Hogwarts Part 8
Bedknobs and Broomsticks
Duo was still a bit shaken as he followed the Gryffindor Prefect to the Gryffindor House. He barely paid any attention to the paintings that were watching him with sympathetic eyes. Heero was at Hogwarts... and Duo wasn't so sure HE wanted to be there anymore. It had seemed like a wonderful opportunity, but things were not looking up. He jumped when someone touched his shoulder and smiled at Rick.
"You okay, Duo? Ever since coming back from talking with that Slytherin student, you've been pale and you never even touched anything at the banquet." He pulled a small bundle from his robes and put it in Duo's hands. "I grabbed you a some dinner. It's not much, but it'll tide you over until breakfast. What did that guy SAY to you that upset you?"
Duo accepted the small bundle gratefully. "It wasn't anything he said. It's just that he's here and he's in Slytherin. Tell me I'm not nuts. I could have SWORN the hat was going to put him in Gryffindor!"
Rick nodded. "Yeah... now that you mention it. What's the big deal?"
Duo sighed. "The big deal is he's a friend of mine. Trust me... he does NOT belong in Slytherin." He sighed as Rick shrugged and opened the bundle. True to Rick's word, there wasn't much there... but it was more than he'd eaten on the streets. There was just a chicken leg, a handful of fries, a chocolate &eacte;clair and a few strawberries. A pretty balanced meal in his book. "Thanks."
Rick grinned. "I just wish I could have gotten you something to drink as well. You're gonna be thirsty."
Duo smiled back. "I'll live. Oh!"
The painting they had stopped in front of was an image of a regal, if extremely overweight, woman.
"Password?"
Terrance Filbert, the house Prefect lifted his chin high. "Jelly Babies."
Duo snickered as he walked into the Gryffindor common room. He picked at his meal, leaving some chicken for Shi-chan, while Terrance gave them a brief overview of how the house worked.
"Mr. Maxwell... would you kindly repeat what I just said."
Duo rolled his eyes. He got this a lot. "You said that the Fat Lady was in a Doctor Who phase and she obviously thought Tom Baker was the best, though you like Colin Baker better."
Terrance nodded in satisfaction and pointed them in the directions of the dorm rooms. "Sleep well."
Duo finished the last of his strawberries and snorted. 'Sleep well, he says. If I sleep at all, I'll end up waking everyone up.' He practically collapsed on the bed. "Oi, Shi-chan, I brought ya some chicken."
-Chicken? Did you leave me some skin?- Shinigami hopped onto the bed and sniffed at the bundle. -Oooo... you DID leave me some skin! Not TOO cooked, but done just right. You MUST have been a cat in a former life, Duo. You know JUST how to please a lady.- She proceeded to make short work of the chicken Duo had saved her.
Duo chuckled and rubbed Shinigami's ear. "I try, Shi-chan. You know that guy, Heero, I was telling you about?"
-Mmmmhmm. What about him?- She gnawed on the bone a bit.
"He's here at Hogwarts. He's in Slytherin."
-Huh... small world!-
"And Wufei is in Hufflepuff!" Duo smiled at the cat as he curled up on his bed. "Go figure, right?"
-Mmmhmm. Go to sleep, Duo and dream of chasing mice.-
Duo smiled as he drifted off.
*****
Shinigami's ears flicked at the slight whimper that came from Duo. In the time she had known him, he'd only started whimpering when a nightmare was starting. She quietly hopped onto the floor and slunk under the bed to wait out the storm. She didn't have to wait long. Duo's whimpers slowly turned into moans and finally into shrill screams filled with fear.
Rick jerked awake and looked around, thinking that someone was attacking Duo. It DID sound like Duo was struggling with someone. When he saw it just seemed to be a nightmare, he ran over and grabbed Duo's shoulders to keep him from hurting himself with all his thrashing. "Wake up! Du-OW!!!" He stumbled back after Duo punched him in the shoulder.
"What's wrong with 'im?"
Rick sighed. "He's having a nightmare! Get Professor Copperbottom!" He held the other two boys back. "Leave him! He packs quite a punch, and he doesn't hold back." He shivered at each of Duo's screams. It was a relief when the professor ran in.
"All right, then..." She pulled out her wand and pointed it at Duo. "Amoenus Somnium!" She nodded in satisfaction as Duo settled down, then frowned as he started whimpering again. "I wonder what that boy has lived through to cause such nightmares that not even a sleep charm will stop them."
One of the students groaned. "Is he gonna be like that EVERY night? We have class in the morning! How are we supposed to do well if we have to deal with him SCREAMING every night?"
Professor Copperbottom sighed. "We'll just have to move him to another room. Ennervate!"
Duo took in a huge gulp of air and screamed as he jerked awake.
The professor ran forward and held Duo gently. "Shh! It was a nightmare, boy. Do you get them often?"
Duo didn't really want to answer, but he had to be honest. He waited until he caught his breath before nodding miserably. "Every night, it seems." He bit his lip and tried to lower his voice as he continued. "Some nights are worse than others." He winced as the boys all groaned. That was the reason he hadn't wanted to answer. The last thing he needed was to be considered a freak.
"Then there's nothing for it. We'll have to move you to an unoccupied room. Follow me. Your things will be moved in the morning."
Duo sighed as he stood up, feeling self-conscious as he followed the professor out of the room and down the hallway. He knew from instinct honed on the streets that every male student in the dorm was watching as he was led to the far end of the hallway. He was grateful for the silent presence of Shi-chan padding beside him. He winced as the sound of running feet indicated he'd woken the girls up as well.
Professor Copperbottom sighed as she led Duo into the only unoccupied room. She knew he would have a hard time making friends now. She turned to face the excited students. "All right! Back to bed, all of you, before I start deducting points!" She turned back to Duo and gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze. "It will be all right."
Duo shrugged. "So I'll be alone. I'm used to it." He hoped his glib words didn't give away how upset he was about the situation. Now not only didn't he have a familiar face in Gryffindor with him, he also had to contend with all the students thinking there was something wrong with him. He looked around the room he would now occupy. It was the same as all the other rooms he had seen in the dorm with one major difference. The room looked as if it hadn't been slept in in ages. The air was thick with dust, and there were cobwebs everywhere.
"I'm truly sorry about this. Purgare!" She pointed her wand and repeated the spell every time she came across a filthy area. "There is no other alternative. We can't have you keeping all of Gryffindor house up this late. I won't deduct any points, since it truly isn't your fault and also being stuck in this room..." She broke off and shook her head as she leveled her gaze at Duo. "The ghosts of Hogwarts choose certain rooms in which to reside. This is one of the rooms in the Gryffindor house. We don't usually place students in here."
Duo brushed the coverlet of his bed. "Ghosts... lucky me!" He now knew what she hadn't said. That placing him in this room was punishment far worse than taking points away from Gryffindor could ever be.
Professor Copperbottom gave Duo a level gaze. "This room is soundproof. No sound made in here can be heard anywhere else. Now... try and get some sleep." With that, she snuffed the candle and left the room. Her voice scolding the students still standing around was cut off as soon as the door closed.
Duo sighed in resignation and flopped onto the bed to get to sleep.
*****
Then next day found Duo yawning widely as he waited for the class to start. He hadn't gotten much sleep due to jolting awake at every air movement. When he finally did fall asleep due to exhaustion, Shinigami had batted his nose telling him it was time to get ready for class. He'd gotten a lot of looks from the students of Gryffindor at breakfast, and the students at either side of him had slid as far away as possible from him. When he followed his group out to the field, he was immensely relieved to see Wufei in the group of Hufflepuffs taking the class with his group. He wished he could go stand next to the familiar face, but he had been instructed to stay with the members of his house. Right at the moment, he was wondering WHY there were several brooms lying around, not quite awake to remember that this was his flying class.
A petite woman walked towards them. "Good morning class!"
A lot of the students brightened. "Good morning, Madame Creeper!"
Madame Creeper was a cheery-faced woman with bright silver eyes that twinkled merrily as she mentally counted the students. She nodded and walked to the end of the two lines and nodded. "All right! We'll start class now. I want you to step up to the left of your broomsticks." She stopped speaking when Duo raised his hand. "Yes, Mr. Maxwell?"
"Why are we stepping up to the left of the brooms?" He ignored the sniggering that arose from both lines.
"Mr. Maxwell... you ARE aware that this is a flight class, are you not?" She waited as Duo nodded. "All right, then... what is the cause of your confusion?"
Duo forced his exhausted mind to work for a moment. "Oh no WAY! Nuh-uh! I am OUT of here!" He turned and headed for the castle. 'I don't need this.' He didn't hear the words Madame Creeper exchanged with someone, but he did feel the hand on his shoulder stopping him. "WHAT!?!?!" He spun and glared at Wufei.
Wufei frowned. "What is the problem? You've flown before."
Duo blinked and sighed. "It isn't the flying, Wu-man!" He shrugged when he saw Wufei would not be satisfied with that. "It's the implement."
Wufei looked over his shoulder and moved so he was standing beside Duo. "What's wrong with the implement?" He took a few steps towards the group, pleased that Duo walked with him. He had seen how Duo had been avoided at breakfast, and it disturbed him. He had vowed that morning that he would stand by the idiot more than he had during the war.
"It's an overgrown toothpick, Wufei!" Duo was a little pleased that Wufei's lips quirked at his description. "After all... had you seen that during one of your camping trips, would you have said: 'Oh! A broomstick! What an excellent mode of transportation!'? I HIGHLY doubt it." Duo was aware of what Wufei was doing. He knew they were now within hearing distance of the students, and they had heard his recent words as well. "NO! You would have said: 'Oh LOOK! Firewood complete with kindling!'!"
Wufei nodded at Duo's assessment. "You are correct, but we are not on a camping trip, Duo." He let his face soften as Duo's eyes widened. "We are at Hogwarts." He motioned and smiled as Duo bravely took his place with the others of his house and gave the teacher a look. 'Do NOT make him look even more foolish!'
Madame Creeper understood the slight glare and nodded in understanding. "Now... step up to the left of your broomsticks, and we'll begin."
TBC...
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