Disclaimer: Harry Potter and friends belong to J.K. Rowling. I make no money from this story.
A/N: Any italics in the story are either flashback/thoughts or quoted directly from the books.
Sorry it has been so long since I updated, I got sick during finals week last quarter and have been swamped with work ever since. I am taking a much needed break from everything to update. I promise I have not abandoned you.
Also – bold lettering is Parseltongue.
HLP 2 – Slytherin Secrets
Chapter 12:
"He said this was for me?" Herman held the book reverently, his hands caressing the spine. He was sitting in the corner of the common room beside the empty chessboard.
"Yeah, he said it was payment for helping him while I was ill. I suggest you read it. Occlumency is a fascinating branch of magic," Harriet laughed at Herman's covetous expression. She slid out of the other chair as Rhonda returned down the stairs from the girls' dorm, her box of chess pieces clutched protectively in her hands. "I'm going to quidditch practice, I'll meet you in the library afterward, I have something to run by the two of you," she whispered before heading up to change into her quidditch robes.
HLPHLPHLP
"What was that about?" Rhonda asked as she assembled her chess pieces on the board across from Herman's.
"Harriet was bringing me this. Professor Snape sent it to me. He said it was payment for helping him find the cure for Harriet. I would have done it without payment, but I'm also not going to turn down an opportunity to read a book on an obscure branch of magic either," he held up the book to show it to Rhonda.
"Cor, that's a rare branch of magic. Billy was telling me that not everyone can learn it. Do you think you can?" Rhonda asked, moving her knight.
"Absolutely; I firmly believe that a person can learn anything they put their mind to. If you like, I'll even help you learn it when I've finished," Herman offered, countering her move.
HLPHLPHLP
Harriet slunk into the common room. Rivulets of water flowed out of her raven hair and down across the lenses of her classes, obscuring her vision. She stumbled across the opening of the portrait hole, swearing, and headed up the stairs to the girls' dorm.
"Oh, dear, Harriet, you look dreadful, let me help you," Lavender Brown slipped an arm through hers and guided her into the room. Harriet felt someone remove her glasses. They were returned a moment later, dry. She noticed Lavender stashing a pink cloth back inside her robes, and smiled at her.
"Thanks. Now I just have to get out of these," she gestured to her sodden robes as she moved toward the wardrobe where her clothes were kept. Extracting the items she needed, she proceeded to strip down.
Blimey, Harriet, have you seen your side?" Lavender's voice was horrified. Harriet glanced down at her side and swore again. There was a large purple bruise, the exact size of a bludger forming on her ribcage.
"Got hit by a bludger at practice. It was so wet out there the twins were having trouble spotting the bludgers. Oliver's insane. He insisted we couldn't come in from practice until I'd found the snitch. It took me three hours," she shivered, hastily pulling on a shirt over the injured area. "Anyway, it'll be better in a few days."
"You should really have Madame Pomfrey take a look at that," Lavender insisted as Harriet pulled on a pair of sweat-pants.
"It'll be fine, it doesn't even hurt," Harriet insisted, jerking on her robes and straightening them. "I've got to go. I promised to meet up with Rhonda and Herman in the library. They are probably waiting for me by now," she hurried out of the room before Lavender could nag her any further.
HLPHLPHLP
"Do you think something's happened to her?" Rhonda asked worriedly.
Herman looked up from his book, "I doubt it. Quidditch practice probably ran late. I've heard that Wood is a bit obsessive about practice.
"In this?" Rhonda looked out the window, horrified.
"Yeah, it took Harriet three hours to find the snitch, and Old Ollie wouldn't let us leave until she'd found it," Angelina Johnson's words came from behind Rhonda.
"She said she was going to change before coming to the library. Didn't want Pince to kill her if she got water all over the books," Katie's voice chimed in.
"Here she is now," Herman said, looking towards the door. Before he could say anything more, Madam Pince's voice roared out.
"Wet shoes? You come into my library with wet shoes?"
Harriet blushed and looked down at her squelching tennis shoes. "I'm sorry Madam Pince. I changed out of the rest of my wet stuff, but I am afraid I don't know a spell for drying shoes and this is the only pair I have."
Madam Pince visibly deflated. "Well, I'll teach you the spell then, but you must promise me that you will never come into my library wet again.
Harriet nodded and the others watched as Madam Pince, Dragon-Lady extraordinaire instructed Harriet in the intricacies of the Tergeo spell.
Harriet joined them at the table a few minutes later and was just leaning forward to speak when a shadow fell across the table. The three of them looked up to see Professor McGonagall standing over them, a frown on her face. "Miss Potter, come with me. Now," she emphasized as it looked like Harriet was going to argue. Harriet stood, and shooting an apologetic look at her friends, followed her out of the room.
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A/N: Sorry about the delay. I will try to be more active with posting. Feedback is always welcome.