Chapter Eleven : Two out of Seven.

--

Joe arrived back at camp and shook her head at everyone who pressed her with questions. She really didn't want to talk to anyone just yet. She shook them away and went to the small pond to wash her face, repeatedly scrubbing her mouth.

Her stomach kept twisting every time she thought about it. That kiss, sweet but poisonous. She was afraid if a stranger touched her, or if she was taken by surprise. Shade's kiss had definitely come as a surprise. He was her friend and he'd abused her using her own fears. Joe felt sick just thinking about it. Because that's what people seemed to like doing. Making her scared.

Splashing more water on her face to wash away unwanted tears, she got up and rubbed her face dry with the sleeve of her t-shirt. Joe turned around and looked up into scarlet eyes. “You were right.” She whispered. Joe flexed her fingers and slammed her fist into a near by tree. It cracked. She smirked and so did He. “It worked, I have my strength back.” She turned back to look at Him. “You were right. I should get angry. Next time...no mercy.”

--

Harry watched Joe come back out of the trees, water glistening on her face, but they weren't tears. She walked right past Time. Time halted Lord Voldemort and muttered something with concern. Lord Voldemort replied and Time's face became pale with disgust.

Harry crept over to Joe with Ron and Hermione, who were watching her warily. “Where did you go Joe?” Hermione asked.

Joe smiled. “That rhymes.” They looked at her and under their adult stares, Joe's face fell. “I was hunting shadow creatures. Shade found me...end of story.”

Ron frowned, “Sure doesn't sound like it.”

Joe's cheeks glowed. “He cured me...I don't know how long it will last. He said it was only temporary.”

“Why?” Ron asked.

Joe tugged on a lock of her hair. “He said it'd be a shame if I was weak before I agreed with him.” She frowned darkly. “I think he just wants me around longer so he can play with me some more.” No one understood this statement. They didn't say anything more. Joe told everyone to go to bed while she and Time tried to figure out where they were going next. Harry however couldn't sleep. He listened to their muttering carrying to him so easily from the tree they were sitting under.

“We'll have to go over the Ice.”

Joe answered. “We can't do that, you know it's unstable.”

“But it's the quickest.”

“Time, I don't know if you've noticed, but I really need to get everyone out of this alive!” Joe said, her voice raised and Time hushed her. “Going over the Ice is stupid.”

“Going anywhere here is stupid!”

“Fine, we'll go over the stupid Ice.” She paused. “Is it me, or has the word stupid lost all meaning?”

Time chuckled but stopped. “Joe, I'm not going to let Shade hurt you again.”

Harry opened his eyes a crack and saw Joe roll her eyes. “Look, I'm fine. I don't need you to worry.”

“Joe, I want to worry! Shade, he bloody ki-”

“Shut it! It doesn't matter any more!” Joe snapped. Harry watched Joe freeze, as though hit by a blast of icy wind and then turn on her heal and march back to the pond. Harry sat up in his sleeping bag and watched her retreating back. Time was looking after her, his eyes heavy with worry. But Harry could see something else there, a longing.

Time turned around and caught Harry's eyes. “Oh, you're awake.”

“We all are.” Hermione said, sitting up and startling Harry. She looked up at Time.

“Joe isn't too happy then?” Harry said.

“I thought pointing out the obvious was Ron's job?” Hermione asked.

“Hey!” Ron snapped.

Time nodded in Joe's direction. “No, Joe isn't happy...She might relapse.” Everyone gave him a puzzled stare. Time considered his statement. “Joe hasn't had an easy life, she's been abused.” Harry made to interrupt but Hermione hushed him. “She's been manipulated. When she first arrived here, in our realms, Joe suffered from severe depression. Under ...pressure, she loses control of herself and can become extremely violent.” Time looked away from them. “I just want her to be safe.”

Something clicked in Harry's head. “You're in love with her.”

Time's face became very red and very sad. “I might be.” He said quietly. “Please don't tell her. She can't know.”

“Why?”

“Because Joe will not let herself love a person in that kind of way, not after all she's been through.”

Harry felt a pang of pity for Time. He really meant it, he loved her. “Did Joe have her heart broken?”

Time shook his head. “Oh no Harry, Joe broke someone else's. It was one of the things that destroyed her.” Time walked away without saying goodbye.

Harry turned back to the others. “I don't see why he doesn't just tell her.”

Hermione rolled her eyes, “Because, Joe wouldn't like that. You heard him. Past experiences with love and men are putting Joe off. Besides, Joe would probably be terrified of Time asking her out.”

“Because he's older?” Ron asked.

“Well, technically, Joe's older than him.” Hermione stated. “She told me, I was very curious about the entity way of life. But I suppose, Joe's mortal mind would see it as an older man asking out a young girl.”

“But she trusts him, surely that shouldn't be a problem?” Harry said, confused. Joe was making too big a deal out of nothing.

Hermione raised her eyebrows. “Don't tell me, you haven't noticed, Joe's afraid of men?”

“She is?” Harry and Ron blurted together.

“Indeed, Johanna is.” Said a cold, high voice from behind them. Lord Voldemort looked down on them all as they spun around. Harry was not pleased to see He was holding His wand with a smile on His face. “I was told you were clever.” He directed at Hermione. “It's a shame you aren't a pure blood.” Harry felt another stab of hatred at this mention of Hermione's 'impurity'. He flicked His eyes over all of them. “I suggest you don't keep discussing Johanna's fears...she really, really won't like that.”

--

Joe threw a pebble into the water, watching the ripples spread perfectly out, colliding with the shore and hurling back. She wished she were a ripple on a hidden bed of water, how easy her life would be, spreading and retreating, spreading and retreating. She wouldn't need to think about anything, she would be nothing, just a simple substance. She twisted a strap of her dungarees in one hand and threw a new pebble for a new ripple with the other.

She sighed and leant back, looking at the stars through the canopy of branches. They twinkled down at her but their light did not extent to her weary head and crippled emotions. She should really turn back, go home, set up defence there. But that was the cowards way out, she'd been taught well. The best way to be rid of a problem was to cut it at it's source.

The sound of footsteps broke her silence. Joe turned around and smiled at Hermione, who looked tired, her face very pale and eyes wide. “Can I join you?” Joe motioned foe her to sit down. They watched the ripples spread again as Joe tossed in another pebble. “Joe, please don't answer if I'm being to forward, but what did Shade do?”

Joe's face froze but she continued to toss in pebbles. “Nothing.”

Hermione nodded. “Okay. I understand. I know why.” She reached out one hand to touch Joe's arm in a comforting way. Joe smiled at her, a small bridge of understanding building swiftly between them.

And then they heard the shouts.

--

Joe skidded into Hermione as they rushed back into camp, dust rising and falling about them. They climbed to their feet and Joe's face split into fury. Shade was standing in the middle of camp, a twisted evil expression on his pale face. No one was approaching him, they were all staring, wands pointed and afraid. Joe did not draw her's. She stood and glared, her temper eating away at her to strike. But no...she had to pace herself...

“Back for more, Joe?” Shade asked cheerfully.

Something clicked in Joe's head. A light was turned off and a new one turned on. She leapt at Shade and tackled him to the ground, clawing at him, screaming, “He's mine; get back!” At anyone who tried to interfere. She hammered a fist into his face, and felt a delightful crunch as she snapped his nose. “Shouldn't of given in and given me back my powers.” She said, smashing his face again. “That is a weakling's choice.” She lay her fist into him again.

It would heal, she knew, but it was so satisfying to watch him scream. “Now tell me, what is the damn cure?” She said steadily, fist raised. She felt two sets of hands under her arms and she was pulled to her feet by a scared Time and a very intrigued Dark Lord. They held her there, although Lord Voldemort did reluctantly. Shade laughed at her from the ground, getting up, his broken nose healing perfectly.

“Silly little Joe.” He murmured, watching her struggle in the two set's of arms to get back to her target. “I had to do it, you see, I have other ways of persuading you. The Red Eye would only have got in the way for a short while.”

“Get to Hell!” She screamed, a demonic gleam in her eye that made Shade's smile falter, and indeed, everyone else's terrified expressions. But it was only there for a moment. Shade raised one hand in which seven tiny orbs began to spin, each a different colour and crackling with a violent electric energy. He let them go.

Immediately, Time let go of Joe and brought out his wand. Joe didn't bother but started casting the killing curse at these orbs as Shade vaporised into thin air, laughing. Lord Voldemort joined Joe, as Harry and his friends put up shield charms to reject them. The orbs seemed to have a life of their own, swooping to avoid being hit. Joe heard a, “Ron, look out!” And a scream. She turned around to see what was the disaster and was too late to avoid a pale red orb that caught her in the chest. She fell to the ground, alone and helpless.

--

He gently propped Joe up against a tree, her head nodding against her chest, one leg crooked. Joe might as well of been asleep. He leaned in and whispered, “Johanna, wake up.” But she didn't respond, dead to the world. He sat next to her shaking Joe's shoulders, but she still didn't wake. He would of tried some magic, but no doubt Time and Harry Potter would of ripped His head off, thinking He was attacking her. “What did Shade do to you?” He asked her sleeping face.

Time came over from Ron, who was propped opposite Joe with Harry and Hermione. Hermione was crying silently into one of Ron's hands that she clasped tightly. Harry kept running his hands desperately through his hair. Time leant down and took Joe's pulse, looking over her face with a very grim expression. “What did he do to her?” He asked.

Time threw him a surprised glance, as though only just noticing Him. “I'll tell you all in a minute.” He said quietly. “Did you see what colour hit Joe?”

“No I did not.” He answered. He looked at Time's blue eyes. “If this is damaging, I will be most displeased.” Time nodded and returned to Ron, taking his pulse also. He stood up.

“This isn't good...” He muttered.

“Are they going to die?” Harry demanded.

“Don't be so dramatic.” Joe croaked, making everyone jump. “You're such a drama queen, Harry.” Lord Voldemort pulled at Joe's arm so she could sit easier, her eyes still closed, and head resting on her shoulder. She tipped to the side, resting against His shoulder. He glared at Time and Harry, as if to challenge them. “Which one ...hit....me?” She asked, sinking back into her sleep.

Time twisted his robes in his hands. “Is she asleep again?” Lord Voldemort nodded. Time sighed with relief. “Good, she won't be happy when she wakes up.” Time sat back down between the two patients. “Shade was using the seven deadly sins.” There was a cry of outrage.

“Is it permanent?” Hermione demanded.

“No, no.” Time said. “But, it won't be pretty. What they have will effect the group as their behaviour changes. Now, does anyone remember what colour hit them?” Everyone racked their brains.

Hermione said softly, “Green. Ron was hit by green.”

Time's face twisted. “Envy.”

Harry spoke after a stunned silence. “Joe...there was a kind of pale redish colour.”

Time's eyes widened. “Oh she's really not going to like this.”

“Why?”

Time made eye contact with Him, and He understood what Time was about to say before he uttered that dreadful word. “Lust.”