Chapter 29: A Bump in the Rode
Zoey held her mini-sized box in her hand as she sat in Lockhart's class. After his incident with the second years he hasn't brought any live creatures into class, that and he banned Bridgit from his class for an indefinite amount of time ("Not that I'm complaining," Bridgit had said when she heard the news).
As Lockhart read his works in his books, often making side comments like "Oh, if Harry were here then we can reenact the whole fight!" and "The awards I got were magnificent. Oh, but I still remain a simple man" and the like, Zoey turned the box over in her hands. It still had her mother's name on it though very small and hard to read. She sighed. Maybe it was time to open the box.
"It's a good thing Professor Lockhart was able to fix the room," Zoey heard someone whisper from behind her.
There was a dreamy sort of sigh that came after.
"A genius that man is," the one who sighed said, "and so good looking too!"
Zoey made a face as she stuffed the box into her pocket. She truly didn't understand what girls saw in the man. Zoey then pulled out her wand and tapped it against her book muttering a spell. Her book, which once held a picture of Lockhart grinning and winking, glowed a faint white before becoming a mirror. Zoey grinned as she was able to transfigure the book correctly. She held the mirror in her hands as she positioned it in a way that she was able to see what was behind her, above her, beside her and in other directions besides in front of her.
The room was still decorated with Lockhart's photos. Each photo grinned widely showing their pearly whites and winking occasionally. Often times when Lockhart read a spectacular achievement he'd done in his books one of the pictures, often the ones taken during the achievement, would puff out their chest and smile "charmingly" at who ever looked. Zoey shivered when one smiled at her. She tilted the mirror a bit and sighed in defeat when she clarified that every single photo has been returned to normal. She was disappointed. She particularly liked the black eyes, missing teeth and mustaches.
"And I just grabbed his jaw and forced his mouth open and – WUUPOW!" Lockhart said ending his story that Zoey paid no mind to. The girls in the class clapped and complemented him while the portraits clapped and cheered on, often making side comments that apparently had made the story more believable, believable to those who actually took Lockhart seriously.
Zoey tapped the mirror with her wand and it returned to looking like a normal book… as normal as it can get with and egotistical bloke smiling and winking up at you. She groaned lightly when Lockhart began to tell another one of his many adventures. Zoey silently wished she could write in the diary but it was with Ginny right now and thinking more on the subject it wouldn't have been wise to write in it in such a public area, the library was okay, a classroom filled with people who didn't have you on their favorite list for you were friends with someone who shot Lockhart of his rockers was not.
Zoey closed her eyes for a second to get her thoughts straight. She still didn't know what she did Halloween night and she knew for a fact no one knew where she was at that time. Not even Ginny who was just as clueless as she was. Zoey opened her eyes only to be greeted by a surprise.
Zoey yelped and fell of her chair with a thud.
Lockhart, who was too immersed in listening to himself talk did not notice. Neither did the girls. Zoey looked up from the floor and saw some of the boys looking at her oddly; others were biting back their laughter. Zoey sat back on her chair and grabbed the object that startled her. It was a piece of parchment. She unfolded it and saw familiar, cursive calligraphy.
Zwei, how are you holding up without Bridgit? Oh, and do you have any pastille there? I need some, and maybe I can send you back a tomato. Apparently, someone chucked it at me and I caught it at the last second.
-Echo
Zoey raised her eyebrow curiously and searched her pockets. She found a pastille that Echo had asked her to keep safe the other day. She held the pastille in one hand and her quill in the other. She quickly dabbed it in ink before hunching over the paper.
I'm doing fine.
She wrote.
Professor Lockhart is plenty entertaining… Someone chucked a tomato at you?
Her replies were simple. She didn't favor writing to much in fear that some way, somehow the note would get intersected. How? She didn't know. It was just a little paranoia that kept her from writing too much. She wrapped the pastille in the parchment and sent it away with the wave of her wand.
In not later than a minute Echo's reply appeared in front of her.
It was a Slytherin wrench. She chucked a tomato at me when I won over her in a glaring contest. Quite immature really.
Zoey refrained from asking why they held the glaring match in the first place.
And you're giving me the tomato?
She asked instead and sent the note away.
Oh right.
Zoey raised an eyebrow as a shiny red tomato popped in front of her. She folded the piece of parchment, The conversation was over now; the bell was going to ring at any moment, and held the tomato at eyes level. What on earth was a Slytherin doing with a tomato in the middle of class? Odd questions began to form in her mind as the bell rang and she gathered her thing, placing the tomato on top of her pile of books and left the class.
Zoey had no idea what Lockhart had discussed in class.
Zoey watched worriedly as a heavy black Bludger flew past Harry's head. It was just the beginning of the game and already the Bludgers were trying to behead the players. She did not mind the cheers from her house and Ravenclaws as they were all anxious to see Slytherins defeat, no. She was paying full blown attention at the twelve-year old Seeker.
She watched as George yelled something at Harry, she could not hear over the cheers, and zoomed towards the Bludger giving it a mighty whack towards one of the Slytherin players. Zoey's eyes widened as the Bludger changed direction in midair and zoomed towards Harry again.
Harry ducked. George hit it towards Malfoy. It swerved back towards Harry.
"What's wrong with that Bludger?" Zoey asked worriedly as she saw Harry trying to fly away from it.
"I think it's jinxed!" Bridgit answered, her voice catching some people's attention.
"But who jinxed it?" Zoey asked out loud.
"Someone who wants to behead Harry, I guess," Echo looked up from her book.
Zoey looked at Echo in horror and turned her attention back to the game. She was just in time to see Fred happily hit the Bludger away from Harry. This, however, was ineffective for the Bludger seemed to be magnetically attracted to the boy.
"We gotta do something!" Bridgit said, looking worriedly at Zoey.
The score was sixty points to zero with Slytherin in the lead. It was obvious that their superior brooms were doing their job. This can't get any worse, Zoey thought to herself. Almost as if the weather gods heard her, it started to rain. Zoey tapped her glasses with her wand and the rain drops didn't bother her lenses. She watched as Fred and George started to fly closer to Harry, each taking turns with hitting the Bludger away.
"Oh look, they've called a time out," Echo said as she tapped her book with the same spell Zoey had used for her glasses.
Zoey watched as the Gryffindor team huddled together discussing whatever the heck they were discussing. Zoey gulped. She hoped they got everything planned out alright
Zoey let out a scream as the Bludger smashed right into Harry's elbow. She watched as Harry slightly slipped of his broom but still kept his head in the game. He was determined to catch the snitch. She brought her hands to her mouth as Harry reached over with one hand, his legs grabbed hold of the broom, and grabbed onto the golden ball. She watched as he fell off his broom and made contact with the mud. She winced slightly. That must have hurt.
She watched as the crowd erupted in cheers, some gasping at the sight of Harry. In truth, she didn't really care who won. She made her way through the crowd, Bridgit and Echo trailing behind her, and ran towards the Gryffindor's who surrounded themselves around Harry. She made it just in time to see Harry tell Colin that he didn't want a picture in his current state (not like he wanted one in any state).
"What is he trying to do?" Zoey whispered to Fred as she saw Lockhart, who was with Harry on the ground, hold tightly onto his wand.
"He's saying that he can fix Harry's arm," Fred replied. Zoey took a good look at him and noted that it seemed that he had just wrestled something. That something looked like it put up a fight.
"Bludger," came Fred's simple reply to Zoey's curious gaze. Zoey nodded her head before looking back at Harry and Lockhart.
"Well that's stupid," Echo grimaced when she heard what Fred has said about Lockhart's plan, "Harry doesn't trust him, does he?"
"Hope not," Zoey said.
Lockhart then moved his wand in a twirling manner and casted a spell on Harry's broken arm. Zoey watched in horror as Harry's arm took the appearance of a thick, flesh-colored rubber glove. She shivered at the sight. It truly didn't look like and arm anymore. Zoey had the look of disgust written all over her face as Lockhart held Harry's floppy arm in his hand and bent it backwards. "Arms aren't suppose to bed that way," Zoey muttered as she looked down at her feet. She could not bear to look at Harry's boneless limb anymore.
"Disgusting and almost vomit-worthy," Echo casually said as she watched Harry's arm flop back in place and hang limply in Lockhart's hand. There was nothing inside it to keep it stiff.
"It's too late," Bridgit groaned from beside Zoey.
"What do you mean?" Zoey asked
"I know that spell, goodness. Lockhart's an idiot," Bridgit said.
"What did he do?" Harry asked Bridgit, a look of horror in his eyes.
"Obviously, Lockhart made your arm all flexible and boneless," Echo said
Zoey shook her head. "That gidiot," she muttered, "How can he possibly be a Ravenclaw?"
"Echo's right Harry. But don't worry, it's happened to me before," Bridgit said, smiling at the twelve year old.
Harry nodded his head, not really processing what everyone was saying, only bits and pieces. His arm felt numb and he felt tired. If it weren't for the shocking state he was in he would have collapsed and fallen straight to sleep by now. He tried to move his arm but it was no use. It was truly useless. He looked up at the three girls.
"Uhm… excuse me… what's going to happen to my arm?" he asked
"It's going to remain boneless unless you don't rush over to Madam Pomfrey," Echo deadpanned before going back to her book.
"Echo's right, again, we got to take you to the Hospital Wing," Bridgit said, helping the boy up, "A little help here, Zee? He's not exactly that light"
Zoey apologetically shook her head as she stepped away from them. She could not handle looking at Harry's arm. It was shallow of her but she just couldn't take it.
"I'll do it," Echo said as she turned to help Harry up, "But I want pastilles"
"I'll give you some later," Bridgit said as they started to walk to the Hospital Wing.
Zoey looked down as she heard retreating footsteps. Obviously they wanted to see what will happen next to Harry. She felt a weight on her shoulders. She looked up and saw Fred standing beside her with his arm casually sitting on her shoulders. "Should we follow them?" he asked
Zoey smiled and nodded.
When they reached the Hospital Wing Madam Pomfrey was not pleased when she saw Harry. "You should have brought him straight to me!" she raged, "I can mend bones in a heartbeat but growing them back –" she then paused as she busied herself in finding what she needed to use to fix Harry up. This left the students a few minutes to themselves.
"You know she's over- reacting," Bridgit said after a moment of silence, "growing bones now wasn't as painful as growing them before"
"How would you know?" Echo mused.
"Five words," Brigit said as she held up five fingers.
"And they are?" Zoey asked
"Wand. Mirror. Five –year-old," Bridgit said dropping one finger per word.
Everyone was curious as to what Bridgit meant but their thoughts were interrupted by Echo. "SHUT IT MALFOY!" she yelled, "No one cares about your pain!"
Zoey groaned and tried to control her upcoming laugh.
"What did you do?" Harry asked as he tried to control his laughter.
"Well, I saw a wand on a chair and I picked it up. I decided that since I saw other people waving it around, I should too, so I did and it hit the mirror and bounced back," Bridgit explained.
"Who leaves a wand in the presence of a five year old?" George asked
"Someone obviously more stupid than you," Bridgit answered.
George glared and opened his mouth to retort but Echo but him off. "Any who, the moral lesson of the story is: Never look in a mirror with a wand in your hand," she laughed
"Or," Zoey said, "Never trust Lockhart"
And with that everyone gave a laugh
It was dinner time when it all happened. Zoey was peacefully eating on the Gryffindor table with Echo and Bridgit when an owl flew over them and dropped a rather small package in front of Bridgit. Zoey looked curiously at the package as it began to move and muffled sounds were heard from it. She looked at Bridgit questioningly.
"What's this? I wasn't expecting any mail," Bridgit said, talking hold of the small package
"Maybe you should open it?" Zoey suggested.
"What if it's dangerous?" Echo spoke, "If it is, that would be awesome"
"And how does that work?" George asked, raising and eyebrow
Echo arched an eyebrow in return, "What?"
George shook his head, "Never mind"
"Tell me," Echo said as she poked at a piece of corn on her plate.
"Know what? Forget it. Bridgit, what's in the box?" George said, turning his attention to the second Ravenclaw.
"Okay"
As Bridgit touched the box it started to shake. She looked nervously at her four friends, and they all nodded in encouragement. She opened the box and a big smile grew on her face. Zoey was about to ask what was wrong but then before she could get the words out a cute little teacup poodle jumped out of the box and tackled Zoey.
Zoey gasped in shock as she fell back from the force of the small pup. She landed on the ground with a thud and her legs still hung on the bench. She could tell most eyes were on her but all she could focus on were the brown eyes that stared back at her. The teacup poodle gave her a long lick of greeting and Zoey squirmed in response.
"Shinji!" Bridgit called making the pup jump of Zoey and go back to its owner.
Zoey coughed a bit and wiped her face. Fred laughed as he helped her back up. She sat back onto the bench and turned to look at the dog. It was still happily panting with its tongue lolling out.
"Does it have rabies…?" Echo asked more to herself than to anyone.
Zoey looked worriedly at Bridgit.
"Of course not!" Bridgit glared at Echo.
"I'm only asking," Echo said holding her hands up in defense, "After all, I'm not the owner of the dog."
"Dog?" George asked as he looked at the little ball of fur, "That's what it is?"
Echo rolled her eyes and muttered, "Gidiot"
Fred, who laughing at his brother, looked towards at the discarded box that Shinji came out from. He pulled it towards himself and reached into it. He moved his hand across the floor of the box and felt something. He held on to it.
"Hey, what's th – uh oh," Fred stopped dead as he looked at the object he pulled out. In his hands was a red envelope.
Echo reached for the envelope, not knowing what it was, and held onto the flap ready to open it.
"No don –" but Bridgit was too late. Echo looked at her friend in alarm as she ripped the envelope open. Zoey watched the note inside float towards Bridgit.
"BRIDGIT CARI PARKER!" The howler started, making Bridgit wince at the sound of her uncle's voice.
"HOW MANY TIMES MUST I TELL YOU NOT TO LEAVE THAT BLASTED MUTT WITH ME! I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF IT THESE PAST THREE YEARS AND I WILL NOT STAND FOR A FOURTH!"
Shinji started to growl
"DO YOU THINK THAT JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE MY NIECE I WILL TOLERATE THIS BEHAVIOR? YOU ACT JUST LIKE YOUR FATHER! YOU TWO ARE EXACTLY THE SAME!"
Zoey felt like she could finally breathe when the Howler had ceased and tore itself apart. She looked at Bridgit with worried eyes.
"I'm sorry, Bridgit….," Echo's voice was small and was unheard for the laughter the twins were producing. Zoey looked at the twins in disbelief. How could they think something was funny at a time like this?
"What's so funny?" Bridgit asked the twins, annoyed.
"The whole scene was bloody funny!" George answered
"Echo! Why are you saying sorry to Bridgit? You should be sorry for everyone but Bridgit! Just think, we just found out that she's exactly like her dad and can you imagine how unlucky we are if we met him?" Fred asked, his voice still holding humor in it, "Two more Bridgits in the world, what a nightmare"
"Don't judge my dad!" Bridgit yelled, standing up.
"Isn't that a little bit insulting, Fred?" Echo said.
"What do you mean insulting? It really isn't – I'm mean can you imagine –" But before Fred could finish what he was saying Bridgit had reached over and slapped him hard across the face making the impact echo throughout the Great Hall.
From the force of the slap Fred's head wiped to the side. His cheeks stung and it burned hot. It took him a second to process what just happened before her turned to glare at Bridgit. He opened his mouth to speak but was silenced with shock. Bridgit had tears running down her face.
"Bri –" but Fred never got to finish. Bridgit swiftly turned and ran out the Great Hall.
Echo's eyes widened, "Am I that bad of a friend?" she asked herself as her eyes cast down. She, too, stood up and left.
A growl was heard and it was coming from the white teacup poodle that stood on top of the table. It gave Fred a death glare and it did not appear as cute as it was before. Zoey looked at the dog before looking at the twins. She glared at the both of them; more to Fred than George, and for once her glare could battle Echo's. She stood up and looked down at them. She did not care that everyone was looking at her.
"Y-you insensitive pigs!" she yelled, truly angry, "Y-you – I can't even begin to describe how disgusted I am with you two!"
The twins gulped down and felt like they shrank a little under Zoey glare.
"Don't ever speak to me, Bridgit or Echo unless it is to apologize for your immature behavior!"
She held out her arms and Shinji jumped into them. She gave one more glare before turning around to leave the Great Hall, Shinji continued to growl at the Weasley Twins. Zoey stopped at the door and looked back at them, "Wait – that's an insult to those who are immature as well. Your behavior was lower than that. I can't believe you two. Deeply ashamed to be acquainted with you both"
And with that, she, too, left the Great Hall.
Echo ran down a deserted corridor and caught sight of Bridgit's retreating figure. "Bridgit! Bridgit –Wait!" Echo exclaimed as she caught up with her.
"What do you want?" Bridgit asked, coming to a halt and turning around to face Echo.
Echo caught her breath, "Tell me, am I a bad friend?" she asked, her voice becoming small.
Bridgit's eyes widened, "What? Why would you ask such a thing?" she asked, her voice becoming softer.
"None of that would've happened if I wasn't so stupid and reckless," Echo spoke, her bangs covering the whole of her face.
"No! Echo, don't say that! I don't blame you for anything!" Bridgit said, "Besides it was the twins' fault, not yours"
"But, they wouldn't have laughed if I hadn't opened the Howler," Echo said
"Don't say that! A true friend would never laugh at someone else's misery…that what makes you a good one. You might have opened it, but you didn't laugh, unlike those two pricks," Bridgit said, giving Echo a warm smile.
"I still got it without your permission"
"Don't worry about it. I'm not mad about that," Bridgit started as she placed and arm around Echo's shoulders, "Besides, it's not your fault my uncle is a git"
Echo's eyes widened as she fixed her bangs, revealing a golden eye, "I suppose…"
Bridgit gave her a surprised look. "What was that?" she asked, reaching for Echo's bangs.
"That," Bridgit pointed at Echo's eyes as she withdrew her hand a bit knowing Echo didn't want to be touched.
"What about my eye?"
"I thought I saw gold… and something…," Bridgit answered
"My eyes have always been gold," Echo arched an eyebrow
"No, I mean – I don't know… It's usually something you see in a…," Bridgit trailed off
"Go on," Echo urged.
"Well… a – a… Veela," Bridgit whispered
It was the dead of night and Zoey walked beside Ginny, both eyes slightly gazed and focused to the front of them. Their faces held no emotion as they walked through the deserted corridors of Hogwarts. The students were asleep and so far they haven't encountered Filch or any faculty member. In Ginny's hands was the diary and Zoey's hands remained stiff at her sides as they continued to walk to a direction their throbbing minds knew.
Through misty eyes Zoey saw a corner coming and turned right as to not run into it. What she did run into, however; was a boy with mousy brown hair and a camera in his hands. Zoey felt her misty eyes glaze. This was a problem. An obstacle. Something that delayed their mission.
The boy looked at her and then at Ginny. He seemed to recognize the red-head for he had smiled. Ginny, however; did not respond. She still remained as emotionless as Zoey. The boy opened his mouth and started to converse with Ginny with fast words that Zoey, even if she were in the right mind, did not understand. She felt her eyes glare as she turned around and smiled maliciously. Behind her was a room that she needed. She opened the door and walked into the lavatory.
She headed to the sink and spoke in hissing sounds. The sink then started to move and in a matter of seconds revealed a passageway. Zoey made more hissing sounds. A soft rumble erupted from the passageway and then was softened to slithering. Her eyes remained glaze as she turned back around and left the lavatory. She waited at the door for a few seconds before she heard a shocked gasp and a flash. She opened the door and saw the boy frozen on the floor and Ginny looking at her. Zoey nodded at the red-head and left the boy on the floor and headed back to where they came from.
Phew! Chapter finished! That was a lot! Okay, as you can see a new problem has risen. Oh~! How are they going to solve this one?
Now for Question and Answer!:
"yvonna" asks: So Zoey is going to go to the Chamber with Ginny? Is that how Zoey and Harry are going to be friends?
-Yep, she's gonna be in the chamber. Zoey and Harry are already friends but after this I guess they'll be closer :)
"wHaT's In A pEn-NamE"
- same answer as above :)
"ZoomSkater14" asks: So who's powers are getting drained Ginny's or Zoey's?
-I can't really answer that yet :D
I would like to thank all of you for your reviews, questions, alerts and favorites!
They are all appreciated!
I would love to thank "HayleyParadox" and "ZoomSkater14" for helping me with this chapter! You guys are the best!
Well, this is all for today! Stay tuned for the next update!
Don't forget to review and ask questions!
I only own what i own!
(PS: Sorry if there are any errors or typos. I already re-read it on my Word doc and I don't know it it's still as clean as I left it. (you know... when i put it here... or something... what am i saying?) Sometimes fanfic is doing something funky.. oh well! :D Good Night everyone!)
