. She smiled. Albeit weakly, but the corners of her lips tugged upwards as she looked at Harry and Ron.
"It's a tiring task to be me, Harry. I mean, emanating all these awesome?" the girl joked cockily. The two first years laughed lightheartedly at this. "Nothing a little sweets cannot fix. My guardian has a notion that chocolate can fix all negative emotions – which includes tiredness – something that I believe wholeheartedly."
"Well then it's a good thing that it's Halloween tonight. We can get your foul mood in check," Mona intervened the conversation lightly. Novi gave a mock glare but the corners of her mouth tweaked, signalling that she was done her gloom-fest. "Well, what are we waiting for? I definitely have a craving for that-,"
"- infamous Hogwarts carrot cakes. We know," Novi rolled her eyes. She got up from her seat at the windowsill-couch promising the two first years she will see them in the Great Hall before she joined her best friends.
"Done huffing and puffing, are you?" Percy nudged. "Well, come on, then. I'm starving."
"You Weasleys are always starving," Oliver laughed, but nonetheless, he guided Novi through the swarm of over-excited students.
Novi blushed a little at this, very aware of the warm hand that was placed gently in the middle of her back. Her mind briefly remembered the earlier contemplation on whether Oliver had asked her out and she blushed.
Mona gave her a pointed look with an eyebrow raised at this when she caught Novi's eyes. Novi almost looked as if she was becoming embarrassed before her face became stony. Mona shuddered at this, it was disturbing to see how much Novi acted like her pureblood cousins – hiding all emotions when they didn't wish it to be revealed. The only difference she had from them was that she wore a mischievous smirk that made one uneasy.
When the Great Hall came into view, the façade that Novi seemed to be putting up seemed to disappear as she took in the sight of it all. The ceiling was lit with a thousand jack-o-lanterns, live bats were hanging from the enchanted ceilings or flying rather low, creating a wisp of black clouds. But the true enchantment of it all was from all the excited faces of the students feasting on various colourful pies and cakes and sweets. Novi broke into a smile before she rushed towards the Gryffindor table and the foursome sat down to join their fellow mates with high spirits.
They hadn't been feasting for too long, however, when the most unexpected news came flying into the Great Hall. Professor Quirrell, with his turban askew and face frantic, came sprinting into the busy feast. He reached the Head Table, grasping the table and panted "Troll – in the dungeons – thought you ought to know," before he promptly fainted cold.
The Great Hall became an uproar as the students began to scream and panic, dropping their food and rushing out to conceal themselves where they deemed safe. Even the senior students began to panic as they all got up, pushing aside the younger students with their tall figures, to ensure their safety first.
No need to say, it took several of Professor Dumbledore's purple firecracker exploding from the tip of his wand to claim everyone's attention.
"Prefects," he rumbled imposingly. "Bring your Houses back to the dormitories immediately."
Percy was instantly in his zone as he began to give orders around the first years to form a line and keep together. Novi, giving a little smirk at the amusement of these situation and all, followed suit as well, calling out for the second years to keep close with the first years. Mona and Oliver, not being prefects themselves, fell into sync with their other fifth years, trusting that Novi and Percy will be fine.
When the two Fifth year prefects reached the portrait of the Fat Lady, they hurriedly made everyone get inside before the two followed. But it only took merely seconds before Novi started panicking.
The familiar sight of the messy tuft of black hair, the recognizable flaming red hair, and the brown frizz Novi had come to know had not entered.
"Where the devil is your brother, Percy? Where are Ron, Harry and the Granger girl?" Novi asked frantically, trying to look around the common room to see if they had arrived with the upperclassmen.
Percy began to look paler than usual, just noticing that his youngest brother was missing while there was a Troll on the loose inside the castle. Novi let out a series of colourful obscenities flow out of her mouth as she began to stalk towards the portrait hole again.
"Novela Mary Black, don't you dare-," Mona started but with a cold look from Novi, the said girl disappeared through the hole, her wand clutched in her hand dangerously. "Shag. Me. Sideways. That idiot girl!" Mona screamed in frustration.
Meanwhile, Novi was bounding down the series of staircases with great speed. She didn't know how or where she may find them, but she couldn't think straight as blinding fear clouded her judgement. However, Novi decisively followed her nose, picking up the faint scent of the horrid smell of the Troll. She was nearly at the third floor when the familiar screech she would recognize anywhere screamed her name.
"MS. BLACK. WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING OUT?"
Novi's eyes flickered to the infuriated Head of House. McGonagall, along with Snape and Quirrell were scuffling quickly towards her. It appeared they were following the mere scent as well.
"Professor! Some of first years are missing. I didn't know what else to-,"
CRASH! Suddenly, her words were cut short by the booming noise in the direction of the girl's lavatory. The four individual's eyes all darted towards the washroom before Novi made a beeline for the washroom, expecting the worst.
The sight that donned Novi made her jaw drop. In the nearly completely destroyed girl's bathroom was a twelve feet tall mountain troll, knocked out cold amongst the debris of the place. Around the troll, standing, without so much as a broken bone was Harry, Ron, and the Granger girl.
"Novi!" Harry acknowledged, startled that she was the one to find them first. He was about to say something to explain himself when he saw the dark look that Novi gave them before the professors came rushing in.
Quirrell whimpered as he sat himself on a toilet, uselessly. Snape bent over to look at the troll. But McGonagall looked almost as livid as Novi was. "What on earth were you thinking of?" she spat with coldness. "You're lucky you weren't killed. I am sure I saw you both at the feast, why didn't you follow Ms. Black and the others back up to your dormitory?"
"Please, Professor McGonagall – they were looking for me," came the quiet squeak.
"Miss Granger!"
"I went looking for the troll because I – I thought I could deal with it on my own – you know, because I've read about them," the girl said. Novi frowned. The girl has approached Percy and herself on occasion with questions on her academics. She just didn't seem like the type to go find trouble. "If they hadn't found me, I'd be dead now. Harry stuck his wand up its nose and Ron knocked it out with its own club. They didn't have time to come and fetch anyone. It was about to finish me off when they arrived."
"Well – in that case…" McGonagall said, staring at the three first years. "Miss Granger, you foolish girl, how could you think of tacling a mountain troll on your own? Miss Granger, five points will be taken from Gryffindor for this. I'm very disappointed in you. If you're not hurt at all, you'd better get off to Gryffindor tower. Students are finishing the feast in their houses." And with that, the Granger girl left without any further ado. "Well, I still say you were lucky, but not many first years could have taken on a full-grown mountain troll. You each win Gryffindor five points. Professor Dumbledore will be informed of this. You may go. Miss Black, if you would please."
"Come on, Ron, Harry," Novi said as she hurriedly left the chamber, the two first years tailing her quickly.
They didn't speak for a while, Harry and Ron could basically feel the anger radiating off of Novi. Ron and Harry kept taking glances at each other, not knowing how to strike up a conversation, or break the tension.
Finally, when they reached the staircases, Harry spoke. "Novi, I'm sorry if we upset you with you know… not following you back to your dormitory-,"
"Please, Harry. I'm not upset about that," Novi snipped. She then rubbed her temple as if she was suffering from a headache and turned towards the boys. "I'm just… bloody hell. Ron, can you imagine how distraught your mother would have been if you'd been injured?" Ron hung his head at this, knowing it to be true, then Novi's eyes flickered to Harry. "Harry, your parents gave their lives to keep you alive. A poor way to repay them – chasing after trolls."
Harry looked down to his feet, not knowing what to say. He did not think of it that way. The only thing on his mind when he heard the Hermione scream was that he should not leave her behind.
"But I do think it's very Gryffindor of you," Novi's voice cut Harry's train of thoughts. "I know many of the Gryffindors would have done the same thing if they were in your predicament. Such blind and stupid courage, but hey, I'm sure I would've done the same. Pig snout." Novi said to the portrait of Fat Lady letting the two first years in.
Upon entering, the three of them saw that Hermione Granger was waiting for them at the door of the portrait hole. Harry gave his little thanks to which Novi just nodded and smiled to before she swaggered to her usual seat by the windowsill-couch.
"Novi!" Oliver who had been sitting on her seat was the first to notice her. He quickly darted across, meeting Novi halfway. His face was full of worry and panic, and he grabbed her face and arm, searching for any injuries.
"Relax, Oliver. I'm alright," Novi said smiling as she sat herself on the now empty seat.
"NOVELA MARY BLACK. YOU GOT ME WORRIED SICK!" Mona screamed dramatically before she pulled her into a hug. "You, you just wait until I tell Remus what you were up to! You overly-chivalrous twat!"
"Well technically I didn't do anything. I just escorted Harry and Ron back after they already half-killed the troll," Novi shrugged. "As for Rem. He'll be pissed, but he'll understand. I am never the one to leave a damsel in distress."
"Yeah, like when you took a Bludger to the face for Percy?" Oliver laughed.
March 1988
Flying lessons were always a struggle for Percy. He wanted to excel in all of his courses, so Percy had been trying his hardest in the class, but being the academic person he is, he preferred his feet to be firmly planted on the ground. Besides, he didn't quite fancy being bloodied up, battered, and dirty like Mona, Novi and Oliver did when playing Quidditch. So when Madam Hooch announced that she will be releasing the Bludgers into the makeshift games they had been playing, Percy was terrified.
Percy quickly attached himself to his other three best friends and some Gryffindors who looked at him with amusement at his discomfort, but their smiles fell when they saw their opposing team. Flint, Goyle, Bletchley, and Higgs, along with three other Slytherins were eyeing Percy like he was a hunk of meat.
"Well, this will be interesting," Mona said, trying to cheer up the group.
They hadn't been up in the air for long, though, however, when they clearly started to target Percy with the Bludgers. Percy, suppressing his urges to screech every time a Bludger got close to him, was sweating from his palms and out of breath. He stopped in the middle of the field, exhausted from running away the whole game, when he heard Novi screaming.
Suddenly, wild mane of mousy brown hair covered his vision before a sickening crack rang throughout the field. And Percy couldn't do anything but watch as Novi fell from over fifty feet in the air, plummeting down to the hard ground below.
"I got a downright lecture from Rem when that happened," Novi laughed.
"Well are you surprised? You broke your nose and four different bones on your face. Not to mention the broken arm and four ribs. You were bed-ridden because of me for a solid week," Percy frowned.
"I vaguely remember that. Rem said something about it. He said I wouldn't have an actual cheekbone to hold up my face if we had to fix it the Muggle way," Novi shrugged. "And you did my homework for a solid month after that because you felt bad. I'd do it again if we went back in time."
"You're such a Gryffindor," Oliver chuckled, pulling her into a hug. "So how about some chocolate, senorita?"
(A/N) Hello everyone, wow it really has been a while since I wrote a chapter in this story:/ To be perfectly honest, I had a writer's block and I had no idea what to do with this chapter. Anyway, this chapter was supposed to further show Novi's internal struggle with her responsibility for Harry, also it's supposed to show how both of them are very "Gryffindor-esque" even when the Sorting Hat has told them otherwise.
Anyway, if you haven't already, check out my other story Through Ella's Eyes (Draco/OC). And if you like this story, please don't forget to review, favorite, and follow. Thanks!