Friends, sorry for the delay. I've been trying to come up with the best scenes and lines for the succeeding chapters. I was so wrapped up and excited with these next episodes that I had to divide them into four segments.
Anyway, I'll shut my mouth now … and present to you CHAPTERS 6, 7, and 8!
These chapters especially dedicated to Eternal Cosmos,SachiNyoko, Amazing-Jax, Tasie, Hoshiko Megami, Taiki, mish, firefly, kitty, and the rest who'd been following this story!
Thanks for all your reviews!
(KD) Keating's Disciple
"Talking"
'Thinking'
(Setting, Place)
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Sailor Moon or Harry Potter; they belong to Takeuchi Naoko and J.K. Rowling.
MEMORIES OF YOU
CHAPTER 6: Wicked Plan
Hermione ended the call and placed her cell phone gently on the table. She looked at Ginny and Ron with a serious expression and spoke. "We need to steal Harry's journal—tonight."
( 5: 32 PM
10th floor, Stuarts' Apartment for Wizards
57th Wandsworth Road, London )
Surely it was a comfort living in the Stuarts' Apartment for Wizards, not only because it was exclusively for tenants who were wizards and witches, but also because it gave the most convenient access to the Wizarding World.
On the highest level of the building, 12th floor, different doors leading to various schools, train stations, and other places in the Wizarding World could be found. This was the reason why Harry Potter and his friends didn't stay in dormitories at present, unlike their old days at Hogwarts.
Although the apartment easily blended in a muggle area—Wandsworth Road—tenants were only allowed to use simple magic inside the building to assist them in their everyday lives. Any major spells or tricks that could disturb or catch the attention of people outside the building were strictly prohibited. The apartment itself was charmed, causing visitors, especially muggles; forget about the place once they stepped out of the building.
TING!
One brown-haired teen and two red heads stepped out of the elevator of the magical apartment.
"Aw-aw! Aw! Aw! Careful, Ginny!" Ron cried as his younger sister helped him tread the floor that led them to their apartment door.
His right shoulder was draped around Ginny's neck, while his left hand carried some of the shopping bags of the girls. Ginny's left arm was carefully supporting Ron's back, as her right hand clutched one shopping bag. Hermione was walking ahead of them, carrying a shopping bag and the small box that contained Ron's precious cake.
"Mione, careful with the cake, okay?" pleaded Ron, "I wouldn't want you tripping now on this floor, especially after we have safely left Camden Town, rode a cab, and exited the elevator. That cake almost cost me my life! That's precious as Harry's black journal …"
Hermione stopped walking and glared at Ron. "Just shut your mouth, Ron! I know how important this cake is to you. Also, this precious cake of yours is our secret weapon, okay? This is the bait for our plan … so I wouldn't let anything happen to it …" replied the muggle witch, before continuing to walk towards their door.
When the three reached the door, Hermione uttered the password. "Bagel Mousse!"
The door clicked open.
(Bagel Mousse was the password that Ron created, combining two of his favorite foods—
bagel and chocolate mousse cake.)
Hermione pushed the door with her body to open it more and then said, "Lucis!" turning the lights on in the living room.
She held the door open, allowing Ginny and Ron to enter. When the siblings had went in, she closed the door, padded to the kitchen, and cautiously placed the cake on the table. Hermione stared at the box for few seconds and sighed, then she joined her friends in the living room and sat on the one-seater couch.
Ginny helped Ron settle himself on the long reddish-brown couch. The younger Weasley placed two light gold pillows behind her brother, one at his back and the other under his buttocks. Next, she placed the shopping bags on the floor, beside the couch.
Sitting down beside Ron, she asked, "Mione, what time did Serenity tell you to meet her?"
Hermione, who had been silent for awhile, sighed again. "She didn't specify any time, but she said … she and this Mrs. Sanders will be at the Hayward Gallery 'til around 9 in the evening …"
"Hmmm, I see," Ginny said. She stood up and addressed her brother smilingly, "Ron … just stay here … I'll just get my stuff so I could start healing you …"
"Oh hurry, sister dear … pretty please," Ron requested, batting his eyelashes, causing his sister to chuckle at his expression.
"Okay, Ron," replied Ginny, leaving Ron and Hermione alone in the living room.
"You know …" Hermione suddenly said to Ron, "you hurt your butt pretty bad—still, you never seem to lose your sense of humor …"
"Of course," answered Ron, smiling at the brown-haired girl, "Oftentimes sense of humor can save you from the whirling complexity and dreariness of life. And right now, I think I really need it …"
"What to … help you ignore the pain of your butt?" asked Hermione.
Ron grinned and then crooked his head to the left. "Maybe. But right now, I desperately need to lighten the mood … or at least MY MOOD. This plan of yours is really risky, Mione … even riskier than the one we had last year. I'm getting a little nervous now … getting jittery every second. Mione …when you called Harry's phone when we're leaving the café … um … what time did he tell you he's coming home?"
"Ron, just relax, okay? We were able to pull off that trick last year," told Hermione, "This time is no different … well … just a little riskier I guess. Harry said he'll be home around 6 PM … they needed to fix some things at the library. It's the part-time job he got …"
Ginny came out from the bedroom that she and Hermione were sharing, holding her wand and a small bottle of liquid. Next, she approached her brother on the couch.
"Ron, I want you to lie down on your stomach," ordered Ginny. "Mione, could you please help him."
Hermione stood up and helped Ron lie on the couch. "Aw … aw … aw … careful, careful," murmured Ron.
"Just relax, Ron …" told the younger red head, "I know what I'm doing. Madam Pomfrey taught me some of her tricks before I graduated from Hogwarts."
True, during Ginny's seventh year at Hogwarts, she had already been thinking of becoming a medi-witch after graduation. She asked Madam Pomfrey to teach her some of the basics in healing injuries and illnesses. The school nurse was very happy to share her knowledge, especially when she had known of Ginny's plan of becoming a medi-witch.
Ginny and Hermione had finally helped Ron to position himself on the couch.
While lying on his stomach, Ron turned his head towards the girls. "You know … you girls had been telling me to relax. This is … UGHHH! Aren't you two even nervous of what we're about to do? I mean, maybe we were able escape Harry's wrath last year. But now … I think Harry won't really like this … I … I don't know if I could do this plan of yours, Mione …" Ron admitted, hugging a throw pillow in his arms.
"Ron, stay still, okay? Stop squirming!" Ginny instructed, pointing her wand at her brother's aching rear. The end of her wand began to glow brightly and she started chanting some magic healing words that only she could understand.
"Ron, just be quiet and let Ginny heal you, okay? I'll just prepare the cake …" Hermione said, leaving the siblings in the living room and going to the kitchen.
Truth is—Hermione had never been so tense in her life.
Well, perhaps except the time when she took her NEWTs, which in fact she had all passed with flying colors. Preparing for and taking the NEWTs was at least more controllable, and in a way, more predictable. If you really study hard, you'll pass the exams. If you don't, you fail.
Now, stealing your friend's journal in the hope of letting the girl he loved, remember him, and finally reuniting them—was not exactly something Hermione had thought of accomplishing. Probably bringing Harry and Serena together was fine … but reuniting them?
Hermione was afraid—that things might go wrong and she wasn't exactly sure of what Harry's reaction would be, if ever they would be able to pull this plan off.
But she had always supported and believed in the love that Harry and Serena shared. She would try her luck again and trust destiny to help her to bring her two friends back to each other's arms.
Now, if only it was simple as it sounded to be.
After Serenity's call at the café, Hermione called Harry on his mobile phone and asked him if he was already at home. The green-eyed boy told her that he accepted a part-time job at the library and was going to stay a little while to do some sorting and arranging of books.
After talking to Harry—she, Ron, and Ginny had devised a plan of how they would be getting the black notebook.
It was almost six in the evening, and Harry would be home any minute now.
Hermione needed all the courage and strength to do this. She didn't need to fall apart right now.
( Back to Hermione in the Kitchen )
Hermione stood beside the table and looked again at the brown box. She closed her eyes and whispered, "Selene … Goddess of the Moon … help me."
She opened her eyes and carefully opened the small box, revealing the mouth-watering cake. Then she took out her wand from her back pocket and concentrated hard. She waved her wand and magically—there were four slices of the cake on saucers. And beside these saucers, were four table napkins with forks resting on top of them. At the center of the table, was a small floral tray with a matching tea set.
Hermione bent down a little, opened the cover of the teapot, and smiled—Serenity's favorite, fragrant aroma of hot jasmine green tea whisking the air. She returned the lid of the teapot and headed to the living room.
She smiled at Ron, who was already healed and now sitting properly on the long couch, and Ginny, who was smiling at his brother tiredly and had just finished the healing process. "It's all set. We can now have some cake and tea," she announced them.
"Great!" Ron exclaimed, standing up from the couch, "I definitely want to get a taste of that heavenly cake!"
"Ron, feeling a lot better?" asked Hermione smilingly.
"Yup! I feel a lot better now! My butt is all pain-free … all thanks to my sister dear," said Ron, beaming at Ginny.
Ginny finally stood up and handed Ron a small bottle of liquid. "Ron, you need to drink this medicine, it will help you to completely heal."
"Sure, Nurse Ginny … anything you say I will obediently follow," Ron agreed casting a glance at the small bottle in his left hand. He opened the bottle and quickly drank the pink liquid in one gulp. "Hey this tastes really good! I thought medicines supposed to taste awful?" he asked his sister.
"Haha!" giggled Ginny, "Madam Pomfrey not only taught me to create strong, effective medicines such as that … she also taught me how to improve the taste."
"Cool!" told Ron. "Well … Nurse Ginny, care to join me and Hermione for some cake and tea?" he asked offering her his left arm.
"Sure, Ron!" answered Ginny taking the left arm of her brother. They walked towards Hermione and Ron offered his right arm to the muggle witch. "Ms. Granger …" Ron said smilingly.
"Of course, Mr. Weasley," Hermione said taking his right arm. "You seemed more relax now, Ron … no longer nervous?"
Ron stopped in the middle of their walk to the kitchen, and released the two girls from his arms. "Well … like what I told you awhile ago … I am trying to lighten the mood because … deep inside … my heart is still thumping madly!"
The two girls laughed, sitting themselves beside the table.
"What? It's true … my heart is still beating wildly! Thanks to Ginny, the tension I had from my aching butt is gone now. But now … I think my tension had even tripled! Ehehehe …" Ron laughed nervously, joining the girls at the table.
Then Ron saw Ginny sprinkling something to one of the cake slices and teacups. "Is that what I think it is?" he inquired.
Ginny smiled at him slyly. "Yup! Now, all we have to do is—"
RING! RING! RING! RING! Hermione's mobile phone rang.
The brown-haired muggle took out her phone from her pocket. "Hello Harry?" she said on her phone, "Yes, we're already here … we're waiting for you, Ron brought us a cake! (pause) Haha! Ok! See ya!"
Hermione smiled deviously at Ron and Ginny. "He's coming up here … he's going to the elevator now. We're about to start Operation: Black Notebook. Act normal, okay? Especially you, Ron …" she told them.
"Ehehe … okay …" Ron laughed nervously again, taking a sip of his tea. "Hmmm, this tea tastes good. What is this?"
"That's Jasmine green tea … that's Serenity's favorite," replied Ginny, taking a sip of her own tea.
"Ohh … I see," uttered Ron, as he reached for his cake and started eating. "O Mama Mia! Girls, taste it! It's heaven! M-m-m-m-m!"
Ginny and Hermione started eating their cakes as well.
"WOW, Ron! It really tastes good!" exclaimed Ginny.
"Well … you could thank my butt for it!" Ron laughed loudly, taking another bite of the cake.
"Eww, Ron!" snorted Hermione, "That's really gross! Couldn't you just stop—"
"Hi, guys!" Harry shouted cheerfully by the door, "I'm here!"
Hermione shouted back, "Hey! We're here at kitchen, Harry! Join us! Ron's cake is super delicious!"
Harry walked to the kitchen. "Wow! Is that the cake? Looks good!" he said approvingly.
He put his bag down the floor beside the table, took off his jacket, hung it on the chair, and sat beside Ginny.
"Here's your tea and cake, Harry," Ginny said smilingly, gently placing the saucer and teacup in front of him.
Harry stared at the cake again and then at the teacup. He took a sip of his tea and asked, "This is a new flavor, right?"
"Yes, it is," Hermione answered, "That's Jasmine green tea, a new flavor we discovered at Camden Town. Oh wait—before I forgot …" she said standing from her seat and running towards the living room, rummaging something in the shopping bags.
"What was that?" questioned Harry, taking a bite of his cake.
"I mmm-dunno," Ron responded, his mouth full of icing and chocolate.
"Hmmm … Ron! This cake really tastes great! Where did you buy this?" asked the green-eyed boy, taking more bites of the cake.
Ron licked the icing around his mouth and smiled. "Actually, I didn't buy that, Harry. Well, I kind of got that for free at Kingsland Road …"
Hermione returned at the table and walked towards Harry. "Harry, this is for you. It's a special bookmark I bought at a store. It's for your journal," she said, giving Harry a glittering bookmark.
Harry took the bookmark and looked at its design—little stars in a dark blue sky, glistening around a crescent moon. The bookmark also had a silver tassel at the end.
"Cool! Thanks so much, Mione!" Harry said happily, hugging the brown-haired girl.
"I knew you'd like it, Harry!" giggled Hermione, returning the hug and patting Harry's back. She released her friend from the hug then said, "Harry, please put it inside your journal now, please? And make a wish when you insert it inside …"
"Make a wish? What … is this some sort of a magic bookmark?" the Boy-Who-Lived asked.
"Yes, it is … it's a wishing bookmark," Hermione answered, returning to her seat beside Ron, "That's why it's special … that's what the owner of the store said. When you place it inside a book or a journal … you have to make a wish …"
"Yeah, Harry," Ginny suddenly said smiling at her two friends, "I really think that bookmark would look cute in your journal. Please, place it in your notebook now …"
"Haha!" chuckled Harry, drinking his tea again. "Okay, okay … I'll put it inside my journal and make my wish …" he said, putting the bookmark on the table, and getting his black journal from his bag.
He laid the black notebook against the edge of the table and uttered the password.
"sss-Open-sss!" he hissed in Parseltongue, making the two silver snakes untangle, thus, unlocking the journal.
Harry opened his journal to his last entry and took the bookmark. "So … (yawn) … I just have to put the bookmark inside and make a wish?" he asked Hermione.
"Yes," replied Hermione, "You place it inside, make a wish, and then close your journal … but DON'T LOCK IT, okay? Just close it …"
"Haaa-Okay …" Harry said with another yawn.
The green-eyed teen placed the bookmark inside, closed his eyes and made his wish. He opened his eyes, closed his journal and stared at his three friends who were watching him intently.
"Ron," Harry said, looking at the red head. "Are you (yawn) … alright? You look tense …"
Ron gave one of his silly smiles at his friend. "Hehehe!" he laughed anxiously, "Of course, Harry … just wondering what you did with your job at the library …"
"Oh yeah … speaking of the library … (yawn) … is it okay if you (yawn) come … we need more people for the job … and I said to the librarian (yawn) … that you might be interested. They're paying big, Ron … and (yawn) … giving special invitations for the opening night … of the exhibit at Hayward Gallery …" Harry explained very sleepily.
"Hayward Gallery? Isn't that where Serenity's exhibit is going to be—AWWW!" cried out Ron, as Hermione kicked his leg under the table.
Ron scowled at Hermione, rubbing his leg with his hand. He turned towards Harry again. "Don't worry, Harry … I'll go with you tomorrow!"
Harry drank all his tea and placed his teacup slowly on the table. He looked at Ron and smiled back. "Great, Ron … we have to go there … ear … ly … in the … mmor … ninggg …" he said fuzzily, before finally slumping on the table.
Hermione, Ron, and Ginny stared at the snoring Harry, and then at each other.
"Is he asleep now?" Ron asked the girls.
Ginny poked Harry's side and didn't get any reaction. "Yes, he is in deep sleep. It is safe now, Mione … get his journal," the young red head said.
"Hey, Mione … was that bookmark really a wishing bookmark?" inquired Ron, his gaze following the muggle witch as she approached the sleeping Harry.
"Actually …" Hermione spoke, cautiously getting the black journal under Harry's arms, "It is just an ordinary bookmark. I just made it a little more glittery with my wand … so Harry won't suspect anything."
She turned to Ginny and grinned. "So … he's going to wake up tomorrow?" she asked, clutching the journal against her chest.
Ginny beamed at her muggle friend. "Yup! He's going to wake up tomorrow … and tonight; he's going to have a good sleep. He's not going to dream for now. The sleeping powder I used relaxes the mind of the person completely, causing him to succumb into deep sleep, prohibiting any unnecessary brain activities and ruminations. Thus, blocking the possibilities of having dreams. It's the same sleeping powder I use … that's why I don't get disturbed whenever Harry cries and screams in his sleep …" explained the red head.
"WHAT?" cried out Ron, pointing at his sister accusingly, "You mean to say you've been using this for a long time now, while Hermione and I are always awakened by Harry's nightmares at the middle of the night? GEEEZ! No wonder you sleep like a log! Why didn't you tell us!?"
Ginny smiled awkwardly at his brother and Hermione. "I'm really sorry for not telling you two. I just don't want Harry to know that I've been using this to make me sleep deeply … and not be bothered by his dreams," she explained almost shakily. "It's not that … I'm not concerned about Harry … it's just … it hurts me to hear him scream and cry like that whenever he dreams about Serena. It hurts me because … I used to dream about her dying too …" she confessed, small tears falling down her freckled face.
"Oh Ginny …" Hermione sympathized, hugging her friend tenderly, and stroking her hair. "Shhh, it's okay … it's okay … we understand … DON'T WE, Ron?" she said, turning her head towards Ron and giving him a vicious glare.
"Umm, yeah … sorry about bursting on you like that, Ginny. I'm truly sorry," Ron apologized, smiling softly.
Hermione smiled at Ron and whispered to Ginny's ear, "Even if you told us about this, I guess … I still wouldn't want to use the sleeping powder. I know it hurts to see and hear Harry like that … but I want to be there for him …"
Ginny released herself from the hug and looked at Hermione tenderly. "Thanks … I just needed to stop those nightmares somehow … though they weren't that often, unlike Harry's dreams. And—hey, aren't you supposed to call Serenity now?" she reminded.
"Oh yeah!" agreed Hermione, getting her phone from her pocket again, "Thanks for reminding me." She looked at the time in her phone. "It's only 6:23 PM … I'll call her now."
The brown-haired girl pressed Serenity Moon's number and waited. After few seconds, Serenity's voice greeted her.
"Hi, Ser!" spoke Hermione, "Yes, I talked to Harry and he agreed with the plan. (pause) Umm, yes we're going there now to bring you his works. (pause) Okay … Twelfth Tottenham Court Road, Hayward Gallery. That's beside the public library, right? (pause) Okay … see you around twenty to thirty minutes? (pause) Okay, hmmm … Okay, bye!"
Hermione returned her phone in her pocket and gazed at Ginny smilingly. "This is just like the Valentine plot we had in order to bring Harry and Serena together! I'm kind of nervous, but I'm so excited! Ginny, you coming with me?" she asked.
Ginny laughed, slightly sniffing. "Of course, Mione! I'm here to back you up all the way. Last year's scheme was truly fun and exciting! Now, we're doing it again!"
"Hey, can I come too?" Ron suddenly interrupted, poking Harry's head.
"Sorry, Ron … not this time. Just stay here with Harry and bring him to his room, okay? And besides you also need to rest … you'll start working at the library tomorrow, right? You told Harry you would come with him," the muggle witch teased, clutching the black notebook tightly against her chest and walking towards the door with Ginny.
"Hey, that's not in the plan! I want to go and see this Serenity Moon of yours!!" Ron complained, running towards the door and trying to catch up with the two girls.
"Sorry, Ron. You better bring Harry to his room and let him sleep on his bed. Think of it as a payback for not using his magic and instead, preparing and cooking us breakfast this morning all by himself … and getting you those bagels," told Hermione, going out of the door with Ginny following behind her.
"Bye, dear brother! You take care of our sleeping Harry, okay?" Ginny said grinningly before finally closing the door.
"Ughh! MAJOR BUMMER!!" whined Ron as he walked back to the kitchen, with Harry still dozing soundly on the table.
"Well, Harry … I guess it's just you and me here … and …and MY MINI CARROUSEL CHOCOLATE MOUSSE CAKE! I'll get you to your room later, okay, Harry? Right now … I'm going to have another slice of my over yummy cake … hehehe," Ron chuckled as he waved his wand and got himself another slice of the cake.
Harry didn't respond and just continued snoring on the table.
He was going to have a peaceful sleep all night—oblivious that the wish he made on the bookmark was about to come true.