Author's Notes: See Chapter Fourteen ^_^.
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~...~ = Parseltongue
/.../ = Telepathy between Harry & Carya (in italics)
' ... ' = thoughts
~*~*~ ... ~*~*~ = Flashback or changing POV
Chapter 15 - The Second Task and Snape or Broken Promises and Bugs
Harry woke up on February 24th with a sense of dread in his stomach. He didn't know why he felt like this but thought it was only because of the second task that morning. He looked around. Draco and Tom were still asleep.
Harry wondered if Carya was up already and tried to contact her. He got no response from his twin.
'She's probably still sleeping. No wonder. She and Tom stayed up the last three nights to prepare the Gillyweed for me,' he thought.
Harry got dressed and walked down towards the Common Room. Ten minutes later Ginny stormed in looking worried.
"Harry, have you seen Carya?" she asked but Harry shook his head, "She didn't go to bed last night. Her bed is unused but she isn't here," the girl continued and Harry paled.
His attempts at contacting his sister had failed earlier. Even if she blocked him out he always felt her presence but today was different. He couldn't feel his twin at all. To make it worse Tom and Draco came down the stairs when Ginny told Harry about Carya's disappearance.
"She's what? Ginny, do you know where she is?" asked Tom in near-panic but the girl shook her head in the negative.
"We have to look for her. No Harry, you don't. You are going to the Great Hall to eat a proper breakfast and to inform Hermione. The rest of us is going to look for your sister. It's only seven. We've got two hours before the task," commanded Draco and they set of into different directions.
Once they'd looked in their usual meeting and hiding spots they met in the Entrance Hall but none of them had found a trace. Tom was beyond worried now. She had promised not to scare him like that again.
Suddenly the headmaster appeared and asked Tom to his office. They weren't even gone completely when Hermione and Harry walked out of the Great Hall.
"Hermione thinks she knows where Carya is. Where's Tom? Weren't you all supposed to meet here?" Harry inquired.
"We did meet here but then the headmaster came and took Tom to his office ..." Draco began.
"I think Carya has become part of the second task. Remember the text? They'll take what Harry will 'sorely miss'. I might be his girlfriend but his twin sister is what he would miss the most. They've taken her! We have to tell Tom!" Hermione interrupted impatiently.
Meanwhile the headmaster made a big mistake because he chose the wrong words. He told Tom that Carya was on a kind of mission for him and that she would be back before lunch. He also told Tom not to worry about her. But he forgot what Carya had made him promise to tell the boy.
To tell Tom that she wouldn't leave him. The teens had promised each other to tell their beloved everything but this had gone horribly wrong.
Tom was devastated. Not even the headmasters reassurance that she wasn't allowed to tell anyone made him listen any longer. He wasn't even aware that he had started crying. It was almost nine now and Albus had to get down to the lake.
~*~*~ The Lake ~*~*~
The champions were all gathered around the judges. They would explain now what was going to happen. It seemed that everyone had figured out what had been behind the egg. They seemed surprised though that Harry didn't seem surprised at the revelation of the task.
They would get one hour to find their hostage and bring it back. When Bagman gave the sign the six rivals walked into the water. Harry saw Cedric using a bubble head charm. He was glad they had found another solution.
Everyone stared at him as he pulled out a lump from his pocket and shoved it into his mouth. The boy chewed a few times and swallowed it. A few seconds nothing happened and he started moving a bit because it was getting cold.
But then a sharp pain ran through his skull right below his ears. He couldn't breathe. Harry did the only thing possible and launched himself into the water. Suddenly he could breathe again. He had succeeded. The Gillyweed had worked.
It was dark and murky down there. Harry swam as fast as he could while he tried to make out the source of the sounds he heard. It took him a few minutes to realise that it was the same song that they had heard from the egg.
Closing his eyes for a moment he listened and changed directions. Having a wolfs hearing was useful, even underwater. A few grindylows tried to attack him but Harry quickly escaped them by breaking their hands grip.
'Thank you, Remus! Good thing you taught us about these pesky creatures,' Harry thought briefly before concentrating on the song once again.
It grew louder and he could clearly hear the words now. There was also a small glow directly in front of him. The boy carefully glided towards the light. He could see better now even if everything around him was bathed in darkness.
There they were, five girls and a boy. One of the girls seemed to be a younger version of Fleur.
'Probably her sister. Wait a second, that's Cho! I bet she's Diggory's hostage' mused Harry and spotted his twin.
She hung from the ropes as if she wasn't alive. Harry panicked for a second but forced himself to calm down. No, he doubted that Snape or even Dumbledore would harm them beyond repair.
'I'm glad that I brought the knife Sirius gave me when we moved into his house. It's really useful now!' Harry thought and began cutting the rope around his sister.
He glanced at the other five and wondered what would happen if their rescuers didn't turn up but he quickly dismissed those thoughts. His time was limited. He couldn't wait to see and he didn't want to either. The only other one he knew was Cho Chang and Cedric Diggory would surely find her.
Other than that Harry wanted to win the Tournament. He needed to be the first back. The boy grabbed his sister and tried his hardest to get back to the surface. That wasn't an easy task considering that he could only use his legs now.
He decided to try something different. Harry shifted Carya that she was on his back. He secured her with one arm and used his remaining one together with his legs to get up faster. It worked and soon he could see the daylight shining through the surface.
It took him another five minutes to manage the remaining distance. He heard cheering when he broke the surface of the lake. But Harry didn't listen. He only cared for his sister and dragged her towards the shore.
She hadn't woken up and wasn't breathing either. They were only a few feet away from the ground when Carya's eyes fluttered open and she took a deep cold breath. She was shivering because of the cold and looked around.
There was her brother. He had succeeded and he was looking right into her face.
~*~*~ A bit earlier on the Quidditch pitch ~*~*~
Tom had wandered off towards the Quidditch pitch after his talk with the headmaster. That was where Draco found him half an hour later.
"Tom, are you okay? Arrrgh, rubbish, it's clear that you aren't, what's wrong? I know where Carya is, we ..." the blonde explained but was cut off by the other boy.
"She's gone. She's left me and won't come back. She didn't even tell me she was going away ..." Tom whispered while tears were streaming down his face and he hadn't heard a word of what Draco was trying to say.
Draco knew what was happening. They had seen it since the year had begun. Tom still thought he didn't deserve the life he had now but it hurt the other deeply when Carya wasn't with him. She was his anchor in this world. Without her he would break and fall.
Draco knew he wouldn't get any further here. He had to find Harry and hope he was already back from the bottom of the lake. The blonde ran towards the lake as fast as he could. He was almost there when he heard cheering and clapping.
'One of the champions must be back already. I really hope it's Harry!' he thought.
~*~*~ Back to the lake ~*~*~
"Harry!" Carya croaked still shivering heavily.
"Carya, you're awake! Thank Slytherin for that. We were so worried. I swear I'll kill them all for the scare they gave us. Tom is a mess. He wouldn't talk to anyone and now we can't find him!" Harry said frantic but then added softly,
"He's been crying the whole morning. He thinks you left him although Dumbledore told him you were just on a mission for him."
This brought Carya's strength back in a second. White hot rage cursed through her body. They had promised her and they had messed it up. She really was so much furious now, it helped to shake off the cold and wetness of her clothes.
The judges who had watched her and Harry saw that she was really angry about something.
"He said what!!" the girl yelled for everyone to hear. "Someone's going to regret this. Where is he, Harry, where?" she shouted and ran out of the water, ignoring Madam Pomfrey who was waiting with a big fluffy towel and a pepper-up potion at the edge of the lake.
Luckily Carya still had her wand with her. It had been hidden inside her sleeve. She pulled it out and spelled herself dry to everyone's astonishment. She went to Dumbledore, eyes flashing with anger, her wand still clutched tightly into her left hand.
"Where's Tom, headmaster? Just what did you tell him?" she demanded angrily but Albus didn't know how to answer.
"Carya, I'm so glad you're okay!" said Draco panting heavily because he had run over from the Quidditch pitch as fast as possible. "Tom is by the Slytherin stands on the Quidditch pitch! I don't think he took this well. He probably hasn't heard anything we told him. You better find him soon."
Carya shot a last fierce glare at her headmaster and ran off towards the Quidditch field at high speed. Madam Pomfrey shouted something after her but she didn't care. Sod them all, she had to find Tom.
She finally found him under the bleachers. Tom was staring into space and she tried to get his attention. The boy looked up and his sad face contorted into a mask of anger.
"What do you want?" he snapped.
"Tom, please listen. It wasn't my fault. Dumbledore's promised he'd tell you before breakfast. He promised to make sure you knew that ..." she tried to tell him but he cut her off in anger.
"Shut up! I don't want to hear it. How could you leave me like that? I thought you loved me! But apparently you don't or you would have told me, Potter. Sod off, I hate you. Get out of my sight before I curse you!" Tom shouted furious and Carya was too shocked to reply.
Tears welled up in her eyes and her chest felt like being crushed. She turned around and ran away, towards Harry, the only one she knew would help her. Once she was gone Tom broke down again. Why had he said that? He didn't hate her. He had been scared to death when they couldn't find her.
Meanwhile Cedric had returned with his hostage and Madam Pomfrey fussed over Cho. Carya sought out Harry who was standing a bit aside the group and she walked over to him. Harry sensed her before she reached him. He would always feel when his sister was distraught.
"Carya, what's wrong? What hap ..." he asked but didn't get very far.
The girl choked down a large sob. Tears were streaming down her face and she fell into Harry's arms. The Potter boy knew immediately that something terrible must've happened between her and Tom.
The jury had seen her coming back and even Dumbledore was worried now. He hadn't expected that the two children would take it that bad. Madam Pomfrey checked her over but couldn't find anything.
The girl even took the pepper-up potion without complaint and that worried the nurse a great deal but Carya remained in Harry's arms. Hermione, Draco and Ginny had joined them now.
"Harry, please, I want to go home. I can't take this anymore. Tom, he ... he said he hates me, said that I left him on purpose. What do I do now? ... He promised me to tell Tom, he promised, Harry. The damned headmaster promised me and now everything is over.
I've lost him. I've lost Tom!" she whispered and then added in a broken voice, "I was right all along. Don't trust anyone or you'll get hurt. I should have listened to my heart. I'll never trust them ever again! Never!"
Snape heard this because he'd wanted to check on them and he paled. This was very serious. It seemed that her fears had been right the night before when she refused to take the potion at first. He didn't know why but it hurt him deeply to see her like this.
Severus decided to talk to Tom since the headmaster seemed unable to realise the mess he'd made out of this. The Potions professor found the crimson-eyed boy crying under the bleachers.
"Mister Riddle ... Tom, can I talk to you for a moment?" he asked and waited.
The boy stopped crying and after a few minutes he looked up at Snape.
"What do you want?" he snapped but there was no real force or bite behind the words.
"Do you really think Potter would leave you?" Severus asked but received no reply.
The Potions Master sighed. He would have to be kind this time. Something he wasn't used to but he had to try to avoid a disaster.
"Tom, do you love Carya Potter?" he asked again and the boy looked up briefly before giving a tiny nod.
"That's why it hurts so much. She really should've told me ..." he whispered.
"Tom, she couldn't tell you. She wasn't given a choice. The headmaster told her to come to the teacher's lounge last night and she wasn't allowed to return. She was Harry's hostage for the second task. This was because she means more to her brother than anything else in the world.
It was not your fault that this happened but it wasn't her fault either. Think about this though. Carya does not give trust and affection easily. Draco as well as Ginny and Hermione had a hard time earning that trust.
She didn't only give you that, she gave you her heart and right now said heart is shattered to pieces. She has broken down once she returned to Harry and she doesn't want to stay here. Carya's really hurt right now. Not physically but emotionally.
She said that she won't trust 'them' ever again. I think with 'them' she meant the whole world in general. I believe it was the same before your other self lost his faith in the side of light ...," Severus said and Tom's head shot up.
"You mean, she'll ...," he asked slightly scared.
Severus knew this probably was quite a bit farfetched but Carya did have an affection for the Dark Arts. He had noticed that. Especially when it came to potions.
"I don't know, Tom. She has always leaned towards the darkness more than her brother. And I don't know how far she's into the Dark Arts by now but we can only hope. If she's lost her faith completely there's little we can do.
If anyone can help her it is you! You are the one who can gather the pieces of her heart and her faith before carefully gluing them together again. You might need help from her friends and siblings though.
And I would suggest you stay away from her adoptive fathers for a while. Tom, she made Dumbledore promise to tell you that she hadn't left. Didn't he tell you that?" Snape said carefully and Tom's eyes widened.
"No, he didn't say a thing! He ... he only said she'd be back here before lunch ... he ..." the boy said but didn't continue.
It had been a misunderstanding, a mistake that was neither his nor her fault. But he had told her that he hated her. How could he possibly convince her of the opposite? Severus silently left the boy to his own thoughts.
The hour that was given for completing the task was almost over now and he had to go back to the lake. After five more minutes Tom got up too. His face was still tear-streaked and his eyes were completely red from crying.
He would get her back, come what may and he would even accept every punishment the other's gave him if only Carya forgave him his words. He headed straight towards his friends - or his former friends?
Tom didn't know but he was unwilling to give up hope. Not this time, not again. Draco saw him first and wanted to beat the shit out of him for hurting his sister but Ginny and Hermione held him back.
"Draco, don't. He doesn't look any better than Carya does. Let's hear what he has to say," they told the blonde but he broke free and punched Tom into the face.
The taller boy fell to the ground but thankfully hardly anyone noticed their fight since they were too busy worrying about the still missing Champions. Tom got up again and sadly looked at Carya who was lying in Harry's arms. She seemed so vulnerable right now and it was his fault.
"Harry, please, I know I shouldn't have said those things but ... please, give me a few minutes. I want to show her why I did that, what I felt at the time. There's a spell, it's harmless but I can show her. It works like a Pensieve, please Harry, let me try," Tom pleaded.
Harry watched him warily. A bruise was forming on the left side of Tom's face. Draco had quite a hook if he put his mind into a fight. The boy slowly nodded and Tom grabbed Carya's left hand with his right.
His wand was clutched in his own left hand. She didn't look at him but she didn't pull her hand back either. The Riddle boy slowly murmured an incantation in Parsel. Only Harry understood the contents. It was complicated and impossible to translate to English.
A soft bluegreen glow surrounded Harry, Carya and Tom. Harry would get to see those memories and emotions too because he still held his sister. They were in the Headmasters office when 'Tom' walked inside. He looked frantic.
Dumbledore told the boy to sit down and told him that Carya was safe and on a mission for him. He also said that she'd be back before lunch and that they could talk about everything then. Albus added that he was sorry she wasn't allowed to tell him beforehand.
Harry felt a wave of despair and fright wash over him - these had been Tom's emotions when the headmaster told him that. Tom had been afraid that Carya didn't trust him anymore. It made perfect sense if you knew how insecure Tom still felt about friendship and emotions like love.
The next memory was the one under the bleachers. Harry was gaping when he heard Tom talk to his sister like that but the emotions the boy emitted didn't match his words. He was hurt deeply and he felt his world breaking when Carya turned around and left.
A second later they were back besides the lake. Tom was crying again and lowered his head. He tried to let go of Carya's hand but she held onto him. Tom looked up a bit and stared into reddened blue eyes. She seemed to have cried the whole time too.
"Why didn't you just tell me what Dumbledore said?" she asked him in a very small voice.
"I don't know, Carya. I was being stupid as always, I'm sorry, so sorry that I said all those things. It hurt so much that you didn't tell me," Tom replied just as quiet.
Severus Snape was watching them and it seemed to be a good sign that they hadn't resumed fighting after Draco had punched the other boy.
"I wanted ... I wanted to tell at least you but I wasn't allowed to. I didn't even have the chance. Dumbledore promised me he would tell you that I wasn't leaving you. He promised me but he broke his promise. I shouldn't have trusted that man. I won't make that mistake ever again," she said quietly.
Her voice was full of hatred for the old wizard and Tom didn't know what to reply. Had he really been the same once? Had he said something like that before falling into the darkness? He knew he probably would have. Swallowing the lump in his throat he continued his explanation.
"I know that now. Professor Snape told me that you didn't get a choice at all. If I had only known. I know that Snape doesn't like me but that was really great of him don't you think? If we could trust anyone it would be him. Makes sense in a way. He's our head of house.
The only Professor who really favours the Slytherin's. Oh Carya, please forgive me. I was lying, I love you more than my own life. I want you to know that. Please do something. Hit me, scream at me but don't look at me like that," he begged desperately.
Tom closed his eyes. He didn't want her to see him crying again. But she felt it when the tears dropped onto her hand that he still had been holding. Slowly Carya sat up and looked into his face.
"It's okay Tom, I forgive you because it was neither your nor my fault but please don't hurt me like that again, will you? I couldn't stand that. I wanted to die, you know? When you said you hated me I just wanted to die," she whispered and pulled him into a hug.
"But I still won't trust Dumbledore ever again. He betrayed my trust and he'll pay for that. He hurt both of us with his atrocious behaviour," the girl said more firmly now.
Tom took a ragged breath and hugged her back as well, unwilling to let her go anytime soon. Harry, Ginny, Draco and Hermione understood what the two meant but they were worried too. It wasn't good that they were isolating themselves from everyone but their closest friends and family.
Even Harry and Draco knew that you needed to trust someone sooner or later. Perhaps if Snape hadn't been a Death Eater they could have trusted him without reservations but since he was one ...
Severus saw Carya pulling Tom into a hug and let out the breath he had unconsciously been holding in. So the teens had decided to try and forgive each other. That was a start but he was worried about the comment Carya made. The headmaster had made a grave mistake this time.
The time limit had exceeded and one hostage was still missing. It was Armand's sister. He hadn't been able to reach the bottom of the lake and was anxious now. Suddenly the merpeople came up with her.
Now the Judges would award points for the Champions. Armand couldn't retrieve his hostage after performing a successful Bubble-Head Charm because he had lost the fight against some Grindylows. He was awarded fifteen points.
The next was Vladimir. He had found his girlfriend but didn't get back in time. He got twenty-five points. Fleur who had used the same charm as Armand had come back in fourth place. She got thirty-five points.
Viktor had been the third to come back. He used a transfiguration on himself but hadn't managed to fully transform. He was awarded forty points. Cedric had been the second to return and he too used the Bubble-Head Charm.
This brought him forty-five points. Harry had been the first to return and he had used Gillyweed with full success. He got the full amount of points possibly - fifty. He had given Carya to Tom now who held onto her as tight as he could without hurting her.
When Dumbledore turned towards them to talk they glared at him and walked away. Severus saw this and frowned. It really wasn't good that they started to distrust, perhaps even hate the old headmaster.
Sure the man had made a huge mistake but this behaviour was very disconcerting. If they didn't confide into any adults they were bound to be left alone with their problems. He hoped that they at least told Lupin and Black if something was bothering them.
The children were thoroughly exhausted and returned to their safe place. Carya and Tom had both calmed down a bit and they tried to reassure each other now. Ginny then had the perfect idea to build up Tom's trust again.
"Carya, what happened after I said 'Good night' yesterday?" she asked carefully.
The other girl sighed heavily and began to tell them.
"Well, it started right after we parted for bed. Ginny, do you remember the note that Deimos brought to me before you fell asleep?" Carya began and when Ginny nodded, she told them everything.
~*~*~ Flashback Carya's Experience ~*~*~
It was February 23rd and the children had just parted for bed. Carya was just getting ready to lie down when Deimos appeared next to her and dropped a note. The girl opened it carefully and her eyes widened at what she read.
Miss Potter,
please come to the teachers lounge at quarter past eleven this night. Do not tell anyone! Professor Snape will collect you at the entrance to the Slytherin Common Room.
Sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore'
'What is this about? I don't understand it. Why shouldn't I tell Tom and Harry and the others? I have to find out though,' she thought and looked over at Ginny who was lying down right then.
"Good night Carya," Ginny murmured sleepily.
They had finished preparing the Gillyweed successfully only that night and Harry was happy that he wouldn't have to drown. Carya waited until Ginny was fast asleep before getting dressed again. She put on trousers and a t-shirt before putting a casual robe over these clothes.
The girl slipped her wand into her left sleeve just in case though. At ten past eleven she silently crept out of the portrait hole that led into the Common Room. Professor Snape was already waiting for her.
"Come with me Potter!" he said without his usual sneer.
Snape seemed almost uncomfortable but that could be her own imagination. Soon they reached the teacher's lounge and Snape opened the door. Carya stepped inside and was surprised to see so many people. Suddenly a voice caught her attention.
"Carya! You're here too?" said a female.
Carya turned around and came face to face with Cho Chang, the Ravenclaw Seeker.
"Cho? What the bloody hell is going on here?" the Potter girl asked slightly confused but angry too.
"Perhaps I should explain why you're all here. I don't know if the Champions have all figured out the clue about the second task but I will let you read the clue now," Dumbledore said and began reciting the text.
When he was finished Cho asked a question, "What does 'We've taken what you'll sorely miss' mean, professor?"
Carya's mind worked overtime now. Suddenly her eyes widened. "You aren't going to tell us that we are what they'll miss most, are you?" she asked with a tinge of insecurity in her voice.
"I see you have figured it out, Miss Potter. You, Miss Chang and these other four are the 'hostages' that the Champions will have to free from the merpeople at the bottom of the lake. Don't worry though.
Once you've taken this potion you will fall asleep and won't wake until you're on safe ground," Albus told them.
Cho as well as another girl whose name was Amanda looked apprehensive now. A small girl began murmuring something in French. She seemed scared. The two others, a boy named Alan Arson who was clad in Durmstrang robes looked doubtful.
The girl named Camille who looked like Armand wasn't exactly thrilled either. Carya though started scowling and glaring at the adults for various reasons. Dumbledore started talking to each of them and Carya would be the last.
One by one were convinced to take the potion and the Potter girl watched the others fall asleep immediately after they'd downed the contents of the cup they were given. Finally Dumbledore reached her too.
He tried to talk to her but she kept shaking her head. After a few minutes she managed a question.
"Who made this?" she wanted to know while pointing at the cup in Dumbledore's hand.
"Professor Snape did, Carya. It's perfectly safe," Albus answered but everyone could see that she didn't believe him.
Severus was slightly amused by this. She was indeed a Slytherin. She didn't trust anyone even if she knew it should be safe. Carya had only raised one eyebrow at Dumbledore's answer before she continued scowling darkly.
One of the other adults asked if she was probably scared and Carya snapped at them, "I'm certainly not scared. But I'm not stupid enough to trust everyone who comes across my path. I don't doubt Professor Snape's skill but I still don't like this!"
That shut them up. Her eyes flashed dangerously and she returned her gaze towards Dumbledore. He wasn't sure what to make of that look but she spoke again before he could form a coherent thought.
"Who can assure me that this won't go awry? And I don't mean petty promises that can easily be broken?" she inquired.
Severus knew what she was asking for and decided to be 'nice' for one time only.
"Miss Potter, I know that you do not trust this whole ordeal but I can assure that there is nothing wrong with this potion. It won't harm you and you will come back unharmed too," he said seriously and Carya nodded into his direction.
"You do know headmaster that there will be at least two very scared and furious students when I'm not at breakfast tomorrow, don't you? While Harry might be trying to figure out what is going on with Hermione's help, Ginny and Draco won't take my disappearance well.
And what about Tom? I swear, if he breaks down because he thinks I've left him then I'll make everyone's life hell. I didn't work so hard to get him this far to have you all ruining him now! Make sure he knows that I'm alright and that I didn't leave him or you'll regret it dearly!" she stated deathly calm.
The assembled adults thought it was outrageous how she talked to the Hogwarts headmaster but Albus seemed to understand. She had a point there. Tom would be frantic once he found out that Carya was gone.
"I promise you that I'll tell him that, Miss Potter. Severus, you will bring Mister Riddle to my office before breakfast," he told his Potions Master.
Carya let out a long and deep breath before taking the cup. She glared at the rooms occupants one last time before drinking the potion. A blissful darkness washed over her and she knew no more.
...
It seemed like an eternity but she could feel herself waking up. She felt cold and everything was so wet around her. Carya opened her eyes and the reality hit her like a ton of bricks. She was floating at the surface of the lake and Harry was dragging her out of the water.
"Harry!" she croaked shivering heavily.
~*~*~ End Flashback Carya's Experience ~*~*~
"And that's when I started to look for Tom. I think you know the rest. Eh, what are you keeping in that glass jar by the way, Hermione?" Carya said and stared at the Ravenclaw.
"What? Oh, right! I forgot to tell you. I think I found Skeeter on the grounds today. We were right. She is an illegal animagus. Look inside. If you watch the head you'll see markings that are exactly
like those stupid glasses she wears," Hermione explained.
"She's a bug? Well that explains how she could know about us but what about her now. She's seen how we got here, didn't she?" Ginny asked worried but Hermione started smirking.
"No, actually not. The glass is soundproof. No sound gets in. It's also unbreakable and she can't see us. To her everything is black but we can watch what she's doing. I thought it would be funny," the Ravenclaw told them and they started laughing.
Most of the tension that had been between them all left and only a slightly uncomfortable feeling remained. Tom held Carya in his arms trying to apologise. He had messed up pretty badly this time but Carya wouldn't be Carya if she let her emotions cloud her judgement now that she knew it hadn't been Tom's fault at all.
She sighed contentedly and snuggled closer against Tom's chest. That was also the place where the thoroughly exhausted girl fell asleep a few minutes later. Harry and Hermione did the same and soon fell asleep in each other's arms.
Ginny and Draco collected a few blankets and covered their friends before making themselves comfortable on the third couch in their little library. The children didn't show up before the next morning. Severus had been worried but he would never admit that.
Those who had seen Carya both times at the lake were wondering too but they were relieved when the three couples walked into the Great Hall together. Severus saw that Tom and Carya didn't let go of each other even as they sat down for breakfast.
The six children didn't spare Dumbledore a single glance and they didn't talk to the other students either. It was pretty obvious that they wished to be left alone. The Potions Master decided to let Albus know what he'd heard and he would try to find a solution with him then.
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R&R,
Carya
2009-07-24