Chapter 7

The Secret

"Now, all you have to do is say 'Up.' said Harry. Naomi eyed the broom beside her suspiciously. It has reacted strangely, resulting in her being attacked. She reluctantly put her hand over the broom and said 'Up!' The broom hovered a couple inches before turning and whacking Naomi in the shin. She yelped in pain as she hopped around on one foot. Harry sighed, why must everything be so difficult?

"Stupid broom!" Naomi yelled before picking it up and hitting it against the ground. Harry had to rescue the poor broom before it was smashed to pieces.

Naomi had asked him to teach her how to fly. They had been outside now for an hour and she still couldn't make the broom fly into her hands without hurting herself. It was Friday afternoon, the day before tryouts. It was a picturesque day, blue skies and comfortably warm. Harry wished he could fly, but sadly, his broom was still chained to a wall somewhere.

"Ok… let's try one more time. And don't try to break it!" said Harry tiredly, setting the broom beside Naomi. Naomi took a deep breath, and then her eyes glinted with determination. Harry was sure she was thinking along the lines of 'I won't get beat up by a stupid Broomstick.'

Naomi held her hand over the broomstick and said 'Up!' The broom immediately bounced up into her hand. Harry wasn't expecting that. Naomi danced around with the broom in one hand and chanting in a sing-song voice 'I did it! I did it!'

"Good. I'm glad we tried that first instead of getting on the broom right away. That might have been a disaster…" said Harry, trailing off at that last part. Naomi threw the broom on the ground and stuck her tongue out at it.

"Look who's boss now stupid broom!" she teased. Harry sighed, rubbing his temples. This girl had the personality of a sixth grader. While other times she was like a gang leader, punching out people who annoyed her. Definitely bi-polar.

"Are you done now?" said Harry dully. Naomi looked to him and gave a weak smile.

"The broom started it." She replied, pointing to the broom. Harry rolled his eyes. Once again, she's in sixth grader mode.

"Ok, ok, whatever. Just mount the broom." He replied. She complied with out complaint, which was different for a change.

"Now, kick off from the ground, don't do it too hard or you'll go too high." Replied Harry. Naomi had an eager grin on her face. "On my mark. Ready… and Go!" Naomi kicked off and she flew up wards. She was hovering twelve feet up when she looked down and frowned.

"Why the heck did you make me go through that crap when this is so easy?" She said unhappily. Before he could reply she sped off, laughing as she flew around the castle. Harry was surprised. It looked almost like she knew what she was doing.

After a couple more minutes of flying around, she landed beside Harry.

"Sweet, I am so gonna make the team. This is a much easier sport then kickball." She said, dismounting from the broom. Harry had told her about the rules of the game and what not. Sadly she still didn't remember all of it.

"We better get back to homework." Replied Harry. It was just their first week and they still had a mountain of homework. Of course Hermione has finished all of it already.

Naomi nodded before running off to put the broom in the shed. She came back and they went to the common room. They emerged out from the portrait hole to see Ron concentrating on writing an essay about Uberskop clam shells. Hermione hovered over his shoulder, correcting his errors.

"You spelled plankton wrong." She corrected. Ron grumbled as he corrected it.

"Heya." Greeted Naomi and Harry. Ron was very happy to see them, having an excuse to not continue writing.

"So how did it go?" Asked Hermione. Harry shrugged.

"She can fly, but I doubt she can remember all the rules." He replied. Naomi gave him a glare, clearly insulted.

"Excuse me; I'm right here you know. I bet I know it. Ask me, go ahead."

"Ok, How many beaters are there?" He asked.

"Two." She replied promptly, crossing her arms.

"What do chasers do?"

"They try to score with the quaffle." She replied.

"Ok then, how many chasers are there on a team." Naomi opened her mouth but shut it.

"Crap." She said dully. "I ain't got a clue." Hermione handed her a Quidditch book. The same one she had given him when he first played.

"Here, it well help you study." She said happily. Naomi groaned.

"Wonderful, thanks much Hermione…"

"We better get started on our homework." Replied Harry dully. Naomi sadly agreed and grabbed her school stuff.

"Man I still have to do that Transfiguration essay." Grumbled Naomi, pulling out her parchment and quill. Ron sighed.

"I hear ya mate. I'm not even done with the blasted clams."

"What's something that could go wrong when transfiguring yourself?" asked Naomi.

"You could only manage to do it only part way." Replied Harry, scribbling it out onto the parchment.

"You could end up with rabbit ears." Added Naomi, scribbling it onto the parchment in shining green ink. They scribbled out their essays, Hermione fixing their mistakes. The sun finally set and the sky was a mix between orange and blue. They were finally done with their homework. It wasn't as much as they thought they had. They were now sitting in their favorite chairs, Naomi once again sitting on the floor.

They all sat in silence, brooding about various things. For Harry, it was once again, Sirius. The same thought would run around his head. Wallowing in his guilt. Nothing was ever gonna fill that void in his heart that was Sirius. He clenched his fists. Voldemort. It was always because of Voldemort. His parents, Sirius, everything. Harry wanted to be ready for him. Harry would not let him escape again.

It was right then and there that Harry made an oath to himself, to Sirius's spirit. He was to train, and train hard. Voldemort will never escape his grasp again.

"I think I'll go for Chaser." Said Naomi suddenly, breaking the silence and snapping Harry from his revere. It was later then he thought, the common room was deserted.

"Why? They need beaters more then anything." Remarked Ron. Naomi sighed.

"I guess so." She said slowly.

Naomi has been hanging around with them since the train incident. Plus she needed help for things she couldn't remember. She's gotten most everything down now. She's even stood up for them as well. But Harry really didn't see her as a close friend like Hermione or Ron. She'd probably end up doing her own thing and make different friends.

Harry hoped this was soon, for she was becoming very annoying. Not to mention weird. With Malfoy skipping along trying to earn her trust and her doing magic without realizing she could, also the amnesia part. It was all sounding very fishy to Harry.

Harry looked over to Naomi. She was gazing into the fire, her mind somewhere else.

Without warning Harry felt another blinding pain from his scar. He slapped his hands onto his forehead.

"Harry? Harry? Are you ok?" asked Hermione, sounding very worried. Both she and Ron were immediately at Harry's side at the first sign of trouble. After a moment the pain slowly trickled away. Harry looked at Hermione and Ron who both sighed with relief.

"Are you alright?" asked Ron, Harry nodded.

"It was your scar, wasn't it?" asked Hermione, Harry nodded. He was sure he knew what she was gonna say next, go and tell Dumbledore.

"You should tell Dumbledore." replied Hermione, sounding anxious. Harry shook his head.

"No, he probably has other things on his mind."

"What do you think Ron?" She asked, but Ron wasn't paying attention. He was looking the other way, his expression was pure horror. Hermione whirled around and she and Harry stared in shock at the scene in front of them. Naomi was standing, looking back at them. Her face twisted in a horrific grin. The whites of her eyes glowed red while her iris's glowed an eerie blue. Hermione's, Ron's and Harry's wands went up and pointed at Naomi simultaneously. Naomi kept her gaze at Harry, sending shivers down his spine.

"Hello Potter." She said, in a voice not her own. It was harsh and ragged as well as lower pitched.

"I knew we couldn't trust her." snarled Hermione. Naomi merely chuckled.

"Potter, are you afraid?" She asked. Hermione gave a silent scream. Ron trembled. For it was only Harry who understood her. She had just spoken Parsle tongue.

Harry stood up, his eyes flashing dangerously. This was his chance.

"What do you want Voldemort?" he snarled, making Ron tremble. Naomi just laughed. It was cold and cruel like Voldemort's. But the laughing abruptly stopped, Naomi grabbed her head with her hands. She was now wincing, her body trembling violently.

Without warning she flung herself at the stone fireplace. Her head slammed into the stone mantel with a resounding crack. She fell backwards in a heap on the floor. Harry got up and approached her slowly. She laid motionless, blood dripping from a gash on her forehead.

"I'm getting the Professor." said Hermione breathlessly before running off. Ron pointed his wand at the girl fearfully.

"Is she… dead?" He asked. Harry shook his head. Her breathing was ragged, the blood pouring from the wound on her forehead. Harry didn't know what to do but stand there. Ron moaned.

"Why is it always us…" he whimpered.

Professor McGonagall came rushing in with Hermione hot on her tail. One glance at the scene her old face quickly turned to worry.

"Potter, Weasley, Granger, go to the Headmasters office immediately." They all complied with out hesitation, not wanting to be in the same room as the crazy girl.

They marched up to the office. Harry knocked the large griffon door knocker, making the large polished wooden door open its self. They walked in and the door closed behind them.

Dumbledore sat behind his desk. He wore a magnificent midnight blue robe over his nightshirt. He looked up at them, twiddling his thumbs, as if he had been expecting them. His bright blue eyes sparkling behind his half-moon glasses.

"Ah, Welcome back. I'm sure this isn't just a friendly visit?" he asked, motioning for them to sit down. They did, and before Hermione could speak the fireplace burst into life with a bright green flame making the three jump. Lupin stumbled out of it, brushing soot off his robes. With another flash, Tonks appeared. She had long bright orange hair at the moment.

"Dumbledore, we've just been called by Minerva. What happened?" asked Lupin, sounding out of breath. Dumbledore raised his eyebrows, turning back to the trio.

"Is there something you would like to tell me?" he asked. Immediately the three started talking at once. Dumbledore raised his hand, quieting them immediately.

"One at a time." He said. The three looked at each other, and then Hermione started talking.

It only took a minute for her to explain, Harry and Ron adding in details she forgot. Dumbledore listening intently. After she was finished, Dumbledore looked to Lupin and Tonks.

"Go to the hospital wing and stand guard." He said. Lupin and Tonks gave a curt nod then swept away. Hermione looked at Harry, as if she was about to cry.

"Oh, Harry. I knew it was fishy. We should have told her to leave." she whimpered. Harry put his hand on her shoulder.

"You didn't know she was working for Voldemort. None of us did." He replied, trying to comfort her. Dumbledore gave a tire sigh, rubbing his temples.

"It was none of your fault. I was the one who let her stay." He said. "But I had a good reason." He added.

"What good reason is it that you would let someone being possessed by Voldemort here?" Harry yelled, his temper rising. "Why would you allow a follower of Voldemort stay?"

"I never said she was. Is Ginny a follower of Voldemort because she has been possessed?" Dumbledore replied. "No." replied Harry quietly.

"But there's tons of spells on the castle walls. How could Voldemort possess someone within the castle? The castle protects us." asked Hermione.

"She wasn't in the castle when we found her Hermione." said Harry slowly.

"So she's been possessed this whole time?" asked Ron, not liking the idea.

"I suppose." Replied Dumbledore, looking older then he normally did.

"Wouldn't Harry know about it? I mean, his scar in all." said Ron.

"Well-" Harry was interrupted by the door flinging open. Professor Higurashi stepped in then shut the door behind her. The door immediately opened showing a very flustered Snape, not very happy about the door being slammed into his face. Professor Higurashi looked furious. The tip of her silver tail twitched irritably while her ears were folded back.

"What's going on Dumbledore?" she barked. Snape stepped in front of her, looking very annoyed. Professor Higurashi growled.

"Yes professor?" asked Dumbledore, looking at the ceiling.

"I thought we had a promise. How could you of told him?" She growled, jerking her finger at the back of Snapes head. Dumbledore sighed.

"I thought it best if someone from the order knew." said Dumbledore calmly, twiddling his thumbs again.

"Why not Minerva? Is she not part of the order as well? Surely you must realize your mistake!" Naomi barked.

"And why do you think I am so inadequate to know your little secret, Professor?" Snape spoke venomously. Professor Higurashi's eyes blazed with anger.

"Because, Snivellus. I know that you will make everyone's life an even bigger disaster." She spat venomously. Snape's face flushed, but he quickly returned to a forced calm.

"Must you resort to name calling?" he replied.

"Ooh, did I touch a nerve?" she snarled.

"You are just like your useless father." He sneered, but immediately regretted it. In a blink of an eye Professor Higurashi grabbed his arm and had flung him into the wall. He fell to the floor in a crumpled heap. Harry couldn't believe Dumbledore would allow this to happen right in front of him.

"That is the second time you have insulted me Snape! Next time I'll make sure to snap your neck!" she barked angerly. Harry didn't notice Dumbledore had stood up behind his desk.

"Professor, did you really think that was necessary?" Dumbledore asked calmly. Professor Higurashi gave a deep sigh.

"I'm sorry Dumbledore." She replied, looking at the ground. She looked like a little child being scolded.

"We have impressionable students in the room." Dumbledore added.

"Ok, Ok. I get it now." said the professor, waving her hand in annoyance. She then went over and picked up the unconscious Snape and headed out the door. She opened it, and then hesitated. "Dumbledore… I don't know why this happened. I was never told of it." She said before leaving down the stairs.

"Now that everything is back in order, you three need to go to bed." said Dumbledore.

"What secret?" Harry asked. Dumbledore merely smiled.

"All in time." He said simply. "Now off you go."