*Le sigh* This took too long, and I'm sorry about that. My time went to studying, and after all of it, I was burned out. But, the studying was well worth it. seem to be passing my classes.
Nayeli laughed at Kathryn, shaking her head.
"It's a joke, right? An early April fool's joke?" She asked, a disbelieving look on her face. There was no way that this could be happening. It was only February 9th! Kathryn chuckled at Nayeli, shaking her head.
"It really is. You've been out for a little over two months." She answered. Nayeli's expression dropped again, and so did her stomach. She tried to move her legs, but found that she barely could. At this, she panicked.
"I can't move my legs." She stated. Her voice cracked, signaling her worry. Draco and Blaise blinked, and sighed slightly as they remembered how Sheeva had lost the ability to walk for a short while after their escape from Malfoy Manor. Blaise poked Nayeli's leg with his finger.
"Did you feel that?" He asked. She nodded her head and scowled at him. Blaise smiled.
"Then you'll be fine. You just have to work your muscles out again. It'll take time, but you can do it." He assured her. He then pulled her into another hug, placing a kiss on her forehead.
"I've missed you so much, hon." He stated, sniffling.
"We all missed you, Nayeli. So much!" Jeffrey piped in. He turned to Joseph, and grinned.
"Everyone was working to wake you up. Even me! Joseph said so!" He stated. Joseph looked up at the mentioning of his name, brought to light, a screwy look on his face. Nayeli looked at him, recognizing him slightly.
When their eyes connected, Joseph felt his spirit lighten, and he almost smiled as he felt the tenderness of the shadow (now recognized as Nayeli's spirit). There was also a feistiness he felt drawn to.
"You were fighting with us. Oh! What happened to the creep I was controlling? Did my idea work?" She asked, the events coming back to her in a flash. Draco nodded.
"The man that you took control of is dead. Somehow, we were able to kill him with… the killing curse. I'm surprise that the Ministry hasn't contacted us about that." Draco explained, his gut wrenching as he realized this. Blaise shrugged his shoulders.
"Maybe Potter already knows what happened, and alerted them about it?" He suggested.
Nayeli gave a yawn, and lied back, sleepy.
"You'd think, after being asleep for two months, I wouldn't be tired?" She commented, trying to keep her eyes open. Kathryn smiled.
"Being asleep and being in a coma are two different things. A coma isn't really a restful state. Your brain is still functioning as though…"
Nayeli didn't hear the rest of the explanation, as she was soon sound asleep.
Draco and Blaise looked at her, soaking in the information.
"... it is still active. It hasn't gone into REM for a long…" Kathryn stopped talking when she realized Nayeli was sleeping soundly.
"Huh, nice to know I put people to sleep when I talk." She muttered sarcastically. Severus smiled, and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her into a hug.
"You still teach us something new every day." He whispered, kissing her forehead. She smiled in his chest and hugged him back.
Draco and Blaise smiled at the two, and took each other's hand, bending down to kiss Sheeva's cheek lovingly. They felt bad—the shock of Nayeli's awakening must have been too much for her to handle, especially after what had happened the night before.
Remembering the event, Blaise looked at Nayeli carefully, searching for any marks. His throat constricted when he saw that there was a bruise on her neck in the shape of a hand. He swallowed hard to get it to loosen up.
"Draco." He stated, nudging his head towards Nayeli. Draco turned and looked at Blaise, then looked where Blaise's hand was pointing. His eyes bulged when he saw what Sheeva had done. He then turned back to look at Sheeva, stunned.
The school bell rang, signaling that it was 11 PM. The ball was over, and most of the students would be—should be—returning to their dorms. Blaise sighed, as it was his time to do rounds. He took a deep breath, fixed his cloak, and announced his leave, walking away.
"I'm… going to bed." Kathryn muttered. Severus took her hand and they walked out of the hospital wing. Draco turned his head and called out after her: Go to your dorm, Huître!
Kathryn and Severus rolled their eyes in annoyance, and sighed. Reluctantly, they made their way to Gryffindor tower. The Fat Lady was nowhere to be seen, and Kathryn growled. The woman had such wonderful timing.
"Well, she's not here! That's settled. Let's go back to my room." Severus laughed. In truth, he was partly kidding, and partially, not. After all, he couldn't break his father's wishes all the time. Kathryn laughed, and kissed him on the cheek.
"Sounds like a plan. I wanted to ask Joseph what he was doing there, anyway. He seemed to have slipped away from the party pretty quickly. I didn't even notice he left until we got to the hospital wing. I think he had something to do with Nayeli's awakening." She stated. Severus stared, amazed again. She'd been able to deduce all of that, even in the midst of such an emotional moment?
Yup, he definitely wanted to be with this woman for the rest of his bizarre life.
Joseph looked up from his book as Kathryn and Severus walked in, smiling to them.
"You have fun at ball?" He asked, curious to know how it had gone for them.
Kathryn laughed, and grabbed a spare change of Severus's clothes from the drawer. She stepped behind the dividers to change. Severus kicked off his shoes and unbuttoned his shirt, took it off, and draped it over the foot of the bed.
"Yeah, I did. Did you? You left early." Kathryn said from behind the divider. Joseph got a strange look on his face, and he opened his mouth to say something, but then closed it.
"Did you leave with Amanda? Huh?" Severus teased, smirking as he winked. Joseph shook his head.
"Iye. I… do not know how I get to hospital wing." He admitted, scratching his head. Kathryn came out from behind the divisors, taking her hair down from its barrette. Her curls fell down around her face.
"What do you—
Kathryn was cut off by a loud bang at the door, and she silenced immediately, and looked at Severus. She grabbed her wand, shrunk her dress, stuffed it in the pocket of her pajamas, and rolled underneath the bed.
Joseph nervously opened the door.
The person at the door punched him unexpectedly, and he stumbled backwards, holding his nose. It was Anna, Amanda's friend. She was undoubtedly pissed about something.
"How dare you pull a vanishing act on Amanda? That was flat-out cruel, and crummy, and-and… you bastard!" She barked, pulling him to her with one hand and raising her fist with the other. He was still stunned from the first punch, and couldn't block the second. It collided with his lip, splitting it open once more.
When she raised her fist again, Severus intervened and stopped her. Meanwhile, Amanda rushed in, eyes puffy and red.
"Anna, don't! I provoked him!" She cried out. Joseph looked at her like she was his saving grace. Anna let go of Joseph, pushing him back in disgust.
"I do not know what happened. I am sorry, Amanda. Umm… what is 'provoke'?" He asked, holding his broken nose, blood gushing down his face. Amanda grabbed her wand and waved it.
"Episky!" She commanded. She expected the nose to fix itself, but when it didn't, she grew confused.
"Wh-what? That was supposed to work!" She barked, confused. Severus handed Joseph a towel to hold to his nose, and guided him to sit down.
"Your magic does not work on me. I… am not human. I did not mean to go away. But when you kiss me, this… thing, it was very mad. It took me away." He muttered, trying to explain as best he could. They froze, staring at each other.
Amanda and Anna turned as the door opened again. Draco stepped in, looking quite upset.
"Uh, Professor! Sorry, I…" Anna started, wiping away the blood on her knuckles onto her cloak. Kathryn froze, searching on the floor for any sign of her shoes. They were tucked away behind the divider. As long as Draco didn't search, he wouldn't see them… hopefully. Draco definitely noticed Anna wipe the blood off her knuckles, as it wasn't well hidden. He arched an eyebrow.
"What happened, Wiess?" He asked Amanda without breaking his stern glare with Anna. His voice was dark and threatening. She shuddered, intimidated.
"Well, I told Anna that Joseph vanished suddenly when… we were dancing, and she… punched him." She admitted. Draco looked at Anna, slightly amused, and then looked at Joseph, an impressed look on his face.
"Heh. Good job. Joseph, you should go see Sheeva. If she's awake, she can heal that for you." He mentioned. Joseph shook his head, but then sneezed, crying out in pain. The towel that was already soaked with blood was now dripping with it. Joseph formed a few seals with one hand and held it to his nose, a faint white light sinking into the cartilage.
He sighed in relief, and stood, walking into the bathroom to wash the blood off of his hands and face.
Amanda and Anna stared, heavily confused.
"Professor, what the hell is he?" Anna asked, a look of slight disgust on her face. Draco scowled, and squinted his eyes at her.
"He's a person, just like you and me. Don't treat him any other way, or I will assign you detention. Do you understand, Wetter?" He warned. She stared at him in shock, and slowly nodded her head.
"Yes, Professor, I understand." She muttered. She gave him a questioning frown.
"But, sir, he's… weird. My parents don't want us associating with anything that is—
-he is not a thing, Wetter! He is a person. Now grow the fuck up and follow your own beliefs, not your foolish parents! Get to bed!" He ordered, outraged, pointing at the door. The fury was evident in his face, and Severus couldn't recall ever seeing him this angry.
Amanda rushed over to Anna, ushering her out of the door, begging her to "shut up and get going".
Joseph rested his head against the bathroom door, brow furrowed. Silently, he thanked Draco for sticking up for him, though his heart was still heavy.
Even here, I am unwelcome? I understand the humans fear change, but am I really so… strange? I don't understand. Sheeva said that Human kind was… well, nicer than this. Amanda did not seem so bad. Rather, sweet. Cute, shy. Gods, she'd even kissed me.
His resolve crumbled, and he shifted to sit down and lean against the bathroom door, staring at the cabinet blankly in front of him. A glint of a shiny silver caught his eye, and he focused in on the source—a silver trinket that Jeffrey had transfigured for him. He smiled.
No. I should not let this get me down. Regardless of what everyone else thinks, there are some that think I am "cool". That is more important. He reminded himself.
He stood, and turned around, able to face the situation with a little more confidence and pride.
He cleared his throat as he stepped out, an eyebrow arched at Draco.
"Gateau, Draco." He thanked him. Draco chuckled and smirked, shaking his head.
"Eh. It just pisses me off, this foolish 'blood-rivalry' feud that the old families still have…" He trailed off, not wanting to reminisce about his father. Joseph wasn't sure what it meant, but he shrugged his shoulders.
"For every person who thinks that you suck, there is another whose world you rock." He commented. Severus and Draco looked at him, amazed at the simplicity and wisdom and overall power behind the phrase. Draco nodded his head.
"Yeah. That really sums it all up. That's a good one! Where did you hear that?" He asked. Joseph shrugged.
"Kathryn. She and Joseph have been very helpful to me these last two months. You all have been very helpful and for that, I thank you. All of you." He smiled. His ears picked on a sharp inhale, and he guessed that Kathryn was about to sneeze from the dust "bunnies" that were under Severus's bed. He coughed loudly, clearing his throat, and turning his back on them, feigning awkwardness.
Timed it perfectly. He thought as the noise he made covered Kathryn's sneeze.
Draco seemed to miss the sneeze.
"Riiiight… well, goodnight Joseph. Goodnight Severus. We'll see you in the morning." Draco announced somewhat awkwardly, stepping out and shutting the door on them. He paused outside their door, contemplating the phrase. He'd definitely have to write that one down.
As soon as Draco seemed to be out of the common room, Severus pulled back the drape over his bed, and Kathryn crawled out. She brushed off the dust, sighing in relief.
"Good job covering that sneeze up! I thought I was doomed!" She laughed. Joseph smirked.
"You are lucky I have good ears. Or else you would be doomed." He smiled. She stared at his clothes pitifully—his shirt and cowl were soaked with his own blood.
"Damn, she really got you! Here. Scourgify!" She waved her wand and the blood vanished, leaving the white shirt crisp and clean, and the cowl back to its crimson red cloth. He grinned—magic never ceased to amaze him.
Kathryn sat down next to Severus and crossed her arms, a quizzical look on her face.
"So… This thing took you to Nayeli?" She guessed. Joseph nodded, not surprised that she could infer that from the conversation.
"Yes. It was a shadow that only I could see. I thought I was losing mind." He admitted. She nodded again.
"Well? What happened?" She asked. Joseph shuddered as he remembered how he felt. He stared out of the window, trying to piece together exactly how he was going to phrase this.
"The shadow was very angry with me, for kissing Amanda. I… barked at it, why it was even here. Why it was so mad. And then… when I looked at it, I felt sorry. Sorry that I had yelled at it. So I went to touch it, comfort it. My hand went straight through." He began. He suddenly felt lonely as he realized that he wouldn't be seeing the shadow any more. He also reminded himself that the shadow was really Nayeli's spirit.
"I believe the shadow was Nayeli's spirit. Otherwise, it would not have guided me to her, I think." He surmised.
"Ok, but how did she end up waking up? Did you shove her spirit down her throat or something?" Severus asked, curious to know. Joseph's eyes widened as he felt his body chill and go numb. He shook his head.
"The shadow took over me. It went in through my chest. I could not breathe. I could not see. I think… I may have died. The only thing I think of is the shadow use me… as…" He trailed off as he tried to remember the English word for "intermediate". Unable to find it, he shook his head.
"It use me." He shrugged, yawing. He was tired, and didn't want to think anymore. He just wanted to sleep. And sleep late into the next morning. The situation didn't make any sense, but he didn't care anymore.
Kathryn was baffled, and she wished that he could give more detail. She would have to make do with what she had.
"So, you think that maybe the shadow was Nayeli's spirit, because only you knew about it. And then… it got mad when you kissed Amanda? And… it took you to Nayeli's bedside? What if…" She paused to chuckle at her own thoughts.
"It's destiny? Besides, if you think you died, you might have. A life for a life, right?" She suggested. Severus arched an eyebrow, then nodded slowly.
"That… makes sense. Still, it's a miracle that she's awake." He agreed. Joseph stared at her, shaking his head, refusing to believe that it could be possible. He couldn't have died. It just wasn't possible. Unless… he'd become like Sheeva. Cursed.
He shuddered and crossed his arms, scowling. He turned away from them and shuffled into his bed, pulling the covers up to his neck. As he lie there, he felt the familiar ache of missing someone, and being lonely.
Never again would he feel the shadow lingering over him, its pleasant aura soothing the void within his own chest. Swooning over him with such passion. Swelling with pride and love for the captain and her family. Even the hints of jealousy whenever women would gawk at him and chatter amongst themselves in the hallways.
He drifted into a lonely sleep, slightly envious of Severus and Kathryn, who had each other to shower with love and adornment.
Well. Not much I have to say. Read and Review, as always.