HEATHENS - Harry Potter ✔

CHAPTER NINE

Kiera was sat in the Room of Requirement, waiting for Neville to return from his detention. He had snapped in their Muggle Studies class earlier that day and Alecto did not hesitate to give the boy detention. "I just can't stand the way she talks about Muggles, as if they're germs or rats or something," he would say when Kiera reprimanded him for getting detention.

Of course, Kiera knew exactly what Neville meant, but she was worried for him. And sure, that made he a classic hypocrite, she knew that, but she couldn't help it. Ginny and Luna had both been waiting as well, but after one o'clock Kiera had told them to go to bed, as she knew that they were struggling with their new N.E.W.T. classes.

The Room was now more furnished. A few multi-coloured hammocks were strung from the ceiling and the windowless walls were covered in bright tapestry hangings. The gold Gryffindor lion, emblazoned on scarlet; the black badger of Hufflepuff, set against yellow; and the bronze Ravenclaw eagle on a blue background; and, the silver serpent of Slytherin on green. There were bulging bookcases, and a few broomsticks propped against the walls, one wall occupied with long tables and benches.

Finally, she heard the large door open and saw the tall boy enter. He was walking, so that was a positive sign, but even from far away Kiera could see his cheek had been deeply slashed and he was limping slightly. She quickly stood up and rushed to him. "Oh, Neville," she said, turning his head to see the cut better. "What happened?"

"She made a sort through a bunch of Chizpurfles," he told her. "Bloody bastards. I'm surprised I've still got all my fingers left. Anyways, one of them went wild and slashed me pretty bad."

"The Room materialised, or whatever you want to call it, this book," Kiera said, lifting up the large, leather-bound book she had been reading. "It's full of healing spells, and potions, and such. Here, let me try this." She pulled out her wand with her right hand, propping the book up on her left.

"Vulnera Sanetur," she said, pointing her wand at his cheek. Slowly the skin began to knit together. It was an odd sight. It reminded Kiera of one of those short cartoons you would watch as a child, where a seed grew into a tree. A few seconds later, the wound had competently healed, leaving behind nothing but a slightly purple mark.

*

"How many Slytherins do you reckon are Death Eaters?" asked Seamus as he, Neville, and Kiera stood waiting for their Charms class. He was suspiciously eyeing Pansy Parkinson who was wearing a long-sleeved, dark maroon sweater. In fact, all five Slytherins (not counting Kiera) who were in their Charms, were wearing dark, long-sleeved shirts under their robes.

"Pansy, at least," said Kiera. "She even sleeps in long sleeves, and she's acting even more important and big-headed than usual. I think I might even have seen her Dark Mark."

Neville grunted his agreement. "And probably Nott and Zabini too. Maybe Crabbe and Goyle. And ... well, probably all the seventh years, apart from Kiera, and most of the sixth years, too."

"Yeah," Seamus said. "And then there's always Malfoy."

Kiera's stomach twisted slightly at the mention of the name. She hadn't thought about Draco for a while, but now the regular feeling of worry was flooding into her. He hadn't shown up at school at all, the last time Kiera had heard from him was before the Battle of the Astronomy Tower. She couldn't help the slight anger that built up in her by the way the Seamus has said his name. With so much hate and venom. By now Kiera had accepted the fact that he was a Death Eater, but she knew that he had been forced into it. And she couldn't help but feel bad for him. Draco really wasn't a bad person; he just had a bad father.