Chapter 43: The one where he's Nott, a friend?

Disclaimer: I am just a mere visitor in the sublime world constructed by J.K Rowling. Anything that rings a bell is hers.

Chapter 42

I wiped the sweat off my brow and added a drop of exploding fluid into the Revive Potion. It turned light orange with swirls of dark orange like the picture depicted.

"Replace Bouncing Spider Juice with Exploding fluid but drop the dosage from three drops to just one. It takes ten minutes longer to brew but increases the shelf life by a month."

I looked down at the book and the words I spoke shone up at me in bold black ink.

I cast a spell on the cauldron and waved my wand and the vials from the drawer behind me floated out of the box and lined themselves up as the cauldron poured its contents into the vial one by one.

I moved over to the other cauldron sniffing at the potion and frowning.

"Smells like vinegar."

I responded to the now familiar voice without looking up, "Maybe I shouldn't swap the Ashwinder egg for Baneberry."

"It's been ten days, Veritaserum supposed to lose its smell on the seventh day, you do remember?"

I sighed; I remember. I spent all of New Year's Day in here which was a week after Sev and I started our first batch; I restocked Madam Pomfrey with strengthening solution that day.

That was little over seven weeks ago. And I must have brewed more than fifty potions since. I looked up irritated at his light brown eyes which slowly became green as he shifted into the light.

"Would you shut the door after you leave?"

He smirked that annoying smirk of his and walked into the room. How I regretted not learning how to disillusion myself. I made a mental note to learn the spell. It would have prevented this Snake from following me into my lair two weeks ago. Now he seemed to pop by whenever he pleased. I bottled a bit of the botched potion and labelled it failure no.3.

I hated failing.

"You look cute when you're angry Kitten." I snarled at the annoying nickname he had given me. He added the tops to the vials of Revive Potion. "So, how's Granger?"

I snatched the vials from him and started packing them to send up to Madam Pomfrey. Mi and I had barely spoken in the past few weeks.

"Ky, wake up, breakfast. Come on Ky I barely ate last night. KY…Ky, what happened to your face?"

I woke up and pulled myself off the bed and then fell back down onto it, snuggling deeper into the blanket. I felt Mi's hands tugging at me,

"No…nobody is home."

"Ky what happened to your face! Ky wake up or I swear I will march right down to the dungeons and yank Malfoy by his hair and and…I'll hurt him bad!"

I peeked up at her through the blankets. What was she going on about? I jumped up and walked to Parvati's mirror. Wow, how did I get that?

There was a purplish bruise on my right cheek bone. I didn't get it in the fight with Blishwick's gang, I kicked ass in that fight. And then it hit me. The bracket that is. When Harry hit it with his jinx, and it flung off and hit my face. I looked closer and saw that the skin was slightly burnt. The bracket must have been hot from the torch. Oh well, I better get some burn paste…

"Mi…where are you going!"

She was already out of the room muttering nonstop about all the curses that she was going to use. "You know I hit him before, I think he needs a reminder!"

She shouted back at me. I finally caught up with her in the common room and practically had to carry her away from the portrait hole.

"What's going on?" I turned and looked at Ron. He glanced from me to Mi and back again. Mi got a strange look on her face which disappeared quickly.

"It's Malfoy Ronald, he's hurt Ky."

Oh, great and here was the shock of black hair. I turned to Mi,

"Look Mi it wasn't Malfoy; he didn't do this. I got back late last night, and someone had put the torches out and it was dark, and I fell and hit the stairs on my way up. I forgot this morning because I didn't even think it would scar. Stop looking at me like that, you know how clumsy I can be, and I was wearing heels, and you think I would let somebody take advantage of me like that?"

She seemed to have calmed down a bit and sighed. "Ok, let's go down to the Hospital wing-"

"No, it's fine, I'll go down to the hospital wing, you go with the boys for breakfast. I'll be fine Mi, nothing Madam Pomfrey won't heal in a jiffy. Now I'm going to get dressed, see you down in a few."

I turned and headed for the staircase, but a hand stopped me. I turned around and looked into apologetic green eyes. "Ky…"

"Don't. Get the fuck away from me Potter. I'm serious. Fuck off." I turned and stomped up the stairs, the accusations of last night burning bright in my mind's eye.

That was the last time I spoke to Harry. It wasn't like the last time, where we would keep pleasantries. He was so small minded, and hot-headed. Flinging his theories willy nilly, not even sparing a thought. He was a child.

I didn't tell Mi about the argument and neither did he, she did confront me on why I was avoiding her though.

It wasn't true, I always spent time with her when she wasn't with Harry. Unfortunately, this wasn't too often seeing as she was helping him with the tournament. I told her I wasn't avoiding anybody, just engrossed in my potion making and she was welcome to share my sanctuary.

She took me up on the offer once or twice but with the second task looming closer she didn't spend much time away from Harry. She seemed to gather my problem was with him and was smart enough not to bring anything related to him up.

"Kitten?"

"Mi is okay Nott. Don't you have somebody else to torture with your presence?"

"You would think…but no." He flipped through the potions book I had lying open. The only reason why I actually tolerated his presence in my lair was that he was a decent potioneer. Sev said that he was the best in our class before I came along. Before I could retort that Mi had better marks than Nott, he explained that he was the more natural brewer from the two. "I've been feeling a bit peaky, how about you whip me up some Vitamix Potion."

"I'm sorry. It seems there is a sign that says, 'Nott's personal brewer on my forehead.' It's supposed to read 'fuck off'."

"Oooh somebody is a bowl of rainbows today. Care to share."

"Nott, why don't you go and interfere with Greengrass?"

"I can't and I won't. Daphne is utterly boring, and she's probably being annoyed by Zabini right now."

"Thornton, wait…what happened to your face? "I turned around on my way to the Hospital Wing. It was Zabini.

"Walked into a cupboard door." The story sounded more and more like a lie…maybe because it was.

"Sure…hospital wing?"

"I wasn't looking for an audience."

That didn't get rid of him. He held the door open, and I walked in. Madam Pomfrey huffed up to us and fretted over the mark, shooting angry glances of accusation at Zabini. I managed to convince her that I did just get it in a confrontation with my cupboard and she let us go once she worked her magic.

Unfortunately, it would take applying burn paste regularly to prevent scarring. Thankfully she didn't bring up how I managed to get burned. Madam Pomfrey was strict, but not nosey. She chided but always chose having the students come to her if they were hurt rather than try to fix things themselves in an attempt to avoid unwanted questions.

Zabini held the door open, I realised he led me to astronomy tower.

"Serpente has slithered far from his pit."

"Leoncina wandered far from her den."

"I suspect you called me here for more than just teasing. Speak Zabini."

He turned his calculating brown eyes on me, "Malfoy was in a right state when he got back to the dorm."

"Ok. Is that what you called me here for?"

"No. I don't care about what makes Malfoy happy or sad."

"With friends like you-"

"Who said anything about friends? You think Malfoy and I are friends?" He chuckled darkly, "Malfoy and I let each other exist in our mutual worlds because we're too much alike for our own good. Best keep enemies close." He turned around and leaned against the banister, I looked out at the grounds. "Nott's around because what he lacks in money and influence, he more than makes up for it in intelligence and cunning. And Daphne…. I don't have to explain, a blind man would find Daphne beautiful."

"Because you do not need eyes to see true beauty."

He laughed at that, "Sure…it's not skin deep and all that. Notice how that garbage is always spouted by pretty people."

"You called me here for something Zabini, and I doubt it's to discuss my looks."

He smirked and then slowly his face transformed into a serious expression. "You saved my life last night."

"Don't take it personally. Ask Malfoy, he'd be glad to tell you how psychotic I am because of my penchant of not wanting people killed in front of me."

"Thornton…I owe you. And not like how you owed Malfoy because of a stupid potion ingredient, but something serious. Ask it and it is yours…obviously if I have the power to do so."

I looked at him, straight in his brown eyes, "I want nothing from you Zabini."

I turned to walk away but he stopped me, "Look, I don't know how it works in the den, but in the pit, we pay our debts. There must be something you want. Zabinis' are not indebted to people."

"Fine, I would really like you to return this coat to Malfoy. Consider your debt paid."

He huffed and kicked off the banister and walked to the door, grabbing the coat I held out for him, "When you're serious come find me."

I walked into Sev's personal rooms ignoring Nott, knowing he couldn't follow me even if he wanted to. Sev had incredible security on his quarters; I walked back in with the ingredients and swore aloud. "Really! There must be something better to do than watch me make potions!"

"And there must be something better to do than make potions all night!"

I put the ingredients into my drawer. My patience for people was wearing thin of late. "You're actually right Nott. I'm going. I honestly don't care enough to make an excuse so I'm off to be somewhere where you are not. Have a goodnight."

He smiled and walked out with me, "Goodnight Kitten."

I shook my head as I walked down the corridor, that boy was strange. I reached the Entrance Hall to find it deserted except for Hagrid. I smiled at the gamekeeper, happy to see him in better spirits after the whole newspaper debacle. Mi has a personal vendetta against the writer, I was proud of her.

"Hagrid!"

He turned around and beamed at me, "Ky, what ar' you doin'ou' so late."

"Nothing bad, no worries. How are the unicorns?"

"Ahhhh pretty as always. You should come visit. How about a little victory dinner tomorrow?"

"Victory?"

"Well, it's the second task ain' it? Come round afta and we'll celebrate Harry's triumph."

I had completely forgotten that the task was tomorrow. I couldn't help smiling back at the faith shining in Hagrid's eyes. I nodded and told him goodnight, not wanting to kill his buzz. I'll think of an excuse not to pitch up tomorrow, let future Ky think of that.

I suddenly remembered that I had left the potions for Madam Pomfrey downstairs. Oh, I'll get that to her tomorrow. Then a voice that sounded oddly like Mi said, 'What if a student is in dire need of Revive Potion tonight, you did say you'll have it to her by today, didn't you?'

Ugh I turned and ran downstairs, why does Mi have to be so bossy. I grabbed the box and then looked at the ingredients I had put away earlier. I did take them out…one more potion won't hurt anybody.

I entered the dorm and made for Mi's bed, pulling the hangings, and frowning at the empty bed. I grabbed Bobby's hand and looked at her watch, 2:15. I flung it back onto her and she continued snoring.

Five minutes later I was in the library, sure she would be here helping Harry. It didn't take long to find him; he was splayed across the table, drool falling from his mouth onto the open book he was using as a pillow. The problem was that there was no Mi.

I went to shake him awake and ask where she was when I saw scribbling on the parchment next to him. I picked it up and looked at it; it was a drawing of a mermaid. Then something that looked like aqualungs and then a weird poem.

I read it and smiled as I guessed what it meant. They needed to find something that was taken away from them; the catch was that the merpeople had it. They needed to find a way to breathe under water.

Well, that was obvious. I just used it the other day in the Ice Potion. From the looks of him asleep on the library table, the great Harry Potter didn't think of the simplest answer. I should just leave him here, let him embarrass himself tomorrow. But then I thought of Mi and remembered that I had to search for her. I got up and walked back to the door when I saw a flash of silver to my left. I looked up and saw Nearly Headless Nick floating by looking sadly at Harry.

"Hi Nick."

"Oh Hi Ky. Didn't notice you there. It's sad, isn't it? I was so hopping he would win."

"Yeah, sure it's a crying shame. So, Nick, have you seen Mi anywhere? I mean Hermione Granger?"

He stifled a smile, "I shouldn't…"

"Come now Nick. It's me." I was always on good terms with Nick. He looked to the left and right in the deserted corridor.

"Well, she's taken, isn't she?"

"Taken?"

He pointed at the parchment, "We've taken what you'll sorely miss."

I picked the parchment up and ran out of the library. Damn Potter and his slowness. They took Mi and if he didn't get her back in the hour of the task, she'd be gone! He couldn't get her back if they gave him ten years seeing as he didn't even know how to breathe underwater judging by his current passed out in the library state.

I dashed across my lab and into Sev's and dashed to his personal store. I was grateful for once that he had OCD and ran to where I knew the Gillyweed was kept. Only what sat there instead was an empty bottle. But that was impossible; he never let anything run out. I just used some the other day in the Ice Potion, and I know there was some in the bottle and even if Sev used it afterwards he would have replenished the stock. Those were the rules.

Ugh I don't have time to think about this. Harry needed the Gillyweed at nine and the shops at Hogsmeade only opened at ten during weekdays. There was no quicker solution. Mona probably had some in her store, but I didn't have access to it and what if she was out of stock too when we asked her in the morning. I couldn't risk Mi's life on it.

Ugh why does it have to be three in the morning, I can't think straight. Ok think Ky. You need Gillyweed but you don't have it because Sev didn't buy any…. buy! I raced upstairs and looked at the one-eyed witch statue. Fred told me that this could lead to the cellar of Honeydukes when I told him I wasn't in the mood to go for the last Hogsmeade trip.

"If you change your mind, just tap it and say dissendium, you should find us at Zonko's…"

Honeydukes was right opposite Dogweed and Deathcap. I just had to cross the road quickly and…break in? Oh, fuck that was stupid. But then again, it's not stealing if you pay for it, I'd leave some gold behind. I had learnt a lot of breaking in spells from the book Fil had given me for Christmas.

Cistem aperio should do the trick and a quick silencing charm should do the trick for the alarm if it goes off. I just had to be quick, I could be quick. I mean Mi is at stake here! Oh fuck, stop thinking and just do. I tapped the statue and muttered the word dissendium…just do.

Twenty minutes later I made my way out of Dogweed and Deathcap. I put up the wards again, thanking the Founders that Fil had given me that book for Christmas. I touched the Gillyweed lightly in my pocket, I should read more often.

I exited the shop and I shivered against the cold; my thin hoodie was doing nothing to protect me from the brisk night. I just had to get this to Harry and then I could snuggle up in my warm, cosy bed.

My head felt heavy with sleep. I looked left and right and quickly crossed the thankfully deserted street. I reached the door to Honeydukes smiling as if I crossed the ribbon at the end of a race. And Li said I could never be a spy…maybe I was more robber than spy right now, but I was definitely a sleuth.

I pulled out my wand and pointed it at the door, a second later it went whizzing out of my hand. I barely let out a gasp when all went black, and I felt something cold hit my back hard.

A/N: The last few paragraphs were a bit challenging to write because I was trying to channel the energy and decision making of a very sleep deprived individual – do you think that it comes across that way?

Kalina