Chapter Ten: Halloween Part Two
I disclaim all that is recognized as J.K's or anybody else's work because I own nada.
Okay, so here's that second half of Halloween! Don't forget to review when you're done!
"You're back early," Snape observed as I wandered aimlessly around the castle, looking for Harry. I figured it was better for me to be the one to tell him what I thought of Sirius, and not let Ron and Hermione spring it on him. Somehow I had made my way into the dungeons during my tedious search. I shrugged as if I had just gotten bored of the trip. He wasn't fooled though, much to my displeasure and he beckoned for me to follow him. I noticed vaguely that he was holding a smoking goblet. "What happened?"
"The beginning of the end," I muttered, feeling melodramatic. "Turns out you and the Headmaster aren't the only ones who don't believe me about Sirius," Much to my surprise, Snape didn't appear any happier than I was.
"Why did you tell them that?" he asked, I could tell he was resisting the urge to use his threatening-teacher-growl on me.
"Because they asked. They didn't want to worry over nothing, I guess," I shrugged again. "Who is that for?" I asked, trying to get the attention off of me.
"Professor Lupin is feeling under the weather," he replied. "But that does not mean our conversation is finished. Did you tell them the whole truth or just the specific part they asked for?"
"Well they got mad at me for the stupid little bit they wanted to know so…"
"You cannot keep putting this off, Kailey," Snape grumbled. "They will find out and if you do not tell them it will probably not end up being the way you wanted them to find out,"
"You know, much as I loath to admit to it, you're getting pretty good at the whole annoyingly-overprotective-daddy charade," I complimented in a sarcastic tone. He shot me a look before knocking on Remus' door.
Professor Lupin…can't call him 'Remus' like we're old friends…
"Come in," Lupin called and I felt the urge to pat myself on the back for not mentally calling him by his first name. Snape pushed the door open and swept inside. Lupin was sitting behind his desk with a cup of tea looking his usual pre-full-moon pale with the matching purple under the eyes. Across from him sat Harry who was eyeing the goblet (which was smoking on the desk now) warily as though expecting to see a toxic symbol somewhere around it.
Maybe next time I'll just consult my "resources" before I go trudging around the school looking for him like that again…I'm turning into a nitwit…
"You should drink that directly, and there is more in my office if you require it," Snape was saying when I tuned back in. Remus—er—Lupin just nodded his thanks and grinned at Snape. I almost had to smirk as I noticed it was the kind of grin Rem—Lupin used on the Dursleys.
"Kailey, you're back early?" Harry asked when he noticed I was standing in the doorway.
"Yeah," I replied in a slightly subdued tone. "Actually I was looking for you, but I can talk to you later, I think my dad wanted a word with me," I added in a rush. Both Harry and Lupin gave Snape a curious look, who he didn't flinch but fell into the role I had set out for him.
"If that is all you'll need then," he said, sweeping out of the room, beckoning for me to follow him. I waved to Harry and Lupin before shutting the door and letting out a relieved breathe.
"Thanks," I muttered when I realized I was being given the you-owe-me look from Snape.
"You're welcome, now, I think we should go to my quarters, I believe we have a discussion to attend to," I scowled. It wasn't what I had planned for really…
Once we were in the living room of Snape's quarters he gestured for me to sit down on the couch while he took up his favorite chair.
"I thought you were looking for Potter so you could speak with him about what you told your other friends," he stated sounding confused.
I frowned. "I never said that,"
"It does not take a genius to figure it out," he replied, rolling his eyes.
"No, just a skilled legilimens," I glared. He shrugged and I glared harder. "Stay out of my head,"
"If you had practiced as I have told you to countless times, you would realize that I was not 'in your head' as you put it," he sneered. "Difficult as it may seem to you, I have been trying to understand you more. I have halted my research on dividing your entities out for example, unless you wish for me to continue looking,"
"Depends,"
"On what terms?"
"Are you gonna throw Keena in jail if you do split us?"
He heaved a heavy sigh. "Only if she is proven guilty,"
"And?" I pressed. I could tell he was holding something back.
"If it can be proven that Black was guilty," he ground out. My head all but snapped off my neck as I looked up to peer into his dark eyes.
"Are you just saying that or do you really mean it? And I mean really?"
"The headmaster is always saying that trust and second chances are the proper ways to see a person for who they truly are. I would like to get to know my own daughter better, so I intend to trust your judgment until it can be proven to me that you are wrong in which case I will correct you." I just stared at him for what felt like five full minutes, but I don't think it was really longer than half a minute. "Now, I think you should go and tell Harry the same story that you told Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger unless you preferred he became enraged with you for not speaking up sooner,"
I smiled almost against my will. Almost. I stood up and thought briefly about giving Snape a hug but decided against it for the moment. After all, I would be in big trouble when the night was over.
I opened the door and jumped back in surprise. Harry was standing there, hand raised as though about to knock. We both grinned as he put his hand down.
"I was just coming to see if you needed help getting out of here," he said as I shut the door behind me. "But I can see that you've got it covered. What did he want anyway?"
"To give me some fatherly advice," I shrugged.
"On what?" Harry asked perplexed. "I mean, it's not any of my business but I can't think of anything…"
"Well, it sorta is your business. A little bit," I said as we rounded the corner that lead us to the first staircase away from the dungeon.
"I don't follow," he replied.
"Well, it also has to do with why I came back early from Hogsmeade. See, Ron and Hermione and I were at the Shrieking Shack and we got to talking about the next Hogsmeade trip, how I said you'd be able to come to the next one,"
"I'll bet Hermione didn't like that," Harry said, shaking his head.
"She didn't, she was arguing me and Ron that if Sirius Black was still loose we shouldn't let you come."
"Like he could get to me with all the dementors," Harry replied, rolling his eyes. I ignored his interjection and moved on.
"Well, they asked me what I—er—'thought' of the situation if you know what I mean," I paused and he nodded so I continued. "AndItoldthemthatBlackwasn'tarealdangeratall,"
"What?" Harry stopped and so did I. "Sorry, but I didn't catch that,"
I took a deep breath. "I told them that Black wasn't a real danger. Not to you, at least," A certain little rat…that's another story entirely…
"I'm confused. Why exactly is that a problem?"
"Because Hermione thinks I'm wrong and Ron agreed with her," I replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "And she thinks I'm wrong because Snape and Dumbledore both think I'm wrong and nobody believes me and it all feels so hopeless and--"
"Kailey, calm down," Harry said, putting a hand on my shoulder. "You know you don't have to be right about everything,"
I groaned. "Not you too,"
"But you have to remember what he was saying in his sleep, it all makes sense that he'd be coming for me," Harry said, trying not to upset me. It wasn't working.
"Sure it makes sense because god knows; you're definitely the only guy at Hogwarts, Harry. Seriously, the words 'he's at Hogwarts' could apply to Malfoy for all we know! Jeez, it could even be W—Scabbers!"
Harry smirked. "Scabbers is a rat,"
"Still a guy, though," I muttered, secretly glad I hadn't said Wormtail like I had been about to.
"So does this mean you know for sure that he isn't after me?" I nodded. "He isn't going to kill anybody?" Another nod. "But Snape and Dumbledore aren't budging?" I shook my head. "What about Remus?"
"I hadn't thought to bring it up to him," I answered. "Why would he have anything to do with it at all?"
"My godmother, remember?"
"Oh. Right," I blushed. Yep…definitely a nitwit…
"Well, let's go and tell him right now, maybe he can talk some sense into the others," he suggested, grabbing my hand and heading for the Defense office.
"Harry, I'm not so sure about this," I said once we were at the door. "I mean, if Black was with Keena and what they said about her never getting over it was true, well, wouldn't Black be a bit of a sore spot for Professor Lupin?"
"But once he realizes that you're right--" he began excitedly.
"How can he do that without finding out that I know that sort of stuff, Harry? No one is supposed to know, remember?" I gently reminded him. He thought it over for a moment, staring at the closed door before he shook his head.
"I trust Remus," he said slowly. "But I think you're right too. Besides, he doesn't really look all that well today; maybe if Black isn't caught up with soon we could start hinting at it," he suggested.
"Alright, we'll give it until…Christmas? That's plenty of time, right?"
"Christmas," Harry agreed. "And don't worry about Ron and Hermione; they'll come around eventually,"
We returned to the common room and sat down for a total of five minutes before we realized we didn't want to be inside. I still had my heavy cloak and scarf on so Harry dashed up to grab his before we headed outside to escape a bunch of pesky second years.
"You'd think Collin'd be over the whole hero worship thing," I said as we walked towards the lake.
"Kailey, you'd think the whole world would be over it and I still get gawked at when I meet people," Harry said, rolling his eyes.
"Fair point, the whole bloody world should just get over it then, right?" I said in the best mock-British accent I could muster. He laughed and I grinned.
"That's the idea, the entire freakin' world should get over it," he countered in a mock-New England American accent. We both burst out laughing again and sat down by the beech tree.
"Was my accent as bad as yours just was?" I asked when I could breathe again. He nodded and I laughed again.
"Do you miss it?" he asked once we were settled and sobered from our laughing fit.
"Miss what?"
"Your home, America, the whole thing?"
"Yeah, but you learn to live with it," I replied, with an offhanded shrug. "It would be nice to go back for a little bit, though," I added, biting my lip.
"Well, whenever you do go back, I think you should take me with you," he said. "I've met both of Ron's parents and I've seen Hermione's, but I've never met your mum,"
"Nice logic,"
"I thought so,"
"Okay, if I get to go back one of these vacations, I'll take you with me." I promised and he grinned. "Then you can learn just how badly that accent was done,"
"I don't know if it'll help any seeing as this is your third year here and you still can't do a proper one," he teased. I shot him a glare but couldn't hold it and I laughed again, leaning against the tree for support.
"Hey, what's that?" he asked, suddenly, standing up and peering at the tree. I craned my neck to see what he was pointing at.
"Looks like a pair of initials to me," I answered. "Hardly surprising seeing as this is a school full of hormone-high adolescents."
"JP and LE," he read. "Do you know what my mom's maiden name was?"
"Evans," I replied, standing to get a better look. "That's probably your parents then," I added quietly.
"What about this one here, 'SB and KM'," he read off the pair of initials that was around the other side of the tree. "You don't think that could be Keena, do you?"
"Might be," I shrugged. Wonder when the two of them did that…seventh or sixth year…?
"C'mon, it's getting colder out here," I said, tugging on his sleeve. "I'd make that flame thing but I don't have a jar,"
"Alright," he said, facing the ground. I could tell his good mood about finding his parents' initials had just been stomped on by finding Sirius' and Keena's. He looked up at me and frowned. "Maybe we should get some pepper-up potion; you're pale underneath all that pink on your face,"
"Thanks but no thanks; I'll settle for a seat by the fire,"
"Alright but if you're not warmed up in ten minutes you're going to see Madame Pomfrey,"
"Yes, mom,"
We arrived in the common room and sat on the couch by the fire. I yawned as I shed my heavy cloak and scarf, leaving them lying on the ground in front of me.
"The walk to the grounds and back leave you exhausted?" Harry asked as he took off his heavy cloak and scarf as well.
"It's just been a longish day for me," I replied, leaning back into the couch and staring at the fire.
"I think I know what you mean," Harry agreed, turning to stare at the fire.
"What are you going to say to her? When you see Keena again, I mean," I asked.
He shrugged. "I guess I'll be happy to see her at first then…I dunno, she's left me in the dark about some stuff and I don't really understand why,"
"To protect you, maybe?"
"Maybe, but…"
"But you wish she'd been honest from the get-go?" I suggested and he nodded. "Maybe she's just afraid that you'll judge her too harshly,"
"I can't judge her at all if she doesn't tell me anything, though,"
I sighed. "Maybe she'd rather live in that sort of dream world. I mean, she's your godmother so she must miss your parents like crazy and she's afraid that if she tells you anything that might upset you, like about Black, for example, that she'll lose you too,"
"That makes sense," he answered slowly. "If that were the reason I think I'd be able to forgive her, but it wouldn't make anything any easier…" I took my eyes off of the fire and turned to face him again and saw that he was already facing me. I hadn't realized until that moment exactly how close we were sitting next to each other. I could actually feel his breath on my face... "You're turning red again. Maybe you are getting a cold,"
Before I could reply the portrait opened up loudly and several students began pouring in like a cold fall breeze. Hermione and Ron made their way over to us, pink-faced and windswept with four bags of Honeyduke's candies in their arms.
Half an hour later we were sitting in the Great Hall, live bats zooming around over our heads, searching for some sort of prey. The entire hall smelled of cider and pumpkin with a hint of cinnamon. The house-elves had really out done themselves this year. The deserts had just arrived on the table when Hermione decided it was time to talk about Sirius.
"So, Kailey, did you talk to Harry about what you told Ron and me in the village?"
"Before or after the Shrieking Shack?"
"What happened at the Shrieking Shack?" Harry asked, sounding interested.
"Kailey had us trespass onto a private property,"
"A haunted, deserted shack is a better description," Ron interjected.
"And she felt compelled to knock on the door," Hermione continued, shooting a quick glare at Ron.
"The whole bloody thing burst into flames!" Ron said in an excited whisper. "We're going to goad Malfoy into doing it next time, but only if we can manage to get you in there,"
"Wicked," Harry agreed. "And Kailey already told me what she thinks of Black," he added. Hermione opened her mouth to get her opinion heard but the entire hall was suddenly silenced as Dumbledore stood up.
"I now present to you this year's entertainment, the Hogwarts Ghosts!" the hall burst into applause as the ghosts began to spring out of the walls, wailing in the sort of spooky way that only ghosts could. They did a full reenactment of Sir Nick's beheading, with the Bloody Baron as the executor. Several of the younger years shrieked when Nick's head actually popped off most of the way.
The school burst into applause once more as the ghosts bowed before they sailed through the walls once more. We were all dismissed and there was a block at the exit to the hall as we all tried to leave at the same time.
"I've got an idea," I said. I grabbed Harry's hand with my left and told him to grab Hermione's and she grabbed Ron's. "Ready?"
"What're we doing?" Ron asked, sounding amused.
"Snaking through," I replied.
"Sounds Slytherin,"
"After affect of spending the summer with one," I shrugged. "Now, follow me," I said, taking out my wand. I used a subtle little charm that gave off no light and no evidence of being used except it allowed me and the others to sneak through the crowd with ease. Within seconds we were well on our way to the common room while the others would take minutes to get through.
"That was brilliant," Ron observed. "When did you learn to do that?"
"Like I said, I've spent the whole summer with a Slytherin and access to the library. What else was I going to do with my time?" Not to mention the fact that I was a co-inventor of the spell…no need to mention that though…
Suddenly we heard a shriek from above us followed by a loud ripping noise and snarling. Next we heard the sound of footsteps racing towards us, coming toward the staircase we were standing on.
"What the bloody--"
"Down!" I shouted as a red stunner light was suddenly hurtling our way. The four of us dropped to the ground, just barely missing getting hit. In the commotion, I dropped my wand and it fell through a trick stair, landing uselessly on some floor below, my leg following and I was stuck in the staircase. "Damn it!"
I looked up to see Harry and Ron standing in front of Hermione and me, wands up and aimed at Sirius, who had his wand out in a defensive position. He had a strange look on his face, like he was fighting whether or not he wanted to run away or run down the stairs and choke Harry in a hug.
"Guys, put your wands down," I said.
"Are you crazy, Kailey?" Hermione hissed as she attempted to pull me out of the stair.
"No, he's a fully trained Auror. He's not stupid," at least not all the time… "He'll have to run and he knows it. Don't give him a reason to defend himself and he won't," I said the second part loud enough that I knew he could hear it. His hand twitched. "Harry, please, trust me," I pleaded.
"If we lower our wands, do you promise to get out of here?" Harry asked, sounding threatening. I'd never heard him sound so scary, it was impressive though.
"I will," Sirius answered. "And you lot won't sound the alarm?"
"I can't make any promises," Harry replied.
Sirius smirked. "S'more than I deserve at any rate," he shrugged, watching the boys lower their arms, reluctantly.
"Aren't you going to get out of here?" Harry asked.
"You're blocking my exit,"
Alright, Sirius, now you're just pushing your luck… "So find another one," I said loudly and aggravated, my leg was starting to fall asleep.
Sirius gave one last glance before turning and racing down the hallway in another direction. It was one of the few corridors without any paintings. When we could no longer hear him running, I let out a long, relieved sigh.
"Did you know that was going to happen?" Harry asked as he and Ron lifted me out of the stair. Both of them were clearly shaking.
"For once, no, I had no idea, well I did but I didn't…" the three of them just stared at me with expressions ranging from confusion (Ron and Harry) to pure anger (Hermione). "I knew he was going to break into the castle tonight, just not when. Had I known he was up here just now, I wouldn't've raced us out of the crowd,"
"You mean to tell us that you knew a murderer was going to get in here tonight and you just let him?" Hermione all but growled at me.
"How many murderers do you know of that just let their supposed number one target and his closest friends go on such a simple request? He didn't even threaten us!"
"He shot a curse at us! For all we know it could've been a variation of the killing curse!"
"Except for the fact that it was a stunner," I retorted. "Which also happens to be a purely defensive spell."
"So maybe he's sick and twisted, Kailey, we have to go get Dumbledore right now!"
"Go ahead and get him then, he'll have to locate the Fat Lady at any rate! I, in the meantime, am going to go and find my wand so I can at least defend myself when Snape tries to take off my head,"
"You dropped it on purpose, didn't you?" she accused, a fresh wave of anger radiating off of her.
"Hermione," Harry snapped. "I think you've gotten your point across. You and Ron go find Dumbledore, Kailey, come on, let's go get your wand,"
Hermione looked like she wanted to argue but Harry silenced her with a look, grabbing my wrist, he led me down the stairs. We fought our way through the crowd that was beginning to circulate at the beginning of the stairs we had been on. I looked at my watch. The entire exchange had taken less than five minutes. I rubbed my nose subconsciously as the adrenaline began to wear off. We went down a total of four staircases before we found my wand lying innocently on the ground. I picked it up and placed it back in my pocket.
"Kailey, what Hermione said back there--"
"Was completely accurate." I interrupted, choking back tears. Harry just stared at me. "I knew that if we got out of there quickly enough that we'd run into him. I needed that chance to prove that I was right, that he's not a murderer. If he had intended to hurt you, Harry, do you think I'd've led you to him? I'm only asking because Hermione obviously thinks so…"
"Kailey, if I didn't trust you, I wouldn't've lowered my wand," he interrupted before pulling me into a tight hug. I began sobbing.
"I didn't mean to drop my wand, though," I whispered once I had finished crying.
"I didn't think so," he said. "C'mon, everyone is probably going mental by now,"
I just nodded and we made our way back towards the Great Hall. On the way we ran into Remus…Lupin. Not the best of times to do so as the look on his face was clearly angry.
"Professor, we--"
Remus held up a hand and spoke in his deadly calm voice. "No excuses just yet. You and your friends just allowed a murderer to escape the castle before you two came down to the dungeons, one of you unarmed at that. I know that he is a fully trained and dangerous wizard but honestly trusting the fact that he would leave?"
"He's not an idiot," I stated shakily, tears coming back into my voice. "He's not even in the castle anymore. Good luck finding him," I challenged.
"Professor, please, just take us to the Hospital Wing or something, she really needs a Calming potion," Harry begged before R-Lupin could reply. Lupin let out a ragged, angry breath before nodding and beckoning for us to follow him.
He took us up to the Hospital Wing where Madame Pomfrey all but collapsed upon hearing that Harry and I were safe. Apparently Hermione had been hysterical when she told the Headmaster where Harry and I had gone. She gave us each a calming draught before Lupin led us back to the Great Hall where all of the students were assembled, the lights still on.
Snape, who was standing in front of the entrance, ignored us completely as we entered, but I swear I could feel his rage rolling off in waves.
We found Hermione and Ron in a corner of the room and went to join them with our big, mushy sleeping bags. Ron and Harry settled themselves in between Hermione and I, effectively cutting off any conversation we might have had, though I can't say I wasn't thankful of that. Everyone but the four of us were discussing theories on how Black could have gotten in, each one making Hermione grumble about Hogwarts, A History. Finally, the three of them couldn't seem to stand it anymore.
"Kailey, how do you think he got in?" Harry asked.
"Why don't you just ask Hermione, since she seems to know how everyone else does anything around here," I suggested, rolling on my side to face away from the three of them.
"Ron, tell Kailey that what she did tonight was extremely dangerous to all of us, not just herself,"
"Harry, tell Hermione that I'm not stupid and that it wasn't dangerous,"
"Ron, tell Kailey that she can't know that for sure,"
"Ron, tell Hermione you're not her messenger and that I'm going to sleep now. Good night," I said, ending the brief squabble. I heard Hermione give a 'humph' before some rustling signifying her rolling over to face the opposite direction of the group as well.
"Ron?"
"Yes, Harry?"
"When d'you suppose they'll stop fighting?"
"When one of them proves the other is wrong I guess,"
There was silence for a moment.
"Harry?"
"Yes, Ron?"
"I don't think them fighting will matter much, Kailey is going to be grounded anyway,"
"You're probably right,"
"Good night, Harry,"
"Good night, Ron,"
So, what do you all think? Good, bad or mediocre? Review and let me know! Remember, the more reviews I get, the faster I update! Up next is chapter 11!
:-D