HP-Hogwarts Story So Far

Transcript Seven

Nimue Tries to Join the Rescue

 

Nimue was delighted by the attention she was getting from Scully.

"Oh yes, Scully do come with me if you can." she continued to chat to the cat as they moved quickly to Gryffindor tower:

"I feel guilty running off on Achel like that but after all he would only get grumpy once he realised I was going to try to find out what had happened to Marvo. Between you & me Scully, I think that I am just someone who has caught Achel's eye that's all. I mean I don't think he has 'feelings' as such for me, you know the way it is for Egreen & Tish or between Marvo and Kat." she sighed, "I don't think I shall ever have anyone care for me in that way."

They reached the portrait hole and Nimue gave the password. She and Scully went inside, crossing the common room in which a number of students were gathering: some talking about events and some preparing for their cases to be taken to catch the train to take them home for holidays. A number of the older students were getting themselves geared up for the search.

Nimue reached the Third Year dormitory and grabbed a small case from under her bed. From one of Yvette's drawers she selected a lovely night-robe. "Isn't this pretty? The French do have such good taste in clothes." she packed it away and also collected a dressing gown, toiletries and slippers as well as something for Yvette to wear once she was up and about.

When she was done she crossed to her side of the room and changed into more practical clothing. She also petted her black cat Cally - who was sleeping on her pillow. "Hello, Cally.. meet Scully." Cally merely hissed at both of them for disturbing her rest. "Ignore her. Just bad-tempered" Nimue continued to talk to Scully as they went back downstairs.

"Well, I certainly think your mistress has cause to be upset over this business as it's obvious she's very fond of Marvo. I would be if it were me. What I cannot understand is how she could think we want this 'betrothal'." she paused, considering "though actually she must, else she wouldn't have run away like that, would she?"

As they passed through the common room one of the Seventh Year Prefects called out: "Hawkwood, where are you going with that cat? It's going to be needed for the search." Nimue turned and addressed the boy. "*She* is obviously not needed right now or else she'd go to the Great Hall herself. Scully is deeply concerned about her mistress but right now we are going to see Matron to see how Marvo is."

As they passed down the halls to the Hospital Wing, Nimue said, "I wonder Scully, if I can get myself in with one of those search parties? This book of Yvette's might just do the trick."

During this tirade Scully had been talking back to Nimue. Only you wouldn't really call it talking. She had been conversationally putting in the 'purt's and the 'prow's and the other funny little noises that cats use to chatter.

She had known the prefect was right that she should be going to the hall for the search, but she wanted to know if Marvo was going to be ok. Maybe she still wouldn't find out, but she was going to try. She trotted along beside the hurrying Nimue.

'What a splendid pet' though Nimue of Scully making all this 'purts' and 'prows'- 'so responsive!'

Nimue slowed her steps once she got to the Hospital Wing and entered quietly depositing Yvette's things with Madame Pomfrey's assistant who was settling the girl into a large comfortable bed. She could see at the end of the room a small group of people, including Professor Dumbledore, gathered about a bed in which a very pale and obviously still unconscious Marvo lay. An involuntary gasp caught in Nimue's throat and tears came into her eyes.

As she and Scully moved closer she heard snatches of discussion on the issue of the relationship between Marvo's seizure and Kat's whereabouts: 'forbidden forest', 'lured', 'curse', and most alarming of all: 'we must assume she is the hands of those responsible for Josslin's murder'. With this last remark, she involuntarily rushed forward, lost her footing and knocked with some force into the back of one of the gathered teachers. Her bad luck: it was Professor Snape.

Recovering from the knock, Snape rounded on Nimue, "Hawkwood! What are you doing here? Explain yourself!"

So much for her attempt to listen to what they were discussing without being noticed!

"Severus, please" remarked Professor Dumbledore, "you need not be so harsh with Nimue, I am sure she has a good reason to be here."

"Excuse me Professors" she addressed all of those gathered avoiding Snape's stare, "Madame Pomfrey had asked me to collect some of Yvette's things - which I have done and I wondered whether Mar... Malcolm might need anything from brought over from Gryffindor?"

"A kind thought my dear", Dumbledore's eyes twinkled an unspoken 'good save'. "I think it best you return to your classmates. We will send word if there is any change."

She longed to confide in someone about the guilt she felt over what had happened to Kat and Marvo. But the Headmaster was obviously very busy and there was still the matter of Kat's whereabouts. From the little she had overheard, things were not looking good for her friend.

Nimue looked about for Scully.

Yvette rolled over in her sleep, then curled up into a tiny ball. "Don't...use up...the book. Don't...get..." She rolled over again, her face right up against her pillow. She closed her eyes tightly and fell silent, blissfully dreamless once more.

On her way back across the room, Nimue stopped by Yvette's bed to see how she was.

"Sleeping like a baby" remarked Madame Pomfrey's nursing assistant, "She did say something a little strange a minute or so ago."

"What was that?" asked Nimue and the nurse replied, "something about not using up a book? Do you know what she was talking about?"

"I'm not sure, maybe she was concerned about some homework she has due, we've been given a huge amount of reading to do by Professor Flitwick." Nimue somewhat reluctantly brought out Yvette's book that she had placed in a cloth-carrying bag. "This is very special to her, will you make sure she gets it when she awakens?" The nurse assured her she would and placed the book carefully in the drawer of Yvette's bedside table.

"Don't worry Yvette, I won't use it." she whispered near Yvette's ear. Not using the book to create an illusion meant that Nimue had to think of another way to join the search party without being detected. She couldn't just wait at Professor Dumbledore had suggested. It went against her blood.

Scully was looking very interested. Not just by the book comment, but also Nimue's desire to help look for Kat. She jumped up on her back legs and sang at Nimue, then ran out of the room.

Had Nimue understood? Apparently not. Scully popped her head around the door and said "Perrrroooww!" Then disappeared again. Still no response. Same thing she popped her head back in and "Prow!" disappeared again...

Contrary to instructions Nimue did not rejoin her classmates. She was far too 'wound up' and paced in the hall instead. She was determined to be part of the rescue team and with the book now surrendered....

Still she kept thinking on the experiment she and Kat had tried. Kat's technique of 'borrowing' if only she could remember the way in which it was done. . Could she perhaps 'hitch a ride'?

Nimue obviously wasn't listening. "PURT! PREOW! PRUM! PRUT!" She danced on her back legs a bit and tried to get Nimue to follow her.

Why wouldn't Nimue listen to her?

"Scully - I'm so sorry to ignore you. I've been trying to think of a way to join the others to search for your mistress. Do you want me to follow you?"

It was fairly obvious the cat did and so Nimue obliged.

Scully heard this, "Purrrrt!" and immediately scampered away in the direction she wanted to go. She stopped every so often to make sure Nimue was following.

Then they arrived at the room in the top of the tower that had been allocated for Nimue's falcon, Bedevere. "Purrrt." Scully immediately lay down in front to the birds perch and tucked her paws neatly under herself, as if waiting for something. She had no way to express her wish, she could only hope that Nimue would guess.

Nimue had guessed what Scully had in mind and while she was glad to see that Bedivere had returned from the long flight to London, she had some doubt that he would allow any 'borrowing' she might attempt.

Well, she could but ask and with a look at Scully cleared her throat and announced herself:

"Bedivere, I am glad you've returned. This is Scully - Kat Black's pet. Kat is lost and likely captured by an Enemy. Scully knows where Kat is. Dumbledore needs you to go with the search party as a scout, if you are not too tired that is.... and Bedivere I want to come with you!"

On hearing these last words, the bird launched himself with a loud scrawk into the air and was swallowed by the night.

"He second-guessed us there, Scully. It was a good idea but he's one of Daddy's hawks. He wasn't about to give me any opportunity to 'borrow' him I'm afraid, though you had no way of knowing that."

She sat down on the floor and stroked Scully. "You'd better get going yourself. I don't want Kat to be out there a second longer than necessary and I'd feel even worse if your helping me delayed them setting off. If I'm to go I'm sure something will present itself."

Scully looked out of the window at the disappearing chance for Nimue. Scully had no choice though, she had to go. She affectionately butted Nimue's hand. "Purt." And she ran off down the stairs again.