NOTES
I think I make Holly sound really mean in the beginning of this one, but it was…necessary. I mean, everyone has a bad side, yes? I know I'm bad about updating, but I'll try to get another in before February.
Another beta switch! In nine chapters, I've had four/five betas…woohoo? I'm now fully relying on People-Are-Crazy. Let's hope we don't pass number six, alright?
DISCLAIMER
Me: So…I'm running out of disclaimer ideas…
Draco: *grunt*
Me: So I got him!
Draco: No one owns me. But it claims rights to certain characters…Holly, Danny, Morgan, Richard, the works.
Me: Good boy!
Draco: Don't touch me.
Holly
Chapter Nine – Friends with a Granger
Yes, we found her irritating. I didn't really have support from Mandy or Lisa, but I needed to befriend a Gryffindor, for Harry's sake. I assumed that it wouldn't be easy, since there didn't seem to be any mutual attraction, But, who knows? If I could get my lazy bums of friends to help me, maybe we could kindle a bit of something. I dragged Mandy with me to hunt down that Gryffindor of ours. She complained the entire time, but she's much less soft-spoken than Lisa. I figured that her temper could be of use.
"So where is it?" Mandy asked impatiently. I scanned the halls for Hermione, hoping that I could find her before breakfast. I thought it would be best to get this done as early as possible.
"You mean 'she', Mandy. 'It' is an offensive term," I muttered. Mandy rolled her eyes and mumbled something that I could barely hear.
I spotted Hermione, clutching a few pounds of books to her chest. She looked flustered, like her guard was down. What perfect luck I had! I nudged…er…kicked Mandy with my heel and jerked my head in Hermione's direction. A wild grin spread across her face.
Mandy and I 'casually' made our way over to Hermione and laced our arms with hers.
"Morning, Hermione!" Mandy grinned. "How are you?"
"Fine, thank you," she responded, still looking flustered. "Did you need something?"
"Well," I began, "if you count the desire to kindle inter-house relationships as something we could need, then yes. We do."
"The need to…what? Why are you talking to me?" She shook her head, probably trying to figure out what we were doing.
"Oh, Hermione, would you ever think that we would attempt to try any sort of devious activities out on you?" Mandy asked, theatrically. I liked the way she put it!
"Yes, actually, I do," Hermione glared. And down we go!
"Miss Amanda Brocklehurst!" I cried, turning to my friend. "I am highly offended by Miss Granger's harsh words!"
"Oh, calm down, Miss Evans," Mandy said, catching on. I knew I'd be yelled at for using her full name later. "Give the girl a chance – I'm sure that we didn't provoke her sour mood!"
"I'll bet you did," Hermione muttered.
"Oh, Hermione, don't pout, it doesn't suit you." Mandy leaned on the wall, folding her arms.
"Exactly!" I grinned. "It takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile, my dear, and that means that—"
"Holly?" Mandy interjected.
"Not, now, Mandy, I'm in the middle of a rant! Anyway, as the say, laughter is—"
"Holly!" Mandy tried again.
"What?" I asked, whirling around. "Oh. Aw, damn."
Hermione took my rant as the opportunity to make a run for it.
"You should try being less forward. Maybe calm down a bit. Or take some Ritalin or something," she shrugged, totally serious.
I blinked twice. "I'm afraid that I don't have any reason to take Ritalin, Mandy."
She then muttered something, which sounded like, "Wanna bet?"
At breakfast, Mandy and I relayed our story to our end of the table.
"Of course it didn't work!" Danny was saying. "You're too theatric! Be casual!"
"But not boring," said Roger. "No one likes boring people."
Lisa stared between the two. "But…I like them."
"Exactly," Roger and Danny said together.
"Because they're not boring," Danny shrugged.
Mandy stared at her brother with an annoyed look on her face. "So, you're telling us to be ourselves?"
"Precisely," Roger said. I gaped at him.
"But that's exactly what we did! We just…may have…gone a bit overboard with the theatrics," I mumbled.
"Like I said," Danny grinned, "be casual."
Mandy and I stared at each other and glared at Danny. "We hate you," she said.
"I doubt it," he muttered, picking at his breakfast.
In Charms, I made a point to drag Mandy and Lisa to a place behind Hermione. Mandy was about to poke her with an ink-drenched quill, but Lisa slammed her wrist back to the table. She mouthed the word 'don't' to her. I tried to concentrate on Professor Flitwick, but found it difficult. I was getting impatient, and my mind was going a hundred miles an hour. What was wrong with Hermione? Not only did she have a certain disliking for two amazing Ravenclaws, but she seemed really out of it. She almost looked completely frazzled, like her mind was somewhere else.
I should really be a detective or something, don't you think? Then we can send Malfreak to Azkaban!
But more important matters haunted me. I needed to find out three things: what was going on with Hermione, what Harry did last night, and why Snape liked me so much. I sighed. Really, though, was any of it actually my problem? I should learn to mind my own business – it could help me one of these days. Harry was a big boy, so he could handle himself. If Hermione had a problem with us, so bit it. And if Snape liked me, why didn't I use it to my advantage?
No. I just couldn't let it rest. Not this time, I thought. I could really miss out on something if I let these mysteries slip through my fingers. I'd have to use my head to get out of this one. Would I have to spend my days philosophizing, though? Figuring out the solution to my problems wouldn't fix them. I had to do something about them, too. But what could I do? Weren't my problems out of my hands entirely? I had to figure something, anything, out.
Maybe there was some kind of magic that could get the truth out of them? A potion, a charm, or something? But magic doesn't solve anything. If I didn't have magic, I couldn't go about solving my mysteries that way. I had to do it simply. But how?
Lisa jabbed me in the leg. "You might want to try the spell that Professor Flitwick is telling us to work on. If he notices that you're not, you're screwed." I nodded and half-heartedly performed the spell. This was much, much easier than solving three mysteries – and less intriguing.
"The restricted section!" Mandy suddenly whispered. Lisa and I looked at her. Why didn't I think of that first? "We could research some sort of truth spell there!"
"Of course, Mandy, what a great idea, aside from the fact that we kind of need a signature to get in there," Lisa pointed out, "unless Miss Holly has a plan."
"Why do I have to do your work?" Lisa and Mandy stared at me. "Well, fine. I do have a plan," I sighed.
I made Lisa and Mandy go ahead of me after potions. I took a deep breath. He's just a person, Holly. A cold, possibly heartless person that has the ability to murder you, no doubt. But a person nonetheless.
"Professor?" I asked, putting on my sweetest smile. I felt sickeningly fake, like a Barbie doll.
"Yes, Miss Evans?" He said without glancing up. He sounded strained, like something was troubling him, too.
"I was wondering if you would be so kind—"
"I am rarely kind, Miss Evans," he spat. My back straightened.
"Yes, well. I was wondering if you would…er…could you sign for me to have permission to go into the restricted section of the library."
And that is what got him to look at me.
His gaze was still emotionless, but the fact that he looked up told me everything: I caught him off-guard.
"Why would you need to read from the restricted section, Miss Evans? Are the books in the rest of the vast library not up to your tastes?" He glared at me. It was just a simple request from a not-so-innocent first-year, nothing to get hissy over.
I paused, pursing my lips. "I would like to better my knowledge of this subject, Professor. You know, to study above what I've read in the textbook."
His glare became icier. "Miss Evans, if you would like to better your knowledge above the first-year curriculum, read Mister Borcklehurst's textbook. I'm sure the fifth-year curriculum can sustain your thirst for knowledge."
I blinked. "So will you sign for permission?" I tried again with another grin.
"I will not, Miss Evans. You are far too much like your father," his voice dropped in volume toward the end of his sentence. My breath caught in my throat.
"What?" I choked, hugging my bag to my chest. First 'her' and now…my father…this made no sense!
"Get out," he said.
"But—" I challenged, only to be shooed away.
"I told you to leave, Miss Evans! Get out!" Professor Snape slammed the door behind me.
I stared at the door, generally annoyed. I sighed, giving up. "What ever happened to teachers promoting learning, huh?" I whispered, shaking my head. "Something else. There has to be something else I can do to find that spell! And why does he know my father?"
Later, I sat on my bed in the dorm. I didn't feel like going to dinner. I never wanted to eat when my mind was racing. Mom…who wasn't really my mom after all…would always force something into me after a day or so. Maybe I'd have oatmeal or something in the morning.
I rested my head in my hands. I had to think of something I could do. These "mysteries" were my problems, not anyone else's. I had to depend on myself. I wondered what Professor Snape would have done if it was Malfreak who asked him for permission. That stupid Slytherin!
Unless…Pansy or Millie! They were also Slytherins, and Professor Snape obviously did anything they asked him for. But being biased wasn't good for him in the long run. Too many people hated him, and too many used him. Had he ever been loved? Had he ever loved himself?
But why was that my problem, either? Who am I to give a damn about my professor's personal life? Good God, Holly! Stop getting so involved! Take something at face value for once!
"What's wrong with me?" I sighed, flopping backwards. I closed my eyes, just breathing. The air was beginning to get cool again – almost hockey season. I wouldn't get to play, though. I'd be at Hogwarts, and we didn't have any Muggle sports teams. But there were always rinks in Massachusetts that I could skate at in the summer. The team would surely miss me, though. What would they do without their best defense-woman? Perish and die under those stupid Tigers from Vermont, that's what.
I guess I was too comfortable on my bed, though, as I soon found myself in a highly unlikely situation.
I was standing in a little village. It looked like summertime, but I felt myself shiver. Trees were a vibrant green and flowers decorated the sides of the deserted road in front of me. I began hearing noises, and I looked around frantically. I let out a breath when I saw a figure approaching me. Good old civilization, right? I moved towards it, but I stopped as the figure came into clear view.
It was a tall, redheaded man. As he got closer, I became more and more startled. The skin seemed to be rotting, peeling away with every step. His eyes were a pale, distant green. I backed up against a tree, shaking violently. My breath caught in my throat and I began choking.
The…thing…came closer and caressed my face. "Holly," it murmured.
I shook my head. "No, no, go away!" I sobbed. The man's flesh was nearly gone, most of his innards exposed. It was the most disgusting thing I had ever seen. "Who…who are you?" I breathed, chancing a look at its face.
The look on its face hardened. It opened it mouth and rushed at me, aiming for my bare skin…
I woke in a cold sweat, breathing heavily. My heart pounded as I looked around, happy to find myself in my room. I pushed my hair out of my face; my hairline was moist. I coughed a few times.
"Holly?" I heard Mandy's voice. "Danny said he heard screaming, are you in here?" I turned away as Mandy came in with Lisa. I hugged my knees to my chest. Lisa came and sat on my bed.
"What's wrong? Have you been crying? Your face…" Her voice was quiet, gentle. I wanted to tell her about the dream, I did, but I just couldn't do it.
"I'm okay," I mumbled. She hugged me. Mandy came and leaned her back on my legs.
"You need a break. You think to hard…about classes, homework, people…everything," Lisa whispered.
Mandy sighed. "You're compassionate, Holly. Not that that's a problem, but I'm just worried that you'll get hurt in the end."
I bit my lip. "I couldn't get Professor Snape to sign my permission into the restricted section. Sorry."
"Don't worry about it," Mandy said quickly. "Cedric was asking about you at dinner. We told him we'd meet him in one of the courtyards this weekend."
I nodded. "Alright." I guess that meant I had something to look forward to.