HP-Hogwarts Story So Far

Transcript Five

Mounting Tension on Yule Morning

 

Peesey came in looking glum (he didn't have a date for the ball and it was coming very soon) he looked around for a seat and then sat where-ever he could find and then spoke to a house elf how looked very surprised at his request. He then rushed off to get it. He seamed detached from the rest of the group and in his own little world.

As Morticia and Illessa join the conversation, Kat reads out the riddle to them. "What do you think? I am useless at these sort of things." She looked hopefully at them.

"And Illessa you really should come to the ball. I mean there are still available people you know. I mean Kat...." Kat trailed off as she got a very hard stare from Kali, who having made his point went back to trying to be very small and blend in with the furniture. "Well, anyway, you just have to ask people if they are taken." She ended lamely.

As Nimue entered, Kat's eyes lit up. She had wondered if she would ever see Nimue and Marvo in the same room again. She hoped she would be able to talk to Nimue, but she had sloped off to a different end of the table. Kat looked disappointed. She had hoped to be better friends with Nimue, but she had seen so little of her. Maybe Marvo had something to do with that. Kat waves at Nimue to be friendly.

Marvo goes very quiet and concentrates on his bacon

Sarah had also entered and waved hi to a number of folk before tucking in to a hearty breakfast. She and a couple of other students had been out getting in some practice Quidditch from dawn and had worked up a huge appetite.

"Illessa, you should just go - I think a bunch of us have chosen to go 'stag' and who knows what might happen when we get there. Could be some cool 'talent' about." She then eyed Kali trying to blend into the furniture and announced loudly: "Woo, woo - prime target - sitting in that chair - someone alert the giggle-squad."

Marvo 'grunts' 'huh! some people probably couldn't get dates if they tried' he mumbled to himself

Morticia blows her hair out of her face and laughs. "I should curse myself for cutting them off, really!" she grins. "But I felt I needed a change. As for the riddle...." She frowns and repeats. "Those who look wide will not find, the thing that heals the blind, close to home is the treasured, so be serch and be assured.

We have to look narrow, then. Close to us, maybe. No wild running around, it - what ever it is - is close. The thing that HEALS the blind! I don't know. Glasses make you see better, that's for sure. Crystal balls can make you see things that you usually can't see. Close to home... maybe one of the common rooms? Or in the staff room?" She laughs. "Maybe we're searching for Dumbledore's glasses!"

Marvo 'grumpily' says "Your being too literal. 'blind' dose not just mean 'sight' it can also mean knowledge, perhaps it's something about 'insight'." He returns to his bacon

Morticia's eyes glitter as she replies with a soft cruel voice: "Of course, Malcolm Dexter, but I've often found that trying the too obvious leads you to the solution. Besides, the thing about Dumbledore's glasses was a joke, as your precious and never failing mind has certainly understood. Gosh, look at yourself! One could think you're the only one here with a problem! Kat lost her friend, did you ever think about that, or do you only think about your problem, whatever it might be, you never tell anything to anyone but you always jump in to play the hero, that's not fair!"

She blushes. "I'm sorry, Marvo. We... we're all quite tense. There's been so much going on... I'm really sorry, I didn't want to break our truce."

* * *

Andy woke up late that morning and hurriedly got dressed to accompany his schoolmates in breakfast even though he wasn't very hungry at all. He just wanted to see his friends after that long night of studying. He ran down the steps and into the breakfast hall and sat down across from Marvo. He put his reading glasses on and began to read an article from the Daily Prophet.

"Oh my..." he trailed off as read the paper.

There in big bold letters was a newly written article, which had the title "3rd Year Killed at Hogwarts".

Nimue gave a little gasp as the saw the Daily Prophet in Andy's hand. "Is that today's paper or the one from a couple of weeks ago? ...I mean Rita Skeeter broke that story just after the death, didn't she. What is she writing now? She tried to interview us in London. It doesn't say anything about that does it?" Her eyes turned to catch Marvo's briefly with something that looked a little like panic.

Marvo's eyes quickly glance to Nimue and then to the paper

"No, it's not the old one!" said Andy. "Listen to this! Hogwarts: A school that should be trusted? I think not. As I had posted weeks earlier a poor, young, innocent 3rd year was brutally murdered by a fellow classmate. Should this be going on in our schools? Murder? Violence? It looks like the school isn't too great now, is it? You be the judge and I'd think twice about sending your child to Howgarts."

When Andy finished reading the article he looked up from the paper and said with anger, "Signed, Rita Skeeter."

"Gosh, she seems to always get things wrong. Do you think she is talking about Riala? I mean that's ridiculous we know from Dumbledore that she had nothing to do with it."

Nimue remembered something Marvo had said about teachers discovering that the defences of the Castle hadn't been broached suggesting a student may have been involved. She couldn't bring herself to ask him - though maybe his thoughts would run in the same direction.

* * *

Sarah munches toast and considers the riddle being discussed: "What heals the blind?" - I guess the only thing that can really heal the blind is sight. Does that make any sense with the rest?"

"Hmm...." Morticia orders one of the house-elves to get her cornflakes. "Does it? I mean, it just replaces it. It's no cure, it's the opposite."

Morticia stops pondering Kat's riddle and looks at Andy. "Not ANOTHER Skeeter-Article?!?" she moans.

"OK, something like an operation, or magic eye spell doesn't seem to be the answer. So maybe the blindness isn't literal but metaphoric. You know like being blind to something obvious or something in front of you. Is there any cure for that sort of being blind? ...Oh lets have some eggs..." (and eggs appeared on her plate.)

"Of course, you could ask an oracle..." Morticia blushes. "Or have a vision, of course. But do you think that's meant? It's a bit too far off, I think." She munches her cornflakes.

"Yeah - like maybe you could be blind but still see in your mind or something." - Sarah continued to munch "It's probably something really obvious.."

"I bet it is." Replied Morticia, "And when we find out, we'll all laugh and wonder how we could have been so stupid."

"Who are you going to the ball with?" she asks suddenly. "I wish Egreen was a bit more interested in it! We didn't even manage to get partner-costumes, but I got a VERY interesting one for me!" She laughs. "It arrived yesterday. For once I'll not be the 'cute' and 'sparkling' little French girl, I tell you! I'm sick of that."

Sarah replied: "No one....all the boys seem a little reluctant - even the ones that have been asked. Give 'em a year or two and we'll be fighting them off. I'm not sure what I'll wear - it's a little late to get a costume so may see if I can get one of the older students to give me Medusa-hair or something cool and come as a she-demon."

Morticia smiles. "I'm not sure many will want to dance with me, but I'll certainly have fun! But I won't tell what it is. You'll see..."

* * *

Illessa pores over the paper for a while, trying not to get in anyone else's way "This is really odd, I'm not sure of any of it, but...The first line makes me think of Pratchett, you know Feet of Clay, when the Patrician is poisoned? So it'll probably be something or somewhere so obvious we won't think of it immediately.

I don't really don't get the second line at all, if someone's really completely blind you can't heal them, unless you make them a pair of magic eyes or something. The third line seems to say the same thing as the first, that whatever it is nearby, one of the common rooms? classrooms? in the grounds somewhere?"

"Hmm... I might join Sarah and have some fun without worrying about trying to find a date... oh and Kali?" Illessa smiles "You can stop sinking into that chair, you'll get yourself stuck and I'm not going to eat you... I've seen those girls following you around and I'll have a word with them if you like, it can't be very nice having them constantly giggling at you"

* * *

A small eagle owl sails into the dining room and lands next to Kat, drops a small parcel and then sails off again. As Kat curiously unwraps it, she finds that a lovely silver bracelet with a flower pattern is inside as well as a matching ring and a card: "Sincere apologies for the inconvenience, and a gift for the Ball which I can unfortunately not attend - Nathan Lagrand"

Sarah moves closer to Kat apparently to admire the gift as others do - (unusual as Sarah doesn't seem the type) and whispers very quietly in her ear: "I'd get that checked out - you know just in case... we wouldn't want anything to happen to you tonight."

She hadn't forgotten what she'd overheard between Morticia and Nathan but admired Morticia both on and off the Quidditch field and didn't wish to cause her pain. Wasn't her fault that her brother had issues with muggle-born. She was a pure blood herself - she knew how deep the some people's prejudice ran in these matters.

As Kat opened the parcel her eyes lit up. But then she read the card. She tried to hide her concern so she didn't offend Morticia, but Sarah voiced her concern. She would definitely get it checked.

'PUT THAT DOWN AT ONCE'

Although not shouting, Marvo had urgency in his voice, a mixture of anger and concern. Morticia gets up in a fury and shouts at Marvo: "That's enough now! That's it! Why do you always have to play the guardian, huh? Nathan just wants to apologise, I bet father had a very sincere talk with him about the incident with Kat! This is none of your business, so stay OUT OF IT!"

Kat stares at Marvo. "I'm not stupid you know. I don't trust Nathan one bit. But you might have consideration for Morticia's feelings occasionally. Don't you think she has been embarrassed enough by her brother. Here," she pushes the paper on which the bracelet sat towards Marvo. "Inspect it here if you wish."

"No!" Morticia grunts angrily. "Why can't, just for once, Marvo take a step back??? He's always involved in everything, even things that don't concern him at all! And he's no wiser than we are! Kat, take it to one of the older Ravenclaws, they will find out much more than Marvo ever could." She calms down a bit. "Please, Kat. Marvo and Nathan had a little run-in with each other, and Marvo absolutely hates him." She bends forward and whispers to her: "Of COURSE you should check whether the thing is okay, but I bet it is - but you can never know, my family is quite good in charm work. You could even show it a teacher and say it's a gift from a secret admirer or so. Please, Kat!" She looks pleadingly at Kat.

Kat looks at Morticia, and grins. "OK. I'll get someone else to look at it. Thanks." She wraps it up again, and tucks it into her pocket.

Marvo goes to reply, but Kat kicks him under the table. As if to say 'I told you!'

Morticia smiles with absolute relief. "Thanks, Kat. You... You're a real friend, do you know that?"

Marvo SLAMS his fists down on the table and stands, almost knocking his chair over

'IT IS MY BUSINESS! DO you THINK I would be H....'

His voice trails off and he looks around at the shocked faces.

He closes his eyes and takes a very deep breath, and begins to talk quietly and calmly

'Morticia, It's MY turn to apologise. I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to get angry. I think your right (whoever said nerves were getting frayed), things has started to get on top of some of us. Morticia, I'm sorry about what I said about your brother, it was instinct reaction. I didn't mean anything against your family. I really don't want our 'truce' to end. not now. Lets just get over the Ball and have a good 'friendly' time there, and see what happens then?'

* * *

Though Nimue sat at a different end of the table, she was aware empathetically that Kat had hoped she might sit closer. She felt bad that she couldn't confide in Kat. She went to get up and move closer to try to bridge the gap but at that moment the eagle owl arrived with the gift from Nathan.

'Lucky Kat', she thought 'admired by everyone ...no scratch that admired by all these boys while she......' She saw Sarah looking in her direction. She'd heard that Sarah had been boasting that she knew what was upsetting her. While she doubted that was true but she might make a lucky guess.

Madison entered the Hall and sat down at the table, putting her bookbag on the seat next to her to save it for Lee. She looked sadly around at the excited faces, and felt terrible that Joss had to miss all this. Everyone had really been looking forward to going to the Ball...Just then, her owl Eriol dropped a package in her lap, along with a note telling her that the package contained her costume. She smiled and tucked that package into her bag. "Oh, hi Nimue," she greeted, spotting her. "Looking forward to the ball tonight?"

Nimue smiled at Madison, "I'm not really sure. My head is full of all this stuff and I don't even know if Achel is still here. He was very involved [she dropped her voice] in Greenhouse 6 situation. I probably should go look for him but he might not like that. I wouldn't want to compromise the security."

Nimue glanced at the box - "are you going to tell what you're costume is? Do you have matching costumes?"

"I'm sure Achel's fine. He'll make it to the Ball with you." Madison took a bite of toast, then turned back to Nimue. "No, we don't have matching costumes...and Lee still doesn't know what my costume is. Everyone will just have to see at the Ball..." she looked down and blushed a bit. "I'm just a bit afraid that I'll look silly and everyone will laugh, so I'm not telling anyone what my costume is...What about you? What's your costume?"

Sarah just could not resist making a comment to this admission by Nimue though did so in a concerned voice:

"You don't have much luck with boys, do you? I mean bird boy dumped you 'cause you're a little girl', el Magnifico over here can't stand to even look at you anymore so heaven knows what you did to him and 'what's his name' would prefer to be sent up the Amazon than spend an evening in your company. Crumbs girl, looks like only twisted and bitter old men can stand your company .. have hope I forsee [doing an plausible impression of Prof. Trelawny] that you will go to the Ball ....with with ...Professor Snape ...your Prince Charming." she giggled with delight at the absurd picture this conjured.

Nimue was just about to answer Madison when Sarah made her pointed comments on the state of her 'love life'. She knew Sarah had been biding her time to share what she thought she knew with a big as audience as possible and Nimue being maudlin over Achel had given the girl the opening she was waiting for. Nimue didn't know whether to fight or take flight - both would seem to admit that Sarah had touched a nerve.

Madison, surprised at Sarah's rudeness, glared at her. "Well, Sarah," she started, "I'm sure Achel will make it to the Ball with Nimue...Not that it's any of your business. If you spent a little less time nosing around in other people's business, maybe you could get a date, too. Or are you renting one?" Madison then turned to Nimue. "Just ignore her," she whispered. "Maybe she'll go away if we don't give her an audience."

Sarah was somewhat taken aback by Madison's comment, she had expected everyone to join her in her teasing of Nimue not for the tables to be turned in this way. However, she wasn't about to let her prey escape that easily .. "Ouch, well excuse me ..." and she continued to look quizzingly in Nimue's direction to see if she'd 'scored any hits' with her remarks.

A few seats away, Morticia stares at Sarah and then looks at Nimue with a sympathetic glance. Silently, she mouths "forget her" to Nimue and smiles.

Nimue registered Morticia's silent remark and smile and smiled back with a silent: "I will , thanks..."

"That's OK Maddy" replied Nimue, "I did rather leave myself wide open for that one and Sarah [she turned to face the other girl] you know you could always apply for the position as Rita Skeeter's prime 'snitch' at Hogwarts. She's always on the lookout for new 'sources' and what a prize it would be to find someone with almost as lurid an imagination as hers?"

* * *

Winifred had been spending the last few days by herself. She often headed down to the lake after classes and just admired the scenery. She also seemed to be preoccupied with writing in her journal as she was never seen without it. However, with the ball quickly approaching, she starts to become more tense. She can't muster up the nerve to ask the boy she has her eyes on.

Winifred enters the common room and takes a seat around the table. The bacon looks scrumptious and she grabs a few pieces. She listens in on the other's conversations, but doesn't get involved in any of them.

After hearing what Sarah said to Nimue, and Andy's announcement about the Daily Prophet, Ceridwyn just started laughing. When everyone turned to see what was so funny, or perhaps because they believed they were witnessing a breakdown, Ceridwyn simply smiled and said, "Life is full of surprises isn't it?" The tension that had consumed Hogwarts for the past months had been too much to bear, and this was their outlet. Seeing as how no one else seemed to want to deal with their feelings Cer just said curtly, "Gotta vent sometime" and shrugged her shoulders.

The last few seconds had seemed to last a very long time and Nimue realised that Sarah wasn't going to let go of this that easily and would torment her if not faced up to:

After Sarah's comment Kat was furious. She grabbed her wand from beneath her cloak and flicked it at Sarah, and mumbled under her breath. A purple spark span out from the end and hit Sarah in the mouth.

"HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO NIMUE LIKE THAT. SHE HAS NEVER HURT YOU!" Kat growled.

Nimue was looking very shocked, and Sarah was trying to shout something, but no one knew what because there was no sound coming out of her mouth.

Kat grinned at her 'I was starting to quite like you even agree with some of your points, but I do not like my FRIENDs insulted. But that should keep you quiet for a few hours!'

Kat grabbed her things. Told Marvo that she would see him later when she had calmed down. Looked at Nimue and called "coming?" and then stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

Nimue like everyone else in the room was quite stunned by Kat's words and actions. The sight of Sarah wildly gesturing and trying to say something wise-cracking in reply but nothing at all coming out was actually quite comical.

When Kat caught her attention and said to her 'coming?', she replied 'give me a second' she turned to Madison and said - "I'll see you later." and waving bye to everyone followed Kat out of the room a couple of moment s later though 'accidentally' treading on Sarah's foot on the way - which increased Sarah's jumping up and down and silent explanations. "oops - sorry".