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Placids · 07-30-2008, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krysta

Yes, I'm writing a sequel, though there are only a couple of chapters so far.

And yes, this part of the storyline was inspired by Groundhog Day.

Weird.... I mean, I was actually just discussing that movie before coming to read this. =/ it's cause I've been having deja vu all day.

Time loops -- wow, brilliant =) and yet...more confusing =( But why would anyone want to kill Ginny? Does she have special powers?? O.o

And last speculative question ----- how does Heather get so easily involved in all this? Is she good or bad? whoops, two questions.

AH-mazing story =)) Kudos to Krysta!

Krysta · 07-30-2008, 09:00 PM

All shall be revealed......eventually

Krysta · 08-01-2008, 05:14 PM

Happy Friday everyone. Here's some weekend reading for you:

Chapter 18, part 2

Harry smiled and bunched his shoulders against the cold.
"The question is what does she want? Is she trying to reach you? That sounded like a warning. And why Ginny?"
"She's close to me I guess."
"Then why not Hermione?" asked Ron.
"Dunno. Maybe it's the red hair." Harry suggested with a slight grin and Ron returned it.
"I think she's trying to help us, that's definite. Maybe she knows about the Time Loop. I mean it has to have some kind of effect on the fabric of dimensions. Yana must be affected by it." Harry had been nodding up until now.

"Yana?" he asked. He'd heard that word before.
"Yana." Ron repeated nodding then noticed the blank look on Harry's face. "The collective." He added but Harry's face remained empty of understanding. "The great spirit." Ron tried again.
"Oh you mean God?" Harry said.
"God? No, no Gods are egotistical immortals with family issues." Ron said looking strangely at Harry. "Harry you must know of Yana."
"Well some Muggles kind of believe in an almighty being that created the earth etc, etc." he said shrugging. Ron's eyebrows lifted.
"Yana didn't create the earth. I'm not even sure what did but that's not important. It's complicated. Yana is…well…everything. There are so many legends and tales as to what Yana really is but no one truly knows."
"So what do you know?"
"Well, all I was taught was that when we die we become of Yana."
"Become of Yana? What does that mean?"
"I'm not entirely sure…I didn't pay much attention." Ron grinned his usual sheepish grin and Harry couldn't help but laugh.

"Oh no, the shops are shutting." Harry looked up at Ron's cry and saw to his dismay the shop keepers putting out their lanterns and locking their doors.
"What are we going to do?" wailed Harry thinking of the disappointment they'd see on Ginny's face.
"Well there's nothing we can do about it now." Kicking the pebbles in the street with annoyance they turned back the way they had come.
"You'd think she'd be more worried you know." Harry had been lost in his own train of thought and looked up almost startled when his friend spoke. "Ginny." Prompted Ron when he saw the questioning look on Harry's face.
"Maybe she's just masking it." He suggested but Ron shook his head.
"She isn't really like that. If there's something up you know about it. Sure she broods and refuses to talk about her problems but she doesn't really hide them. Not successfully." Harry thought about it and Ron was right. Of course he was, he was her brother.
He thought some more. This afternoon in the pub had been the first time he'd seen her relaxed in about a month. She'd been a recluse completely, not talking to anyone, not even wanting to play Quidditch. He mentioned these thoughts to Ron.

"I suppose in a way, today, however many todays there have been, doesn't really count. It's almost like the fact that it just keeps repeating, to her, feels like it doesn't exist at all." Harry stared at Ron in astonishment. This was very deep and well thought out for Ron of all people.
"Er, yeah maybe." He said, still looking at his friend oddly.
"I mean, if it was me, and I knew I was going to die at the end of the day, I'd either panic and freak out, or just chill out and try to enjoy the day…probably with copious amounts of Butterbeer." He continued and Harry was thoughtful.
"I guess, but…" he paused unsure of what it was he wanted to say. "I'd probably be trying to work on surviving rather than just accepting my fate and giving in like that." Harry realised maybe it had come across as an insult and began trying to take it back. Ron however waved his hand.
"It's ok. That's just the difference between us. I panic, you save the day." He mocked and they both laughed out loud receiving a strange look from a passing Hag in ragged shawls. This just made them laugh even more however and the Hag scuttled off down the street as fast as her crooked legs would take her.

All of a sudden a strange noise met Harry's ears. A voice.
"Nexxxxxt time."
He looked around himself quickly but could see no one.
"What's with you?" asked Ron trying to catch his breath from laughing.
"Did you hear that?"
"Hear what? You're not having another premonition are you?" Harry shook his head. No, I heard a voice. It said "Next Time" and then…it was gone.
"Oh dear."
"Hey it's not my fault I hear things. What?" he asked when he saw the haunted look on Ron's face and realising that the comment hadn't been aimed at him. He looked ahead, following Ron's gaze and gulped when he saw Professor Snape marching towards them. Somehow he wasn't so surprised to see the man.
"Er, hello Professor. We were just…" he didn't get chance to finish as their Potions teacher grabbed each of them by the collar of their robes and began pulling them, not too gently, along the street.
"Not now Mr. Weasley. You need to get off the streets."
“But, hey, what are you…"
"Ok, ok, Professor we'll come quietly!" exclaimed Harry not too impressed by the way they were being manhandled down the street. Snape released them as though realising that maybe he was being a little over-zealous.
“Hurry then.” He ordered sharply. That was the Snape they knew and despised. What had brought about the change? A few seconds later he saw why. Sirius Black appeared at the door of the Three Broomsticks, the expression on his face matching that of Snape.

"She's ok. Did you see where it went?" he asked sharply.
"Sirius? What…"
"Not now Harry." Harry took a half step back. He wasn't used to being spoken to by his Godfather like that. Especially as he hadn't seen him for months.
"I lost it. Right before I found these two." Growled Snape and Ron gave Harry a look that said ‘Oh yay, Snape's back’.

"Lets get them inside." Said Sirius briskly and the two men ushered the boys inside the tavern. They were shocked to find the whole place empty. It was never empty. But it wasn't completely empty. Near the table they'd been sitting at earlier was a small crowd of people. Madam Rosmerta bustled around nervously gathering glasses and bowls from the tables, anxiously glancing at the small group of people like she'd seen a ghost...a scary one.
"Ron had already dashed across the room to be with his sister who was seated at the very same table they had been at earlier. But before he could get anywhere near her two strong hands grabbed hold of his shoulders and shook him violently. Ron cried out and automatically began fighting back at his unseen assailant. Harry stared in astonishment as Fred Weasley was pulled off his little brother by another tall red headed figure. Charlie held back his younger brother, though the expression he sent Ron's way was hardly filled with love. He looked furious and in Harry's eyes, a little disappointed.

"Where were you?" bellowed Fred trying to free himself from Charlie's iron-like grip. Ron only stared back in shock. "She could have died. You were meant to stay with her. How could you leave her?" Fred sounded so angry and so upset Ron couldn't even defend himself. He just stared around at his family, his body slumped. He was ashamed. It didn't take his best friend to recognise that. But wait, though, wasn't this partly Harry's fault too? Or was that not the point. Ginny had been left in her brother's care. He looked at her and saw her shivering, an ice-pack on her leg, eyes red and damp. She was shaking her head and Harry could see she meant to defend Ron but clearly had neither the energy or the chance.

He moved closer to the table and found his hand quickly grasped by Ginny's small pale one. She looked up desperately at him.
"It knew. It was just waiting for you to leave. It..." she trailed off, swaying gently from side to side. Heather caught her and Ginny leaned heavily against her. Harry looked up at Heather who eyed him a little coldly.
"She's weak. It was the same snake. She'll be ok. Krysta got most of the venom out but...this shouldn't have happened."
"Look, we didn't mean for this to happen ok?" he said a little louder than intended. "We...we just wanted to get her presents. And...there was something up with that beer I am sure of it. It's like we weren't thinking straight. And you two were late." He defended angrily the shock of the situation sinking in.
"Oh so it's our fault?" began George taking a step forward aggressively. He moved backwards quickly however when a dark figure stood between them. Harry expected to see Sirius, but was shocked to instead see Snape.
"Enough. Your sister is safe. For how long, we don't know. Right now we need to get back to the school. Mister Potter..." Harry looked up at him, and was almost relieved to see and hear the vehemence that had returned in Snape at the utterance of his name.
"Take Miss Granger and Miss Summer back to Honeydukes. It's the fastest way back to the castle." Harry's mouth fell open in shock. So Snape knew about the secret passage. He noticed a similar expression on Sirius's face, but that faded quickly. Harry ushered Heather and Hermione out of the door glancing behind him to see Charlie gather his little sister up in his arms. Snape lead the small procession out of The Three Broomsticks with Fred and George following Charlie and Ginny, ensuring she was protected from all directions. Ron stood where he was for a few moments and Harry's heart sank a little to see the pain, guilt and self hatred on his friend's face.

He kicked the pebbles in the street absently watching his family escorting Ginny down the street to where a carriage waited. He watched short words exchange between Sirius Black and Professor Snape and watched Sirius disappear into the shadows. He dawdled in the back watching his family move further and further into the distance. He stood still in the middle of the almost empty street and watched as they boarded the carriage and as they disappeared down the street, the sound of hooves on cobbled stones faded into the distance. Silence surrounded him and for the 11th time in as many Halloweens, Ronald Weasley lost faith.

*

"It isn't right is it?"
Harry looked up from the fire he'd been staring into. Hermione was kneeling dangerously on the windowsill, her nose pressed against the dirty pane. The words had come from Heather, who was pacing up and down the common room anxiously.
"No." announced Hermione not moving her face so that her breath made a circle of condensation appear on the cold glass. Harry watched it slowly disappear but watched the small circles that appeared and disappeared with her breathing.
"Anything?" asked Heather again. She stopped to look at Hermione.
"No." Hermione said again and Heather returned to her pacing.

*

"Is she alright?"
"She's fine."
Ginny's brothers were gathered around her hospital bed anxiously. She had become very pale but her blue eyes were open looking at them. Professor Snape stood at the door peering down the staircase beyond as if waiting for someone to appear. When he heard the footsteps he perked up a little, but when the three students came into view, the scowl returned to his face.

*

It was freezing. The kind of wind that feels like an icy blade across your cheeks. Ron tried to wrap his cloak around him but lost the fight in the gales that surrounded him. He gave up and began moving again.

*

"Give her this." Hermione gently ordered holding out the pendant. Harry looked at her strangely as the pendant swung across Ginny's chest. She coughed slightly and looked up at Hermione. No one could miss the smile. She was trying to say something. Clutching the chain around her neck she tried to raise herself to a sitting position only to be pushed down again by Charlie.
"no." she protested. The next word to leave her lips caused everyone to looked around the room and realise for the first time that someone was missing.
"Ron."

*

In the deafening beating of the wind in his ears Ron didn't hear a thing. He didn't sense the creature slithering up from behind him or the dark shadow slinking an approach from the other direction. He saw it at the last moment. Its Teeth bared and ready to pounce Ron was frozen to the spot in front of the deadly feline. His scream was silenced by the gale-force winds surrounding him as the panther pounced.

*

"I can't believe we were so stupid!" cried Heather bitterly as they literally flew down the corridor. That's how it felt. Harry tripped on the steps so fast he didn't have time to fall. Snape was ahead of them by quite a distance. How could the man move so fast? And where was Professor Hedwig when you needed her? The thoughts came fast and furious in his head. They couldn't afford for this to happen. He thought they'd made it. He thought they'd saved the day…or put an end to it at least. But in saving Ginny they'd ignored the danger that was still out there. Why hadn't he come back with his family? Why didn't they check that everyone was safe and why would he have wandered off anyway? Ok so people were mad at him. Harry didn't have time to be thinking these things. They'd ignored the protesting shouts from Hermione and torn out the door right after Snape. Harry wasn't going to let this day end in disaster. Not again.

*

"Is it dead?"
"Well…..it's head's over there…..and its tail's over there….so I'd say yes." Ron was shaking on the spot where he stood and not from the cold.
"Did you do it, Ron?" he shook his head not taking his eyes off the torn snake.
"It's the same snake that came into the great Hall that time...the one you talked to." Exclaimed Heather.
"It's Nagini." He said solemnly. Snape looked up in surprise. Harry caught his eye and he was sure he saw a slight look of fear in the man's eyes.
"She was sent to kill Ginny and failed...so she went for the next best thing."
"Ron was exposed, that's all, she was after Ginny."
"She's killed Hermione before now. I'd say she's just after anyone that looks like a good guy." Argued Heather.
"Hermione died?" asked Charlie and they all turned to see that he had followed them back down the tunnel into Hogsmeade.
"It's complicated." Began Harry but was cut off by Charlie raising his hand.
"No need. Fred and George told me about this time loop thing. What happened?"
Ron was still fixed to the spot.
"Ron?"
Finally he looked up at his brother, wide-eyed and clearly in shock.
"I-I....I thought it was going to kill me." The all stared down at Nagini's remains and Heather shuddered.
"It just lunged at me." He continued. "I didn't even have time to curse it, it just..."
"It's ok, Ron. It's dead." Heather tried to calm the babbling boy but he shook his wide blue eyes with earnest.
"No! No it saved me. I thought it was going to kill me but it saved me." They all stared at him in shock.
"Nagini saved you? From what?" asked Harry watching the snake's corpse with disgust. He could still remember being in its coils last Summer. He shuddered at the memory.
"No. The cat. The-the-the panther. Like you said Harry. A black panther."
"What?" asked Harry barely believing his ears.
"From your Dream. It must be. It's real, Harry, it's real." Harry's jaw dropped whilst the others looked at each other confused. All...except Snape whose eye gleamed just long enough for Harry to notice.

"Are you alright?!" cried Hermione flinging herself at Ron who just about managed to stay upright.
"I'm fine. I'm tired." He said wearily staring at the floor. He'd avoided eye contact with everyone who stared at him with a plethora of expressions as he turned and disappeared up the dorm stairwell. Hermione sighed deeply and looked at Heather who looked at Ginny. Ginny looked towards the stairwell and frowned. Harry looked at her and realised how happy he was that she had survived the day. Nagini was dead and everyone had survived. Surely, SURELY this had broken the cycle.

*

"It's not going to work we got it all wrong!" cried Heather jumping on the bed violently, closely followed by Hermione. Ginny stood a little shakily at the door, still pale and Harry was surprised that she was even standing.
"It's not me." She said croakily with a faint look of exasperation.
"It's not Ginny!" yelled Heather again and Harry moaned.
"Ok, ok!" he grumbled clambering out of bed just to get away from the two girls who continued to bounce on his bed. Harry stopped dead when he saw 3 pairs of eyes watching in bemused astonishment. Neville, Dean and Seamus standing on one side of the room watching the whole event.
"Say, Dean, you reckon if we go slay an evil being we'd get beautiful women jumping on our beds?" asked Seamus and Dean cupped his chin in his fingers thoughtfully.
"No." he finally decided. Harry threw them a spiteful squint, which just made them grin even more. He noticed Hermione blushing at being described as a beautiful woman and smiled to himself.

"It's not Ginny." Repeated Heather clearly getting impatient.
"What isn't?" he asked, completely flabbergasted by this.
"The key!" she practically shouted in frustration. "Aren't you paying attention? We only have one day left!"
"Ok, so it's not Ginny…then who is it?" at this Heather flopped down onto Harry's bed and looked serious.
"We don't know." She said and Hermione looked uncomfortable. Harry rolled his eyes.
"Well, we figured that the person who cast the spell wants to change something and at first we thought they wanted rid of Ginny."
"Why would someone want rid of Ginny?" Hermione and Heather shared one of their glances and Heather ignored the question.
"Then we thought it was Norbert they wanted rid of."
"Why would someone want rid of Norbert?" he asked, still confused.
"And then we thought they wanted rid of Dumbledore."
"Huh?"
"Well do you really think he could keep his job if another student died? The Ministry and parents would insist on his removal." Harry thought it made sense, but he could tell another 'but' was coming up.
"But then we realised that we were looking too closely at the events." Began Heather.
"Yes. As we've already said an event can have repercussions years and years down the line." Continued Hermione.
"Which is why we think someone is trying to spark a landslide of events that will affect something huge in the future." Finished Ginny. Harry had almost forgotten she was there. She moved further into the room to stand by the window gazing out over the fields and forest below.

"And how does you dying, or Hermione dying or whoever dying affect things?"
"Well we don't know do we, we're not seers."
"Well if we don't know what we're trying to prevent, how can we change things? We're back where we started and tomorrow is strike 12. 12 strikes and we're out." He told them using his strongest voice. Even Heather seemed to recoil a little. Hermione sighed again and her best scowl adorned her face. She looked around the room.
"Where's Ron?" she asked staring at his empty bed. It was nearly Midnight. Where on earth could he be? Something clicked in Harry's mind.
The look on Ron's face when he saw Ginny's dead body the first time.
The hatred in his curses as he slayed the dragon he suspected of taking her life.
The pain when he held Hermione's body in his arms.
The self-hatred when he'd left Ginny alone.
The tears he'd wept.
The shame he'd felt.
The Faith he'd lost.

"Ron!" Harry shouted, making Ginny jump and turn quickly around.
"Where?" asked Hermione looking towards the door.
"No, no, Ron's the key." He shouted.
"You following this Seamus?" asked Dean leaning sideways towards the Irish lad.
"Not a frickin' word." He replied.
"How do you figure that, Harry?" asked Heather looking a little sceptical.
"Who'd been seriously and emotionally affected by whatever happens today?"
"All of us, Harry. It's affected all of us."
"Yes but Ron more than anyone. His sister dies and he blames himself. He kills an innocent creature. He loses the girl he…" he trailed off as he looked at Hermione. "…cares a hell of a lot about."
"You could say the same about you, couldn't you?"
"No, not to this extent. Ron blamed himself for everything that happens. You should have seen him earlier. There was something missing. And he said something to me earlier, something I'd forgotten until now. He said 'I panic, you save the day' or something like that."
"So…that's about right isn't it?" Heather asked again a little insultingly. Hermione and Ginny leapt to his defence immediately.
"No!" cried Ginny moving towards Heather in a manner Harry thought was quite aggressive and he could see that fiery Weasley temper rise in her.
"Ron really isn't like that. He just feels he is. He's brave and loyal and trustworthy and…" Hermione trailed off and Harry could see tears in her eyes. "He's wonderful." She finished and Ginny stood firmly next to her nodded furiously.
"He has never ever let me down. He is always there for me."
"And me." Added Harry defensively.
"And me!" cried Hermione. Heather smiled gently, taking a step backwards and holding up her hands up in defence against the onslaught that had been sent her way.
"Well then maybe someone should tell him that before the world ends, huh?"

To be continued....

Sabrina_Snape · 08-01-2008, 05:56 PM

Right hold on...

*marches out of Nik's fic and notices Ron* Where have you been! *drags him back to Nik's fic* Right read that and then tell me that no one loves you and cares for you!

I think he knows... now can the world please be saved!!!

PAMS!
Jemma
xxx

supercodi95 · 08-01-2008, 11:30 PM

love it!! can't wait for more!!

~Codi~

Placids · 08-02-2008, 07:13 PM

Awww =( poor Ron. Go Ginny for defending your brother!!!

Awesome chapter, of course. Post again soon !!!

emjay · 08-02-2008, 10:40 PM

Now that's more like the Snape I know and love

Finally! They figured it out ~~right?~~ And good for those three for defending Ron! ~~smacks Heather~~

Loved this post! More soon please!

Little Trooper · 08-03-2008, 05:21 AM

that was a wonderful post. Good they defended Ron. So can' twait for more.

alyweasley · 08-03-2008, 01:57 PM

YAY!!! I caught up!! I was 3 pages behind! I'm sorry!

Ok, so, this time loop thing is completely frazzling my mind. I'm guessing they need to find Ron now and everythings going to back to normal! ~~right?~~

Nik, I love your story, your writing is genius. Sorry I got so far behind. I've got to go catch up on your other fic now!

PAMS!

Love Jade xxx

Krysta · 08-03-2008, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sabrina_Snape

Right hold on...

*marches out of Nik's fic and notices Ron* Where have you been! *drags him back to Nik's fic* Right read that and then tell me that no one loves you and cares for you!

I think he knows... now can the world please be saved!!!

PAMS!
Jemma
xxx

I'll see what I can do!

Quote:

Originally Posted by supercodi95

love it!! can't wait for more!!

~Codi~

Your continuing support is very much appreciated. Love you!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Placids

Awww =( poor Ron. Go Ginny for defending your brother!!!

Awesome chapter, of course. Post again soon !!!

Glad you're enjoying it! I have such great readers. I'll post more tomorrow! xx

Quote:

Originally Posted by MsMorgan

Now that's more like the Snape I know and love

Finally! They figured it out ~~right?~~ And good for those three for defending Ron! ~~smacks Heather~~

Loved this post! More soon please!

Ha ha. Yeah it was time they told Heather off, I think. It is a relief to have the old Snape back for a bit.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Little Trooper

that was a wonderful post. Good they defended Ron. So can' twait for more.

Yay! Well I think Ron's main problem is low self-esteem and if he knew how much people think of him it would give him the confidence to be truly great.

Quote:

Originally Posted by alyweasley

YAY!!! I caught up!! I was 3 pages behind! I'm sorry!

Ok, so, this time loop thing is completely frazzling my mind. I'm guessing they need to find Ron now and everythings going to back to normal! ~~right?~~

Nik, I love your story, your writing is genius. Sorry I got so far behind. I've got to go catch up on your other fic now!

PAMS!

Love Jade xxx

Jade! I've missed you! I had noticed your absence. I thought you'd lost interest.

But hurrah you're here!

alyweasley · 08-03-2008, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krysta

Jade! I've missed you! I had noticed your absence. I thought you'd lost interest.

But hurrah you're here!

Naw, Nik honey! It's okay, the main thing is I'm here now! How could I lose interest in this?? I adore your writing!
I've been really busy being admin on my own site and getting it all up to scratch that I haven't really been on here at all lately. Not enough time really to read the things I want to read most!
Yeah, welll ........ PAMS!!!!!! hehe
Love always
Jade xxxxxx

Krysta · 08-04-2008, 09:04 AM

Happy Monday (yeah right) everyone. Well I find myself in an interesting position. I got to work this morning to find that I'm the only one of my team here. Now this leaves me with a predicament.
Do I:
a) do lots of work and not get thanked for it anyway, coz I never do
b) do some work, but also do a bit of writing and some surfing too.
c) spend all day writing for you lovely people

Answers with a chocolate frog, please.
xx

And here's the end of the Chapter!

Chapter 18, part 3

Harry practically screamed when he saw Kattera sitting on the windowsill with a scroll in her claw. He threw a book at her with frustration and she screeched in alarm and hopped out of the way before throwing a lot of loud squawks at him, fluttering her wings in discontent.
"Sorry." He mumbled and she turned her back on him with a small cry that showed she was not amused. She didn't leave however and dropped the scroll on the side table. Harry heard someone enter the room and as Neville appeared smiling Harry rolled his eyes.
"Yes I know. Her name's Kattera and she belongs to Professor Hedwig, whose name is Krysta. You've been friends with her for years, yada, yada, yada." He said irritably, waving his hand in the air before Neville could speak. Neville just stared at him for a moment.
"Er, yeah. Morning Harry." He said with a lopsided grin and Harry grumbled to himself.
He stumbled into the common room a few minutes later still in his pyjamas. What was the point? He bumped into Ginny who quickly apologised with a grin. He stopped however and grabbed her shoulders keeping her fixed to the spot.
"Ow!" she protested but he held her firm.
"What is your problem? Ok, you made a mistake. People will get over it. Is it worth running away over? For Yana's sake tell Ron. He'll only blame himself if you don't. And ignore the twins they'll forgive you in time."
"Huh?" she asked confused.
"Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about. You know. And like I said it was stupid, but you were just trying to help, right? People will understand that. Running away isn't the answer." He continued the rant.
"Harry you maybe want to let her go?" said another voice and Hermione appeared at his side. He released Ginny and grabbed Hermione instead.
"And you!" he shouted. She squealed a little but he ignored it.
"What's going on with you? Why don't you just put Ron out of his misery and you know perfectly well what I mean. And what's all this going on with Heather and Ginny. I know there's something going on. What, have you all turned into seers or something coz there's some pretty weird stuff going on?"
"Harry take it easy will you. Let her go, you're hurting her." Ron yelped a little as Harry's vice-like grip was transferred to him. It had less effect however as Ron's arms were considerably bigger than any of the girls' and Ron was much stronger. Harry still managed to shake him quite violently.
"we-wh-the-frick-you-do-o-oing-Har-rr-ry." Ron managed to stumble the words out, but only just.
"Get OVER yourself, Ron!" he shouted.
"Harry! What are you doing?" shouted Heather suddenly appearing from one of the staircases with Professor Hedwig in toe. Both women looked mildly bemused by the spectacle in front of them.
"Stay out of this Yank!" he snarled. "We're running out of time and I've had enough of hearing your theories on the matter." Heather's jaw dropped in shock and Krysta suppressed a snigger behind her hand.
"Sorry, Harry. Pray, continue." She prompted, the girl beside her still in shock. Harry turned back to the shell-shocked Ron who was looking at his friend with an expression reminiscent of a rabbit caught in the glare of headlights.

"What's with you? How many times have you saved my life? How many times have you followed me into mortal danger without even a question or protest? How many times have you leapt to the defence of Hermione or Ginny? You're the most selfless person I know, Ron and I'm not the only one who shares this opinion. Tell him Hermione, tell him what you said last night. And you, Ginny."
"They did already." Ron protested and was finally able to free himself as Harry's grip loosened a little. Harry stared at his friend for a second and then stared over to the two girls who were still rubbing the bruises on their shoulders. They both nodded with a slight grin.
"You told him?" they nodded again at his question.
"We told him last night, Harry. You were there. We told him everything you just said plus a whole load more."
"You did?"
"Uh huh." He looked at Professor Hedwig and saw she was still smiling with amusement and even Heather's shocked expression and turned to a grin. Krysta moved over to the window and opened it wide.
"Listen, Harry." She told him and he stopped to listen. In the silence he couldn't hear anything, just wind. He looked confused for a moment but then he heard it. Bells. The sound of church bells carried on the wind to the castle grounds from a Muggle village.
"Church bells?" he asked as the truth of the matter sank in. Krysta nodded with a broad grin. Ginny skipped to his side, closely followed by Hermione. They both grinned at him. He looked at them with a shocked, relieved, exhausted smile.
"It's Sunday."

Harry stared down at the scroll in his hand and frowned.
"But…" he stuttered slightly holding it up in confusion.
"You got another scroll?" asked Hermione looking at it with interest. He nodded.
"Well…what does it say?" asked Ron. They all managed to find a seat to fall into except Krysta who leaned against the back of Ginny's armchair. Harry unrolled the scroll and his eyebrows hit the ceiling.
"It's from the same person. Same messy scrawl as before."
"What does it say?" asked Hermione impatient with curiosity.
"It just says 'about time!'" they all looked around at each other, mainly with amusement.
"Maybe a kid wrote it." Suggested Ginny.
"Then why would Kattera have it?" contradicted Ron. Ginny shrugged sulkily. She hated being made to look silly by her brothers.
"Hang on a sec…can I see that Harry?" it was Professor Hedwig that spoke and Harry passed the scroll to Ginny who passed it up to Krysta. She unrolled the parchment and laughed out loud. The students looked surprised as their teacher passed the message back to Harry.
"What's so funny?" whispered Hermione. Harry and Ron shrugged.
"Kattera!?" shouted Krysta and almost immediately a screech was heard and a silver-grey blur flew through the open window. Kattera landed on Krysta's shoulder and chittered slightly.
"What are you like?" asked Krysta affectionately and the bird bobbed slightly on her shoulder.
"Wait one darn second." Exclaimed Heather using an English phrase that sounded quite strange coming from her. "Are you telling us that she wrote this?" she asked in disbelief and everyone's eyes opened wide in astonishment.
"Well I guess it explains the handwriting." Commented Hermione and Ron snickered a little.
"But how did she know?" asked Ginny stroking the bird gently. She squealed a little in surprise as Kattera hopped from her current perch to land on Ginny's arm. Her squeal turned into a grin and a giggle and Kattera tweaked her thumb gently. Hermione quickly moved over to where Ginny was sitting and began stroking the magnificent bird.
"Well I don't care how she knew…thank for trying to help us Kattera." She cooed affectionately and the kestrel chittered back at her. Harry noticed something strange in this situation. He couldn't place it. But this image: Ginny, Hermione and the bird together smiling at each other. It sparked a wave of recognition in him and he felt at ease.

It felt like hours they'd all been sitting there in silence. Krysta and Kattera had long since left leaving the students alone, curled up on the sofas and arm chairs silently reflecting on the events of the day before…all eleven of them. All of them had questions, queries and comments to make. So much had been left unsaid and unexplained. But none of them seemed inclined to speak right now. No one wanted to disturb this peaceful, tranquil silence. They'd all been through so much in the last eleven yesterdays that they simply needed to stop the world and get off for a while.

A log snapped in the fire and Harry was thrown violently out of his dream. He thought he'd been dreaming anyway, but he couldn't remember anything now. But there was a feeling. He looked around at his friends and saw they too had drifted into a peaceful slumber. Hermione was curled up against Ron, his arm around her. He smiled but remembered the last time he'd seen them like this. Just before the Nightwraith attack. He frowned slightly. He glanced at Ginny who seemed peaceful. No nasty dreams. No re-enactments of his Mother's death. Heather had fallen asleep in a strange position that he knew would make her stiff when she awoke. Her back was arched wrong putting too much strain on her muscles. He couldn't wake her though. Not when she looked so tranquil. A strange bubbly sound escaped her full, dark lips as she mumbled something and Harry grinned to himself.

Another log crackled and spat in the flames and Harry turned his head to gaze into the flames. He realised how dark it seemed in the common room. What time was it? Where was everyone? Surely it wasn't night already. He glanced at his watch and saw it was 12:20. Lunchtime. That's where everyone was. It must be overcast or something outside to make it this dark. He glanced back at Ron and Hermione thinking about the nightwraith and the night it had attacked: the necklace that had somehow found its way around Hermione's neck to save her. There was something missing from the memory.
He glanced at Ginny and an image flashed into his mind. She was standing by the window in his dorm, holding the Arinella. Somehow his vision…was this a vision?…zoomed in and he could see the crystal glass object in her hands. He could see the orbs floating around inside, silvery spheres dancing in the misty vapour. Then an angry red orb smashed against the sides of the glass, beating at it over and over again. From this angle he could see what was happening. The red orb that had appeared that night wasn't just trying to break free. The way in which it thrashed itself at the walls of its prison weren't random. It was throwing itself at Ginny. He hadn't noticed before. His head cleared and he sat up straight looking dazed.
What was the vision trying to tell him? This seer business was trouble. Visions could at least be clear enough for him to understand. Quietly he slipped off the sofa and disappeared upstairs, returning a few moments later with a certain red wood box.

He placed the Arinella in the centre of the coffee table, which the sofas and chairs all surrounded. He stared into it with interest. It didn't take long to pick out the offending orb, still red and angry darting erratically around the vessel. What kind of dream could this be, that attacked people? Something rang a bell in his head but the facts wouldn't match up with the bell and he stared at the Arinella with frustration. He picked it up and shook it a little. Nothing. He moved his face right up to it so his nose just touched the surface of the glass. The small red sphere stopped for a second and slowly moved closer to Harry's side of the Arinella. He swore it glowed a thousand shades of red. It moved a little closer still and it seemed to Harry that it was studying him, just as he was studying it. They both stared each other out, or so it seemed for a few seconds until all of a sudden the orb seemed to lose interest and went back to it's random voyage around its cage.

Harry sat back on his haunches thinking to himself. Ginny murmured gently in her sleep and gave him an idea. He picked up the Arinella carefully and slowly moved closer to Ginny. Already he could see a change within its misty depths. The orb had stopped again, but as he knelt down by her chair and balanced the crystal jar on the chair's arm he noticed a drastic development. Within the silver vapours the now furious red orb was once again thrashing itself against the walls. Harry gasped in wonder as it launched its attack, clearly desperate to escape, to get to Ginny. But why?
"What are you doing?" said a voice behind him, harshly. He whipped around nearly dropping the Arinella in the process. He'd expected to see Heather but it was Hermione, with Ron sitting rubbing his eyes next to her. The commotion had woken Heather too and she moaned when she felt the pain spreading through her back.

"Look." He urged them and they all moved from their seats to peer over Harry's shoulder at the Arinellla. Hermione gasped.
"What's it doing?" she asked.
"I don't know. That orb appeared the night the nightwraith attacked you. And it seems to have a problem with Ginny. Ginny suddenly woke with a start when her name was uttered.

"What? Argh!" she screamed when she saw so many people staring down at her.
"It's ok, it's us." Ron said and she calmed down a little, though still looked a little miffed.
"What are you all doing? What's that doing here?" she asked, eyeing the Arinella sitting by her arm.
"It doesn't like you." Said Ron, then looked funny when he realised that this didn't really explain things.
"That red orb." Harry added and Ginny's face expressed a little understanding.
"Oh yeah. It kinda went a bit psycho…kinda like it is now." She commented. Harry took it away from her and they all stared in amazement as the orb ceased its attack and slowed its movements.
"Weird." Whispered Heather.
"It doesn't seem to have a problem with me." Harry told them and Ron moved closer. He held out his hands and Harry handed it over. Ron stuck his nose against the glass almost as though challenging the orb to attack him. The orb slowed to a stop, seemed to study Ron for a moment and then continued it's movements.
"Or Me." Added Ron. Heather grabbed it from him and shook it a little. Nothing happened.
"Or Me." She muttered thoughtfully.
"Really strange." Said Hermione casually taking the Arinella from Heather. She squealed in shock almost immediately as the orb threw itself so hard against the crystal walls it almost jolted it out of her grasp. She held on tightly watching in terror as it continued its assault, battering itself at her, stopped only by the solid crystal walls of the Arinella.

"Bloody hell" gasped Ron. Hermione put the Arinella down on the table again and took a step back. She swallowed hard.
"Maybe it doesn't like women." Suggested Harry with a smile.
"English women." corrected Heather.
Hermione tried to smile back but her attempt ended up more like the expression of someone about to be sick. He regarded her with worry.
"Hermione?" he asked just as she stumbled backwards a little. Ron steadied her with a hand on each of her shoulders and helped her to the sofa.
"What's up, sweetheart?" it was Heather that dropped to her knee in concern. She looked up at her friend, her dark eyes full of concern. Hermione was in shock. Ginny had moved from her seat and knelt on Hermione’s other side, taking her hand.
"What's going on, sis?" she asked and Harry exchanged a strange look. 'sis'? Why had Ginny called her that? Harry knew the girls had become close, but not that close. Hermione was shivering.
"That…that thing." She managed to get out looking around at them in horror. Harry looked into the Arinella at the red sphere. She shook her head.
"It's the Nightwraith."

She murmured in a low, shaky voice. Harry's eyes opened wide.
"Hon, are you sure?" Heather sounded so concerned. Hermione nodded her head earnestly. I felt something when it…when it attacked. I've felt it before. That night. I'd forgotten it, but I know." Heather hugged her and Hermione breathed deeply into the older girl's shoulder. Ginny was too concerned about her friend to see the look on Ron and Harry's faces. The boys looked at each other and knew they now had another concern.
The red sphere hadn't only attacked Hermione, and nightwraiths were brought fourth to attack only a single particular person or specific group of people. It hadn't attacked the boys. It hadn't attacked Heather. If what Hermione had said was true, then Ginny was also in danger.

emjay · 08-04-2008, 03:41 PM

Lucky you. Well my vote is for c, but I know you need to pay the bills so b is probably a good compromise.

Here's some chocolate to tide you over. I'm all out of frogs, but it's a bar of Honeyduke's best! Enjoy!:choc:

Quote:

Harry heard someone enter the room and as Neville appeared smiling Harry rolled his eyes.
"Yes I know. Her name's Kattera and she belongs to Professor Hedwig, whose name is Krysta. You've been friends with her for years, yada, yada, yada." He said irritably, waving his hand in the air before Neville could speak. Neville just stared at him for a moment.

haha that was so funny. I think I'd be pretty annoyed by that point too.

The Nightwraith is spooky. How did it get in the Arinella?

alyweasley · 08-04-2008, 03:42 PM

Oh no!!!! Stupid Nightwraight!!! Gah!!!
Yay ... So they got out of the time loop thingo I'm presuming. Well that's good! So now they have to keep an eye on Ginny ... again! lol

Anywho ... love it Nik, as usual!!

PAMS!

Love Jade xxxxxx

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krysta

Happy Monday (yeah right) everyone. Well I find myself in an interesting position. I got to work this morning to find that I'm the only one of my team here. Now this leaves me with a predicament.
Do I:
a) do lots of work and not get thanked for it anyway, coz I never do
b) do some work, but also do a bit of writing and some surfing too.
c) spend all day writing for you lovely people

Answers with a chocolate frog, please.
xx

P.S. I want c) by the way. hehe

Krysta · 08-06-2008, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MsMorgan

Lucky you. Well my vote is for c, but I know you need to pay the bills so b is probably a good compromise.

Here's some chocolate to tide you over. I'm all out of frogs, but it's a bar of Honeyduke's best! Enjoy!:choc:

haha that was so funny. I think I'd be pretty annoyed by that point too.

The Nightwraith is spooky. How did it get in the Arinella?

The Arinella mistook the nightwraith for a nightmare (Since that is how nightwraiths behave) and trapped it.
Thanks for the chocolate!
Glad you thought Harry's tantrum was funny, he he. It made me laugh as I was writing it as I recall.

Quote:

Originally Posted by alyweasley

Oh no!!!! Stupid Nightwraight!!! Gah!!!
Yay ... So they got out of the time loop thingo I'm presuming. Well that's good! So now they have to keep an eye on Ginny ... again! lol

Anywho ... love it Nik, as usual!!

PAMS!

Love Jade xxxxxx

P.S. I want c) by the way. hehe

Well I went for a combination of b and c. I did do some work, but I also did some writing (Which I just posted in the other fic) and I did some moderating on Web of Friends. Hey Abi we need to recruit a few more Potter fans to Web of Friends!

Posting.....

Krysta · 08-06-2008, 11:56 AM

Chapter 19 - Who Needs A Soul Anyway?

"How do we do it exactly?" asked Ron chewing the end of his quill, then spitting out the fragments of feather stalk he'd bitten off.
"I'm surprised there are any feather strands left on that thing, Ron, honestly it's disgusting." Hermione scolded him and Ron looked at the ragged thing as though he didn't know what she was on about. The end was completely void of feather and was just a hard stick-end, currently soggy. Harry grinned and Hermione shook her head. He felt like it was the old days again: Ron doing anything besides homework and Hermione doing nothing but.

"Why are we doing homework anyway, I think brave and loyal people such as myself shouldn't have to do homework." He announced peering at Hermione's dusty book with distaste. Hermione hit him on the nose with her own, immaculate quill and scowled.
"You're really pushing it with the bravado thing now." She warned him. He simply grinned and rubbed his nose.
"Ah, but Hermione, has it occurred to you that I must do something so spectacular and so awesome in the future that someone wanted me out of the way. I mean, what a destiny! People with such destiny need not study the book…" he closed Hermione's book and she grabbed at it unsuccessfully as he dropped it on the floor the other side of his chair where she couldn't reach it. Scowling like she'd never scowled before he cut her off before she could say another word, grabbing both her wrists to prevent the blows she was trying send his way.

"…For one day my dear, Hermione, such people, such as myself shall become part of the books themselves. We shall be written down in history, Hermione. And therefore, need not read the books. For we are the books."
Hermione stopped trying to fight him and allowed Ron to hold her wrists together tightly whilst he smiled at her. He scowl was replaced with an unreadable expression.
"Ron Weasley that is the biggest pile of Troll Dung I've ever heard." She announced firmly, pursing her lips. Ron released her wrists and laughed out loud.
Harry joined in; the whole thing was so silly.
"Such language from a grade-O student. Have you ever heard such language, Harry? It's disgusting. You're a disgrace Miss Granger, you should be ashamed." Ron announced in an attempted shock-horror voice. He was interrupted most rudely and surprisingly by Hermione who rather than trying to hit him had retrieved her wand.
"rictasempra!" she yelled angrily and then grinned and burst into giggles when she saw her result.

Harry was amused as she was as Ron squealed, yes squealed, grabbing his sides in agony. She'd given him the tickle curse and he was currently suffering the sensation of a thousand people tickling him relentlessly. He rolled on the floor helplessly wailing and turning bright red in the face.
"I can't breathe!" he wailed and Harry could see that he wasn't exaggerating. The red in his face was fast turning purple.
"Hermione release him!" Harry said through tears of laughter. To Ron's relief Hermione uttered the counter-curse and Ron rolled freely across the carpet, rolling onto his back he breathed deeply, panting and rubbing his sides.
"That…is not the way to treat someone whose bravery and loyalty…" he began but screamed as Hermione lunged at him from across the room.

"Doesn't it hurt, Ron?" Ron looked up from his plate, his eyes wide in confusion.
"Huh? It's food…it can never hurt me." He said then returned to his meal. Ginny shook her head with a grin. The grin disappeared very quickly however as a group of Gryffindors came into the Great Hall and took their seats. A few of them threw dirty looks in their direction and she lowered her head.
"Ignore them, V." suggested Heather in a low voice. 'V'? Since when did anyone call her 'V'?
"You can't blame them." Ginny murmured quietly. Harry felt for her. The news about the cheer potion had spread quickly and needless to say, people hadn't been impressed. The reaction that had been most surprising had been Fred and George. Harry had expected them to be furious with her, but it turned out that they had been so mortified at the idea of losing her they'd scolded her, and then wrapped her in a hug. Angelina had been very disappointed to say the least but after the whole time loop story had been explained to her by seven people at once and when Ginny burst into shameful tears the team captain's heart had been touched. Ginny hadn't been kicked off the team and instead the entire team agreed that a three-match ban was sufficient.

Clearly some of the Gryffindor students didn't share that opinion. Ginny sighed deeply and played with her bowl of soup.
"I can't believe we missed yet another Halloween Feast." Moaned Ron who had had to make do with the Sunday Roast Dinner they'd been provided with. Hermione rolled her eyes, but Harry noticed the look of disappointment that flashed across her face.
"Well it's not my fault this year." Harry said brightly looking pleased with himself, but received only scowls. He shrugged and helped himself to more roast potatoes. He laughed when he noticed Heather trying to force-feed Ginny some chicken and gravy, most of the gravy ending up on the table. Ginny laughed in spite of herself and reluctantly ended up accepting the offering.

"Well aren't we a merry bunch?" came a voice from a little way down the table. Several Gryffindor heads turned to see who the newcomer was. Most turned back around again in distaste or disgust. Harry just stared in surprise. Draco Malfoy stood oddly out of place in the middle of the aisle between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. He looked shaken and pale. Even his hair seemed whiter than usual.
"Draco…" began Harry, not really sure what he was about to say.
"You killed the snake." The Slytherin butted in suddenly. Harry saw Ron's face darken with a frown. Draco was looking directly at him. Ron shook his head.
"N-Nagini." Draco insisted, stuttering a little. Harry had never heard the boy stutter before. He had always been over confident and composed.
"It was Nagini." Harry confirmed.
"But I didn't…" Ron began but he was cut off again.
"Thanks." Draco said firmly. He was holding Ron's gaze, a look of hate and loathing on his face. But what Harry couldn't decide, was whether the emotions were directed at Ron, or at Nagini.

He didn't get to find out though as Draco turned to leave. The group of Gryffindors turned back around and leaned closer so they could discuss what had just happened but before Hermione could begin her evaluation she was stopped by a squeal. They turned around again sharply to discover the squeal had come from Ginny. Draco had grabbed her roughly and was currently shaking her.
"Where did you get it, you filthy little thief?" he screamed at her, she wailed in fright and shock holding onto something around her neck for dear life, something Draco was desperately trying to take from her.
"Hey get off her!" came a loud cry, before any of them could make a move. It was Neville. They watched in surprise as Neville wrestled Draco away from the gasping girl. Draco fought back angrily.
"She's a thief. Give it back, Weasley." He screamed sounding almost possessed. His voice had become distorted in anger and hatred…and fear Harry thought. Ginny was catching her breath and rubbing the ugly red bruising that had appeared around her neck.
"I don't know what you're talking about you crazy Slytherin!" she yelled back a little hoarsely. Harry got up and stepped forward, the twins joining him.

"Say what you're accusing her of, Malfoy! That's my friend you're talking to, and she's no thief." He challenged Draco, ready to take out his wand if need be. Not much else was allowed to happen however as Neville and Draco were dragged apart by Two much larger figures. Professor Snape pulled Draco back by hooking a hand under each other boys arms, whilst Hagrid simply placed a single massive hand on Neville's shoulder and Neville reluctantly stepped back, glaring daggers at Malfoy.
"What's going on here?" hissed Snape, and Harry could see that their teacher had regained his usual nature.
"That filthy Weasley's a thief, Professor." Hissed back Draco in a very similar voice. Harry's mouth dropped open in anger and Fred and George took an angry step forward.
"You take that back, Malfoy!" threatened George but was cut off by Snape.
"Enough! What did she…supposedly take, Mister Malfoy?" even Harry noticed the tone of scepticism in Snape. Surely he wasn't about to take their word against a Slytherin's.
"That necklace, that necklace is…it belongs to…well it isn't hers!" he yelled. By now the entire Hall had stopped eating to watch the commotion. Ginny gasped in horror.

"Well, Miss Weasley…" Ginny was still catching her breath but she still managed a vicious scowl at Draco.
"The necklace isn't mine." She rasped and Draco took a defiant step forward but Snape pulled him back again. "It's Harry's." she argued angrily. Her blue eyes were blazing with anger.
"It's true Professor. It's Harry's. The one he gave me when the Nightwraith attacked me." Said Hermione stepping forward defensively. Snape released Draco but took a step closer to Ginny. Ginny didn't seem too happy about it, but she allowed him to examine the necklace. He nodded.
"I think you made a mistake, Mister Malfoy. This necklace…certainly belongs to Mister Potter." He said glaring at the boy who was shaking with fury.
"But…" he protested harshly.
"Go back to your seat, Mister Malfoy. Now!" Draco glared at his teacher for a few minutes before marching boldly away from the group, back to the Slytherin table. Snape turned back around to face them all one by one.
"Return to your meals." He snapped before disappeared down the aisle, his robes swirling behind him.

Harry was glad to have the chance to talk to Ron alone. Hermione had gone with Ginny to the girl's bathroom. Draco had made a real mess of the girl's neck where the chain had bruised her skin. Ron was staring into the Arinella as though it may suddenly turn around and hit him.
"You reckon Hermione's right?" he asked peering closely at the red sphere that glided indifferently through the silver mists. Harry nodded his head a slight frown on his face. Ron stood up straight in surprise. He was so used to Harry not being sure of things and trying to be positive that this revelation was a little bit alarming. In his view if Harry thought impending doom, then impending doom it was.
Ron visibly gulped and dropped onto his own bed looking a little pale. Harry could tell he was now keeping his distance from the Arinella. Harry suddenly didn't feel too confident himself and grabbed the redwood box. He'd feel a lot better knowing the Arinella was locked up safely.
In his urgency he somehow managed to lose his grip on the weighty box and it slipped from his fingers to the hard stone floor. Harry dropped quickly to his knees anxious that he may have scratched the wood. He turned the box over in his hands examining it closely. It seemed alright.
"What's that?" asked Ron suddenly joining Harry on the floor peering into the interior of the box. Harry turned the box upright and they both began examining the velvet lining.
"Look." Said Ron pulling at a loose piece of fabric that stuck out slightly from the very bottom side.
"Don't pull it, it might rip." Said Harry just as the piece of cloth came free in Ron's hands.
"Whoops." Offered Ron looking apologetically at Harry. Harry examined the box again to see how badly damaged it was.
"It's ok, it's not ripped look!" Ron looked closer and was clearly as surprised as Harry. The piece of fabric hadn't actually been a part of the lining but had simply been wedged between the sides on the box, tucked into the corner. What they had been surprised about was that the bottom velvet covered panel had come loose and was sticking out from the floor of the box slightly. Ron tried to push it back into place but it soon became evident that something was preventing this from happening.
"I think there's something stuck underneath it or something." He moaned.

Harry tipped the box so it was almost upside down and tried to prise it open with his fingers. It was fiddly but eventually it came free and the panel fell to the floor. With it fell a small package wrapped in black silk. They both stared at it for while, both maybe wondering what the hell it was and what it was doing there. Finally Harry took the initiative and put the box carefully down on the bed behind him. Ron watched with interest as Harry picked up the object and very, very carefully began unravelling the long black cloth. When the object was finally revealed Harry nearly dropped it with surprise. Ron leaned closer in amazement. Their noses were barely two inches away from the glinting object sitting in Harry's palm.
"It can't be."
"It is, though."
"But…"
"How?"
Harry took the pendant by its long chain and held it high in the air, letting the light catch it. Sparkling patterns appeared on the walls all around the room and Harry had a strange, excited feeling in his stomach. Ron swallowed hard before speaking.
"And then there were two…"

"We can't go into a girl's bathroom, Ron."
"We've done it before." Ron protested going to push it open. Harry stopped him. "Moaning Myrtle's doesn't count." He argued and Ron pouted a bit.
"Ok, then we won't go in." he said pushing the door open a crack and sticking his head against the small gap so he could listen in. Just at that moment someone on the other side crashed through the door, sending it hard into the side of Ron's head. He yelled loudly as he was sent flying backwards against the far wall. Hermione stood in the open doorway a horrified expression on her face. She folded her arms angrily.
"Ron, what on earth are you doing?" she demanded as Ginny popped her head around the door to see what all the fuss was about. She grinned when she saw her brother on the floor rubbing his bruised head.
"Serves you right." She giggled before disappearing back into the bathroom.
"We've got something important to tell you." Ron tried to explain.
"Ah, so you came to tell us and somehow ended up eavesdropping on our conversation, then?" Ron growled something that no one could understand and scrambled to his feet.
"Sorry what was that, Ron?"
"Nothing." he muttered, scowling at the bemused expression on Harry’s face which he quickly wiped clean and cleared his throat.

"Well we were going to go in but we wanted to be sure there was no one else in there." Offered Harry, winking at Ron. Hermione raised an eyebrow showing that she clearly didn't believe him.
"So what's the big news?" called Ginny from within the room, still giggling slightly.
"This." Harry said, holding up the pendant on it's chain. Hermione's eyes opened wide and Ginny suddenly appeared in the doorway staring at the necklace in shock.
"We found it in..." he was cut off rudely as Ginny and Hermione grabbed an arm each and dragged Harry into the bathroom slamming the door shut behind them. Ron stood staring at the closed door in surprise, just a tad miffed.
"Well I never..." he too was cut off as they reappeared and pulled him harshly in after them. The door slammed shut a second time leaving the corridor empty.

To be continued...

Sabrina_Snape · 08-06-2008, 03:50 PM

Gah! I hate cliffies!!!

Bad cliffies!! Why would Malfoy accuse Ginny of being a thief? And where did they other pendant come from? And why have they pulled them into the bathroom?........These are the thoughts that haunt me! LOL!
PAMS!
Jemma
xxx

alyweasley · 08-06-2008, 04:05 PM

LOL! Okay, well isn't that just a boy's dream ... being pulled into a girl's bathroom by two beautiful girls! hehe anyways.
Perfection and genius all rolled up into one!! As usual! Nik I love your writing!

PAMS!!!!

Love always
Jade xxxxxxxx

emjay · 08-06-2008, 05:18 PM

Amazing as usual!

Ya know, I was just thinking that Draco had been too quietly lately . . . Wonder what's going on in that little blonde head of his . . .

TriwizardChamp12 · 08-11-2008, 05:37 AM

Oh come on
it takes me a week to get caught up
and you leave me with a cliffy
GGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

i got a little confused with the time warp thingy
but i think ive got the jist of it now
your really good at writing you should write a book

§hayley§

Krysta · 08-11-2008, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sabrina_Snape

Gah! I hate cliffies!!!

Bad cliffies!! Why would Malfoy accuse Ginny of being a thief? And where did they other pendant come from? And why have they pulled them into the bathroom?........These are the thoughts that haunt me! LOL!
PAMS!
Jemma
xxx

They haunt me too...

Quote:

Originally Posted by alyweasley

LOL! Okay, well isn't that just a boy's dream ... being pulled into a girl's bathroom by two beautiful girls! hehe anyways.
Perfection and genius all rolled up into one!! As usual! Nik I love your writing!

PAMS!!!!

Love always
Jade xxxxxxxx

lol. Glad you found it amusing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MsMorgan

Amazing as usual!

Ya know, I was just thinking that Draco had been too quietly lately . . . Wonder what's going on in that little blonde head of his . . .

He was never gonna stay quiet for long.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TriwizardChamp12

Oh come on
it takes me a week to get caught up
and you leave me with a cliffy
GGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

i got a little confused with the time warp thingy
but i think ive got the jist of it now
your really good at writing you should write a book

§hayley§

Well I am going to post again in a minute!

Krysta · 08-11-2008, 12:16 PM

Chapter 19, part 2

"What the hell are you doing?" Ron demanded.
"Shut up Ron. Harry where did you get that? Did anyone see you?"
"What? I, I don't know."
"Oh Yana, what shall we do?" Ginny looked at Hermione desperately.
"We have to get it back to Draco."
"How, without him suspecting something."
"HEY!" Ron yelled loudly. They all turned to look at him. "I've just about had enough! If you two don't tell us what is going on there's going to be trouble, and I am not joking." He was furious and Harry couldn't help but take his side. These two were up to something or knew something. They knew more about these necklaces than they were letting on, and it was to do with Krysta he was sure of it. The girls looked at each other and swallowed hard.
"That necklace is a fake. It's a decoy. Draco was meant to hand it over to his Father so that he could give it to...to...you-know-who." Ginny finally explained. Harry's head had exploded. It must have because he couldn't feel it anymore.
"Huh?" both boys chorused together.
"Only now you have it, which means that Draco doesn't have it."
"Ok. And how do you know all of this?"
"Krysta told us." Hermione spoke quietly. She looked terribly guilty.
"I see." And when this necklace is given to you-know-who, what is supposed to happen?" asked Harry carefully.
"Nothing." Answered Ginny.
"Nothing?" Ron was beyond anything right now. If Harry's head had exploded, Ron's had gone supernova.
"Whatever he wants the necklace for, won't work, which bides us some time."
"Time for what?" asked Harry more confused than ever.
"To work out what he wants the necklace for. It also gets him off your back for a while." Added Hermione.

Ron shook his head, staring into space. He turned and walked into one of the cubicles, put the toilet lid down and sat on it looking completely lost.
"Why you?" he finally asked. He was looking at both of the girls in turn and they looked at each other. They and Harry were standing at the door of Ron's cubicle in a semi-circle.
"We don't know."
"She won't tell us. She says we're not ready." They explained between them.
"I see. So what now?" he asked, slowly and deliberately.
"We need to get this back to Draco." Hermione spoke quietly. Harry noticed she couldn't look Ron in the eye. Guilt? He could understand that. Everything he had been through, he had always shared it with his Ron and Hermione. But Hermione had kept these secrets from both of them. Harry knew she must have good reason, but he too couldn't help but feel slightly betrayed.

Ron nodded.
"So...he already thinks Harry's necklace is the one he was looking for."
"Yes but Snape told him it was Harry's, so..."
"So he thinks Harry's stolen it."
"No, he knows that Harry's is a different necklace."
"How?" asked Ron.
"There are three pendants altogether. One, your Mothers, we already have. The one Draco thinks he has is a different one."
"Who has the genuine one?" asked Harry. Ginny shrugged.
"It went missing years ago when its owner died. There were rumours that the Ministry had it, but...no one really knows." Harry snorted. He wouldn't be surprised if the Ministry had it at all. Something nagged at the back of his head and that familiar voice said 'C'mon Harry all the pieces are there, put them together'.
There was something he was missing again. He hated that feeling. The only image that came into his head was Dobby jumping up and down crying. What on earth could that mean? Why had he been crying? Winky. Winky had gone missing. What did that have to do with anything?
Harry told the stupid voice to shut up and tried to concentrate on the conversation at hand. Ginny was rubbing at the bruising round her neck. It had gone down dramatically but still looked painful. Harry wondered what spell Hermione had used on it to make it heal so quickly.

"What are they?" asked Harry rubbing the pendant in his hand with wonder. What was so special about them?
"Now that, Harry, is a very, VERY long story." Said Ginny, smiling slightly.
"Yes and we're not the ones to tell it. Besides we only know bits of it ourselves." Added Hermione. They all jumped out of their skins when two chattering girls burst through the door and squealed when they saw two boys...one of them in a cubicle...turned around and ran out again. They all laughed out loud when the two third years had gone and Ron got up from his makeshift seat.
"I think we ought to leave before someone tells a professor." He suggested and still giggling slightly they all left the bathroom.

"I'm just saying what's the big deal?"
"Apart from being dead?"
"Yeah."
Ginny was lying on her back, her head hanging upside down over the edge of her brother's bed. Hermione was cross-legged sitting on the floor with the Arinella case in front of her. Ron was in a similar position to Ginny, only in a mirror image on Harry's bed so that he and Ginny were actually seeing each other the right way up. They were currently pulling faces at each other in true brother-sister style whilst Harry lay on his stomach, head and chin supported in his hands. He was watching Hermione's examination of the Arinella case.
"Well how on earth did it get in here?" she asked frustrated.
"Dunno." Harry mumbled, his words slightly distorted by the position of his face in his hands.
"And how long has it been in there? I mean, how long has Draco been missing it...hey quit that you two this is serious. And what isn't such a big deal?" she asked crossly as the pieces of paper Ron and Ginny had been trying to throw into each other's mouths missed badly and ended up in Hermione's hair. Ginny snickered.
"The Nightwraith thing." Ginny answered and Hermione flinched.
"What do you mean? Of course it's a big deal. Hermione nearly died." Ron argued and Ginny pulled another topsy-turvy face at him.
"Oh I know! Oh it all came out wrong. I mean, it's horrible yes, but why are they so greatly feared? What makes them scarier than any other nasty thing?" she asked, aiming another ball of paper at her brother's wide-open mouth. She punched the air with a 'whoop' as it hit its target and Ron spluttered.
"Whole to one!" she shouted, getting the Muggle phrase muddled up.
"That's 'hole in one', Ginny and it wasn't anyway, it took you at least twenty goes." Corrected Harry and he received an upside down stuck-out tongue in response.

"I can't describe what it was like." Murmured Hermione is a low, timid voice. She looked haunted.
"It was like my very being was being torn apart, ripped from me and there was only darkness; deep, endless darkness."
"Well darkness isn't so scary." Said Ginny still not sounding convinced.
"When you die, you said we 'become with Yana'" Harry said to Ron and his friend nodded. "So if your soul doesn't do that, if you go somewhere else...what happens?" Ron shrugged.
"No one knows."
"Hermione nearly found out." Harry added. Ginny looked a little more thoughtful.
"There was something in there. Something terrible, just waiting for me to fall." Hermione looked up at them and the look in her eyes was distant, almost empty.

Defence Against The Dark Arts class on Monday afternoon started off as any other. Professor Hedwig was already in the room when they arrived which made a change. Harry, Ron and Hermione took a seat near the front and she winked at the trio as they entered.
"Ok, everyone, settle down. Books away, thank you." She called in her usual lilting tone. Hermione looked a little taken aback, but obediently put her textbook away.
"You may want to make notes throughout the lesson, though today's lesson will not be in the exams." There were a few delighted murmurs, and few pads and quills went back into book bags. "Ok. Vampires." She announced. A few moans and an array of harsh whispers went through the classroom.
"This is easy! Garlic, wooden stake and sunlight." Whispered Ron to Harry who nodded in agreement. Even he knew a little about Vampires.
"Everyone knows about Vampires. This is first year stuff." Someone whispered to whoever would listen.
"Really Miss Patil? And tell me, how do you kill a Vampire?" Parvati looked embarrassed but began to speak anyway.
"Well, some people think they're allergic to garlic." She began.
"Yes, they do." Agreed Professor Hedwig.
"But that's not true." Parvati continued. "Neither is the Muggle belief that they burn when splashed with blessed water."
"Good. That's a mistake many people make. Anything else dear?" Parvati shook her head and Professor Hedwig smiled briefly. Ron and Harry were gutted, and even Hermione looked a little surprised.

"There are only two ways to kill a Vampire. One: the head must be completely decapitated from the body, and burned until there is no flesh left on the skull. The skull must then be ground to dust and scattered in three separate places, preferably." The Professor began in a matter-of-fact tone as though reading out a recipe rather than the method for killing a vicious killing machine. Hermione immediately began scribbling on her notepad.
"The only other way is direct sunlight. The body must burn in sunlight until only ashes remain, and again, these must be scattered in three separate places, as far apart as possible. Have you got all that Miss Granger?" Hermione nodded and blushed a little.
"Good, then I'll continue…"

Harry suddenly shot his hand in the air and Hermione stopped dead in her note making and stared at him in surprise. "Yes, Mr. Potter?"
"What about wooden stakes?" the class erupted into giggles.
"Wooden stakes? What were you intending to do with your wooden stake, Mr. Potter?" Professor Hedwig smiled a little at this. Harry stammered a little.
"W-well. Drive it through his heart." The class burst into laughter and he flushed with embarrassment.
"Alright, class. Mr. Potter has grown up with muggle stories, as has Miss. Granger. You've probably heard this wooden stake idea as well have you, Hermione?" Hermione bushed again and nodded.
"That's fine, that's fine. I'm sure others have heard this idea as well." A few other members of the class nodded.

"Well for the benefit of those people, The Vampire does not have a heart. He or she has no need for one. The dark blood of Krynd Sh'a pumps the blood around their soulless bodies." Professor Hedwig smiled at Harry and turned back to her desk.
"What's Krynd Sh'a?" Piped up Hermione, voicing the question Harry was dying to ask. Even the students of magical backgrounds were murmuring and looking questioningly at Professor Hedwig. Hermione looked relieved that she wasn't the only one not to know.
"Krynd Sh'a is not a what, he's a who. He is the father of all Vampires." Replied Professor Hedwig. The class were all whispering to each other now. A sparkle appeared in Professor Hedwig's eye, reminding Harry of Professor Dumbledore.

"Professor, how was the first Vampire created? Is it true they were all human once? Or is that just a muggle story?" asked Neville, also looking a little embarrassed. Professor Hedwig thought carefully before answering.
"Yes, Neville. Sadly, that is true, though the Muggle story isn't accurate. They believe that Vampires go around killing humans and turning them into Vampires. If that were true, there wouldn't be any of us left." She smiled and several members of the class tittered.
"The truth however is a long story, and there probably isn't time to tell it before the end of the lesson, and I have to teach you about basic spells you can use to confuse, detain or ward off a Vampire until you can find someone with a very big axe…"
"Oh please tell us, Professor." Whined Hermione, who was on the edge of her seat, and Harry had to admit he was rather fascinated by the whole thing. Ron looked about to burst with anticipation and now other members of the class were begging her to continue with the story.

"Please Professor, we'll stay into our lunch break if we have to." Begged Parvati with Lavender nodding furiously next to her. Seamus and Dean didn’t look so convinced about missing lunch but nodded anyway. Professor Hedwig looked unmoved by the protests. That was until a very gentle, but pleading voice spoke out.
"Please, Professor Hedwig." Everyone stopped and looked at the speaker. Neville Longbottom was sitting quietly but the expression on his face was desperate. Professor Hedwig's expression softened.
"Well…ok." Neville beamed, and she smiled back at him. Ron nudged Harry and winked.
"Definitely her favourite." He whispered to him.
"Well a story like this should really be told from the very beginning if it's going to be told properly."

To be continued...

BABYFAYCETM · 08-11-2008, 09:29 PM

*NEW READER*
hey there. =]
have to admit that i've been reading this since you started it =]
but it took me a while to actually respond...you post such long sections that i only have time to read and then go. but i finally got it!!
the time thing threw me off for a minute but im good now.
awesome so far!! keep going!

PAMS!

xoxo, Padfoot