Hogwarts UnderExposed - A New Girl in Town | By : Neil Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Harry/Hermione Views: 15054 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0 |
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story. |
New York, New York 1:25 PM July
02, 2006
Tom Pitt waited impatiently in the outer office of Attorney Mark Williams. His
appointment had been scheduled for one o’clock and he was starting to become
rather irritated by the delay. Tom considered just getting up and walking out,
but he was running out of potential links. In the last month over two-dozen
attorneys had callously escorted him to the door of their places of employment
and he had little reason to be more optimistic about today. His cause was
beginning to seem futile and he was on the verge of giving it up as an
impossible dream.
“I apologize for the wait, Mr. Pitt,” the attractive blonde secretary said,
getting to her feet and walking over to the door. “Attorney Williams will see
you now.” She opened the door and ushered Tom into an elegant office. It was
evident to Tom that Mark Williams was making an excellent living as a lawyer.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Pitt,” Mark Williams said, rising to shake his potential
new client’s hand. “It’s been a hectic day thus far. I’m sorry that you were
kept waiting.”
“No problem,” Tom lied politely.
“What can I do for you today?” Williams asked, motioning Tom to a chair
positioned in front of his impressive desk.
“Hopefully help me find my daughter,” Tom replied.
“I’m sorry,” Williams said, sounding not quite heartfelt. “Perhaps I
misunderstood you. You see; I’m an attorney, not a detective. I most certainly
could help you in a custody case, but before I become involved you must first
know the child’s whereabouts.”
Tom paused. This conversation was rapidly approaching the point where nearly
all lawyers escorted him out rudely. “I sort of know where she is, but I can’t
make contact with her,” Tom said. “It’s sort of difficult to explain.”
“Time is money and after the initial free fifteen minute consultation, I charge
nine hundred dollars an hour,” Williams said, rather bluntly. “Unless you’re
exceedingly rich, I suggest that you stop shilly-shallying around and get to
the point of your visit.”
“Sir, I came to you because you have a reputation for having handled some
rather bizarre cases. I’m hoping that perhaps you might know how to make
contact with my daughter.”
Tom sighed. The time had come to bite the bullet and take the consequences.
“My daughter is in England, but she is a witch and I have no way of contacting
her in the Magical World.” Tom waited for Williams to spring to his feet in
annoyance and call for security.
Williams did push a button, but his words were not at all those that Tom
expected. “Miss Watson, please hold all my calls and see that Mr. Pitt and I
are not disturbed.”
“You believe me?” Tom said, totally flabbergasted.
“For the moment, let’s just say that I’m still listening,” Williams replied.
“Tell me the whole story.”
* * * * * *
While Williams listened
intently to Pitt’s account, across the sea in London, England a mother and
daughter were having what was quickly becoming a daily argument.
“Mum, I know your intentions are good, but this just isn’t working,” Claudia
complained for the umpteenth time. “Home schooling might work for young
Muggles, but I need to actually attend a suitable school in order to properly
learn witchcraft; it’s just too complex and involved.”
“We tried sending you to a school in the States and look what happened,” her
mother said. “You do remember, don’t you?”
“Of course, I remember,” Claudia retorted. “I was the one that was ostracized.
Maybe it will be different here in England. Perhaps the students here aren’t as
cruel and prejudiced.”
“Unfortunately, I’m fearful that discrimination is prevalent worldwide,” her
mother replied dejectedly. “I just don’t want to see you hurt all over again; I
love you too much. If only people were more understanding. It’s not your fault
that you’re … well… unique.”
Claudia seemed to ignore her mother’s remarks. “I’ve read that Hogwarts is an
extremely fine school,” she persisted. “Plus, Harry Potter and Hermione Ganger
are on the Hogwarts staff. They’re the greatest wizard and witch of our time.”
“You’re not going to give up on this, are you?” her mother asked wearily.
“Not until you agree to let me go to Hogwarts,” Claudia countered firmly.
Her mother sighed. “Very well, this is against my better judgment, but I’ll owl
the school and see what their policy is on transfers,” the older woman agreed
reluctantly. “I just hope we don’t both end up regretting this decision.”
* * * * * *
Attorney Mark Williams stared questioningly at Tom Pitt. “Why is it that I feel
you’re holding back information from me?”
“I’m not,” Tom insisted vigorously.
“But why at this time?” Williams did a quick calculation in his head.
“According to what you’ve told me, your daughter would be fourteen, nearly
fifteen. Why have you waited this long to try and contact her?”
“I’ve wrestled with a similar question,” Pitt replied gravely. “At first, I
tried to persuade myself that she would be better off without me in her life.
She’d almost certainly grow up ashamed of having me, someone not magical, as a
father. I think her mother had been mortified by the fact that she had gone as
far as to be intimate with someone nonmagical.
“I convinced myself that one and all would be better off if I just vanished
from their lives and so I came to the United States. But even though I’ve put
thousands of miles between us, I’ve never been able to escape the guilt that I
feel. I have a daughter out there somewhere that I’ve never even seen.”
“You’re willing to spend thousands of dollars just to see a girl, who will in
all probability spit in your face?” Williams questioned.
“If she does, it’s no more than I deserve,” Pitt responded. “I don’t expect her
to ever forgive me or love me; I can’t even excuse myself. I just want to see
her and have the opportunity to tell her face to face that I’m sorry.”
Williams stroked his chin as he contemplated Pitt. “Very few people know of the
existence of the magical world; even less will admit its authenticity. I can
make some inquiries, but it will take considerable time, probably several
months before a meeting, if acceptable, can be arranged.”
“If acceptable?” Pitt questioned uneasily.
“We’re dealing with the magical world and in situations such as this, their
laws supersede our own,” Williams enlightened. “It will be up to the girl and
her mother as to whether they will meet with you or not. If they decline, then
there will be nothing more I can do to help you.”
Williams got up to see Pitt to the door. “One more question before you leave,
Mr. Pitt.”
Tom paused.
“The mother’s last name was Garrison and you said that she was in no doubt that
the sex of the child would be female,” Williams clarified. “Did she ever give
you any clue as to what she might name the little girl?”
Pitt shook his head glumly. “We never got to discuss such niceties.” He turned
again to leave and then stopped abruptly. “She had a little sister that died
when just a child. She thought the world of her. My daughter may be named after
her.”
Tom Pitt’s eyes squinted, trying desperately to recall the sister’s name.
“Katherine, Katie… Caitlin. It was definitely Caitlin,” he declared
emphatically. “She may have named her Caitlin, Caitlin Garrison.”
* * * * * *
As Tom Pitt was leaving
Attorney Williams’ office, Alan Harris was entering the Three Broomsticks
Tavern in Hogsmeade. Harris was a retired Auror; his wife died some three years
ago and his two adult children, both married, lived near London.
“You’re late tonight, Alan,” Madam Rosmerta said in welcome, checking her
watch. “I can usually set my clock by you.”
Alan led a boring lonely life. The highlight of his day was dinner at the Three
Broomsticks followed by a few pints with a group of fellow retirees. Alan and
his mates spent most evenings reliving the good old days and complaining about
the ministry.
“Over slept my lie down,” Alan said with embarrassment. “What’s the hot special
on the menu tonight?”
“Me,” said Rosmerta with a roguish laugh.
“As wickedly tempting as that sounds, I think I better pass,” Alan chuckled. “I
doubt this old heart of mine could handle such excitement.”
“I must be losing it,” Rosmerta chortled. “You’re the second bloke that has
turned me down tonight. Do you think you could handle a plateful of Fish and
Chips instead?”
“Sounds more my speed,” he replied jovially. “And a pint of mulled mead,
please.”
* * * * * *
“It’s been two days,” Emily said sadly, as she and Caitlin cuddled in bed,
consoling each other. “Is no news considered good or bad in this type of a
situation?”
“I don’t know,” Caitlin answered despondently. “We seem to go right from one
calamity to another. Sometimes I think our family is jinxed.”
“We do seem to experience more than our fair share of misfortune,” Emily
suggested.
“Jamie was so looking forward to teaching Charms; she just has to be alright,”
Caitlin insisted. “Alex must be devastated.”
Jamie Zacherley had just concluded her seventh year at Hogwarts. In spite of
her youthful age, she had been chosen personally by Professor Flitwick to be
his replacement as Charms Professor. Jamie was last seen saying good-bye to her
friends at the Hogsmeade station as they departed for home on the Hogwarts
Express.
“I still don’t understand why anyone would kidnap Jamie,” her sister, Emily
questioned. “She doesn’t have any enemies; everyone loves Jamie.”
“Mum and Dad were conferring about that with Ron and Sam this morning when I
unexpectedly walked in on them,” Caitlin commented. “They stopped talking when
they saw me, but not before I overheard parts of their conversation. “You know
how Jamie and Hermione look so much alike. They all seem to think it was a case
of mistaken identity.”
“But if the intended victim was Mum; what will the captors do with Jamie when
they realize they’ve made a mistake?” Emily fretted nervously.
“That seems to be everyone’s critical concern,” Caitlin sighed.
* * * * * *
“You be careful now,” Rosmerta said as Alan negotiated his way out of the Three
Broomsticks. “I can’t afford to lose my finest customer.”
“I’m all right,” Alan slurred. “See you tomorrow night.”
Rosmerta smiled and went back to washing glasses as the door closed behind the
elderly ex-Auror. Some younger patrons, enthralled with Harris’s tales of
adventure and daring do, had insisted on buying him drinks throughout the
evening. Consequently, Harris had consumed considerably more than his usual few
pints tonight.
Alan didn’t realize just how smashed he was until the warm night air hit his
face. “I’ll never learn,” he mumbled to himself as he staggered unsteadily down
the street. As he passed a shadowy alley, he heard a noise that aroused his
Auror instincts.
“Who is there?” he shouted, instinctively reaching for his wand.
There was no answer. “Damn mulled mead has me hearing things,” he muttered to
himself.
Harris was about to continue on his way when he heard a faint voice gasp
pleadingly, “Help me, please.”
“Lumos,” he shouted. Then he wheezed in horror at the sight his wand’s
beam of light revealed. There was a mutilated naked body huddled in the
shadows. It appeared to be a young woman, but she was so bloody and matted with
dirt that he couldn’t be positive.
The horrifying sight worked better to clear his mind than any sobering charm
conceivable. Immediately Harris performed a spell to put the body in stasis. It
might already be too late, but any further blood loss would be disastrous; then
he sent red sparks into the air, summoning aid.
* * * * * *
“Caitlin, Emily, wake up,” Harry yelled urgently. “Poppy has just sent word
that Jamie has been found. She's about to be Portkeyed to the infirmary.”
“Is she okay?” Emily asked, jumping to her feet.
“Doesn’t sound good,” Harry answered truthfully. “She’s been put in stasis.
I’ve already sent an express owl to Alex. Poppy thinks she will need your help,
Caitlin. Hermione is already on her way to the hospital wing.”
“Then what are we waiting for?” Caitlin cried. She and Emily were out the door
before Harry could say another word, neither girl taking the time to bother
about dressing. Harry dashed hurriedly after them.
Harry was amazed at how fast the girls could run, especially considering that
they were both in bare feet. He was out of breath when he finally caught up to
them at the infirmary door. Severus and Katie had evidently as well just
arrived and were about to enter. The Headmaster observed Emily and Caitlin’s
lack of clothing sternly, but considering the situation steered clear of making
a chastising comment.
The five rushed into the room, and then froze, gasping at the horrifying site
before them. Severus felt as if he were about to retch.
“What happened to her?” Emily cried out desperately as she gazed at the bloody
mound, that was her sister, on the hospital bed.
Poppy just shook her head feebly. “I don’t even know where to start,” she said
sounding helpless. “She’s lost so much blood that I’m leery of taking her out
of stasis. Caitlin, can you measure the extent of her injuries while she
remains in stasis?”
“I can try,” she said somewhat cautiously. “I just have to avoid full body
contact. We don’t want a recurrence of the Yule Ball incident, when I tried to
help Emily and ended up putting myself in stasis.”
“What if you just touch various parts of her body with your hands, one at a
time?” Hermione suggested. “Not necessarily trying to heal them immediately,
but rather just identifying the extent of the injuries.”
“I can try that,” Caitlin answered optimistically.
“Should I clean her up somewhat first?” Pomfrey suggested.
“No, I can tell more if the fluids remain,” Caitlin replied. “The stasis will
prevent any further contamination of the wounds. We can wait and sanitize her
when we’re ready to commence the healing process.”
Harry and Hermione had tears in there eyes as they watched Poppy and Caitlin
begin the examination of the motionless heap of torn flesh that barely
resembled the beautiful young woman they both loved and thought of as a younger
sister.
Caitlin, for reasons known only to her, started the examination with Jamie’s
feet. First she examined the right and then the left foot.
“All of her toes have been broken,” Caitlin stated clinically, trying to
control her deep-rooted emotions. “Spikes appear to have been driven through
each foot. The damage is extensive, but can be mended.
“Ankles and knees aren’t damaged, but both legs have broken bones,” Caitlin
announced as her hands gently stroked Jamie’s gashed thighs. “Every inch of her
body appears to have been whipped unmercifully, but thus far most of the
injuries appear to be on the surface. They can be healed without scarring.”
Caitlin placed her hand on Jamie’s pelvis and gently pressed. “Not broken,” she
said with relief.
Emily gasped as Caitlin, in a business like fashion, moved her hands to Jamie’s
vagina and began probing it gently with her fingers. “A lot of tissue damage,
but miraculously there doesn’t seen to be any internal injures.”
When Caitlin finally arrived at Jamie’s breasts, everyone in the room, as one,
shuddered. “Deep laceration on the right breast, left virtually severed.”
Caitlin looked up sadly. “I’m not sure if I can restore it as it should be.”
Emily started to cry. No one deserved such cruel treatment, but especially not
Jamie. She was such a good person.
Caitlin continued. “Broken nose, severe deep lacerations to both the left and
right cheeks.” She shook her head doubtfully. “Is it possible to turn her
over?”
With Poppy’s assistance, Harry and Hermione gently turned Jamie’s lifeless
body. Katie and Severus watched downcast.
“Spine intact; left shoulder blade cracked.” Caitlin looked sadly at the
numerous welts on Jamie’s legs, back and bum. She thought to herself that Jamie
must have been whipped ruthlessly well over a hundred times.
Caitlin was about to make an observation concerning this when something caught
her attention. She separated Jamie’s bum cheeks and tenderly removed the girl’s
wand that had been inhumanly shoved up her anus.
“Sick, fucking bastards,” Caitlin cursed.
Neither Harry nor Hermione even considered reprimanding her for cursing.
“Did I miss anything Madam Pomfrey?” Caitlin asked dolefully.
“Just her head, I believe,” Poppy replied. “Are there any signs of a fracture
or a concussion?”
Caitlin started to concentrate, leaning down close to Jamie and placed both
hands on her sister’s bloody forehead. Unexpectedly, silver-while shining
sparks emanated from Jamie skull and connected to Caitlin. The next thing
Caitlin knew, she was on her knees, her face buried in her hands, her brain
aching as though it were about to explode.
“What happened?!” Hermione asked concernedly, kneeling down to put her arms
around her trembling daughter.
“I’m not sure,” Caitlin gasped, trying to regain her equilibrium. Abruptly
tears filled her eyes and she shuddered uncontrollably.
“I have her memories,” Caitlin panted. “Don’t ask me how, but suddenly I know
everything that happened to her as if I had watched it in a pensive. It was
dreadful.” Caitlin started to throw up in revulsion.
Hermione and Harry just gaped incredulously at each other.
“Is that even possible?” Hermione finally asked, looking questioningly at Madam
Pomfrey.
Poppy shrugged her shoulders. “Had you asked me that question a few years ago,
I would have said, no. But now that I’ve seen your daughter do the
theoretically impossible, I have to say yes. If she can heal with her hands and
mind, it doesn’t seem unreasonable that she would also be able to absorb
thoughts, especially if the person carrying those memories would desire to
reject them.”
Madame Pomfrey was about to begin a cleansing charm, when Alex burst
breathlessly into the room. “I Apparated to Hogsmeade as soon as I received
your owl. How is she?” he asked, before seeing the motionless form.
“Oh! My God!” he cried, rushing to Jamie’s side.
“Maybe, I should take Mr. Ward with me while you labor on Jamie,” Severus
suggested. Inwardly he was very uncomfortable because of Emily, Caitlin and
Jamie all being unclothed.
Hermione shook her head. “Alex won’t leave unless he’s forced,” Hermione said,
knowingly. “Moreover, it’s better he remain. For the sake of their
relationship, it’s vital that he know exactly what she went through and how
much she suffered.”
“Caitlin, she’s cleansed and prepared,” Madam Pomfrey informed. “Do you want me
to take her out of stasis?”
“Not quite yet. Let me get into position first,” Caitlin replied. “Mum, because
of the quantity and severity of Jamie’s injuries, I’m going to need your energy
to help sustain me.”
“What do you need me to do?” Hermione asked, supportively.
“I’m going to climb up on the bed and interlace my body with Jamie’s,” Caitlin
explained. “I need you to embrace me as tight as possible so that your powers
will augment mine.”
Caitlin hesitated briefly before adding, “Clothing will hinder the transference
of power.”
Hermione nodded and then looked demurely at Harry as if seeking his consent to
undress.
“Of course,” Harry said, without hesitation. “Whatever is required.”
Caitlin climbed into the bed and began to position herself as Hermione made to
remove her robes.
“Katie and I should go,” Severus said, tensely. He was turning extremely red.
“We’ll check back on Miss Zacherley later.”
“Severus, there is no reason for you to leave,” Hermione insisted. “You’ve
already seen me naked on a number of occasions. Besides, I’m a naturist. You
know I’m quite at ease being seen nude.”
At the moment, however, Severus was more concerned with his own emotions,
rather than Hermione’s. He realized that there was a clinical reason for her
getting undressed. He just wasn’t sure he’d be able to look at her in a purely
detached way. In Jamie’s present condition, her nudity was distinctly NOT a
sexual turn on. And he kept telling himself that Emily and Caitlin were young
girls and that it was totally immoral to even consider having sexual thoughts
about them. Hermione, however, was a different case entirely.
“Please, Severus! Let’s hang about,” Katie urged. “I mean, if Hermione really
doesn’t mind. I’d like to stay. I’ve read so much about Hyperempaths. This
might be my only chance to actually observe them at work.”
“I truthfully don’t mind,” Hermione said, removing her robes and revealing to
the room that she was totally bare beneath them.
Hermione ignored Katie and Severus, who both appeared momentarily taken aback
by her nudity. Harry, Emily, Alex and even Madam Pomfrey seemed to take her
nakedness in stride.
“What exactly do you need me to do?” Hermione asked.
“Climb on the bed behind me,” Caitlin instructed. “Then sort of mold your body
to mine. Hold me tight and concentrate on sending your healing energies to me.
Our combined powers should be strong enough to heal the majority of her
injuries.”
“The majority?” Hermione questioned, anxiously. “We have to put her back as she
was.”
“I’m going to try my utmost,” Caitlin assured, gritting her teeth. “I’m
concerned with her breasts and the extremely deep gashes on her face. They’ve
already started to heal a bit on their own. I think there may be some
inescapable scarring.”
“There just can’t be,” Hermione cried, anguish evident in her voice. “Jamie was
so beautiful. It’s terrible enough that she has to carry the memory of this
ordeal the rest of her life; she can’t as well be reminded of it every time she
looks in a mirror.”
“Mum, you know I’ll try. At this point I just don’t know,” Caitlin replied, her
spirits obviously disheartened.
“I know you’ll do your best,” Hermione said, hugging Caitlin tightly. Caitlin’s
eyes went out of focus and she seemed to drift into a trance.
“Professor Potter, couldn’t a memory charm be performed on Jamie so that she
won’t be haunted by recollections of this atrocity for the rest of her life?”
Alex asked.
“Memory charms can be dangerous and aren’t infallible,” Harry replied solemnly.
“The more traumatic the experience, the stronger the charm must be; the
stronger the charm the more chance of latent brain damage. Even if successful,
the strongest Memory Charm won’t put a stop to nightmares. If Caitlin can heal
her physically, hopefully time will help heal the mental scars.”
At first, as they watched, there was no visible change in Jamie’s appearance.
Then Katie gasped and grabbed Severus’s hand as the deep wounds left in Jamie’s
feet by the spikes disappeared before her eyes.
Katie’s eyes went wide and her head shook in wonder. “How is it possible? How
can anyone heal another person like that? I’m seeing it and I still can’t
believe it.”
One by one the welts that covered Jamie’s body vanished before their amazed
eyes.
“What I’d give to just have a small level of her power,” Madam Pomfrey said,
visibly awe struck.
In a relatively short time Jamie’s body was returned to its undamaged form with
the exception of her face and breasts.
“You might want to turn away and not watch this,” Poppy remarked, to the room
as one.
“Why?” Katie asked. “I find this fascinating.”
“Yes, it is,” Poppy agreed. “Caitlin’s powers have enhanced to such a degree
that in most instances she no longer has to emulate her patient’s injuries in
order to heal them. I don’t think that will be the case with Jamie’s facial and
chest injuries.”
“Emulate?” Katie repeated, a horrified expression on her face. “What exactly do
you mean by that?
“Hyperempaths heal in different ways depending on their ability and the
severity of the injury,” Poppy explained. “Because of her superior skills,
Caitlin is able, in frequent situations, to heal without even touching the victim.
In the case of a severe injury she does something that most Hyperempaths are
not capable of doing; she actually takes on the injury and then as she heals
her own body, the patient’s body also heals.”
“But what if the injury is of such severity that Caitlin can’t heal it?” Katie
asked. “What if the injury is life threatening?”
“That was our concern this past winter with the situation at the Yule Ball,”
Poppy enlightened. “We were concerned that the damage to Emily might have been
too vast for even Caitlin to heal.”
“And what if it was?” Katie asked uneasily. “What happens to the Hyperempath if
the patient dies?”
“Normally, nothing,” Poppy said. “Unless, the Hyperempath has emulated the
injuries in order to heal them; in that case the Hyperempath will also die. But
that, fortunately, is not our concern today. Although Jamie’s remaining
injuries are horrendous, they are not life threatening.”
Katie still seemed troubled and continued her questioning. “If Caitlin copies
Jamie’s remaining injuries, does that mean she’ll suddenly display those
horrible gashes on her face and have her breast practically lopped off?”
“Yes…a Hyperempath takes a great risk when they emulate injuries,” Madam
Pomfrey explained, “but it’s the only way to possibly heal such terrible wounds
completely.”
“What if she can’t heal the wounds completely?” Katie asked, dreading the
answer.
“The patient and the healer both share matching consequences,” Poppy answered
somberly. “If Jamie has any enduring deformities or scars, Caitlin will share
them.”
“Why would anyone take such a risk?” Katie asked.
“In this case love,” Poppy answered. “A great deal of love for the patient.
Miss Potter is an extraordinary young woman.”
Emily nodded her head in agreement with Poppy’s remark. Caitlin was indeed
astonishing.
“How will Hermione be affected by all this?” Harry asked, apprehensively.
“She is only acting as an energy booster for Caitlin,” Poppy elucidated. “Other
than being extremely exhausted, Hermione shouldn’t be affected at …”
Poppy’s last word was cut off by Emily’s shrill scream. Caitlin’s lovely face
was suddenly covered in blood as an invisible knife slashed her. She seemed to
shudder in agony as the same knife ripped her breasts, nearly severing the left
completely from her body.
Katie gasped and collapsed to the floor in a faint. Severus was thankful for
the need to attend to Katie; any excuse to turn away from the horrific scene
unfolding in front of him. Harry, Emily and Alex all clasped hands in support.
“It’s all up to Caitlin now,” Poppy said gravely. “I hope she has the strength
to restore them both.”
“Be honest with us Poppy,” Harry beseeched. “Do you think she can do it?”
Poppy hung her head. “That young lady, in years to come, will indisputably be
the greatest Hyperempath our world has ever seen.” She sighed. “There is just
too much damage. In the Muggle world, Jamie would be scarred for life and
definitely lose at least one of her breasts. Even with Hermione’s added
strength, I don’t believe that Caitlin yet has the necessary power to right the
lot. I’m afraid that both these girls will always carry some physical evidence
of this tragedy.
* * * * * *
“Severus, what are you going to
do about Caitlin and Emily?” Katie asked as they slowly walked back toward the
teacher’s quarters.
He looked at Katie guiltily. “I know, I should have reprimanded them for
running naked in the corridors, but under the circumstances I didn’t have the
heart,” Severus admitted. “Those two dumbfound me. It doesn’t faze them even
the slightest to be totally naked in the midst of a group of fully dressed
people. I’ll have to talk to Hermione and Harry about the girls being more
modest.”
“You’ve missed my point entirely,” Katie replied. “I don’t want you to admonish
them or have Hermione or Harry get on their case; just the opposite, in fact. I
think you should be more accepting of the reality that they are naturists.”
“More accepting?” Severus questioned, intensely. “What do you suggest? I think
I’ve been extremely tolerant of the whole nudist fixation. Might I remind you
that it was I who fought tooth and nail to keep Harry and Hermione on the staff
when public knowledge of their unconventional behavior threatened their jobs.”
“There are two types of tolerance,” Katie stated calmly. “Being truly tolerant
means that you’re open-minded and accepting of differences. I think your
definition of tolerance falls more into the category of putting up with a
difficult situation that you can’t alleviate.”
“Perhaps it does,” Severus retorted, his voice growing louder. “But I find the
whole concept strange and disconcerting. It goes against all rules of decency.
Are you seriously trying to tell me that Hermione and the girls being nude
tonight didn’t bother you at all?”
“Caitlin and Emily didn’t,” Katie replied, remaining cool. “I think they both
look adorable running around in the buff. They might be teenagers, but they
both still have a sweet innocent ambiance about them. I’ll admit that Hermione
stunned me at first, but it wasn’t her nudity; it was her beauty.”
“Okay, since you’re so accepting; what would you do, if you were me, to show
your understanding of their lifestyle? Allow the girls to attend classes nude?”
he asked mockingly.
“No! And now you’re being ridiculous,” Katie answered angrily. “I have no doubt
that the girls would jump at the chance, but you know as well as I do that most
parents, along with the Board of Governors, would never stand for it.”
“Then what do you propose I do to show my compassion?” Snape asked, arrogantly.
“That’s easy,” Katie replied smugly. “Ten months out of the year, the girls
abide by the school rules and wear a uniform to classes and meals. During the
summer let them be comfortable and live as naturists.”
“You can’t be serious?” Snape bellowed. “You actually want me to allow them to
scamper about the castle and grounds totally starkers. Have you gone mad?”
“Severus, what harm would it do?” Katie asked, almost pleaded. “The students
are gone for the next two months along with most of the school personnel.
Besides, the majority of the staff has already seen them nude on numerous
occasions. They’re two of our best students. Their lives appear to be in
constant jeopardy. It wouldn’t hurt anything and it would make them exceedingly
happy.”
“You’re serious, aren’t you?”
“Never been more serious,” Katie said. “I have a special treat planned for you,
if you do it.”
“Are you trying to bribe the Headmaster?” Severus inquired.
“I prefer to use the term, entice,” Katie replied sweetly.
“Have you considered Harry, Hermione and Jamie?” Severus asked. “After all,
they’re naturists, also. Should I suggest they also forgo their clothes?
Perhaps we could convert the school into a clothing optional resort for the
summer.”
“Perhaps you should become accustomed to sleeping alone again,” Katie retorted.
“I was simply suggesting that you do something nice that wouldn’t harm anyone.
It’s obvious though that you prefer to be an arse.” Katie turned and stomped
away.
“Where are you going?” Severus called after her, concernedly.
“Any place that you aren’t,” she replied sharply. “I need some fresh air.”
* * * * * *
Monday, July 3, 2006
“Ronnie, if you can feed Timmy his breakfast; I’ll be ready to go in about
fifteen minutes,” Sam shouted from the bathroom.
“I still can’t believe they didn’t contact us as soon as Jamie was found,” Ron
called back, his voice echoing hurt feelings.
"Ron, be reasonable. It was the middle of the night. They didn’t want to
wake us unnecessarily. Besides, what more could we have done other than offer
moral support?” Sam questioned.
“You’re probably right, but I still wish they had let us know right away. I
wonder who they had watch Ben?”
“Probably Ginny,” Sam replied. “They know that Molly spends most of the night
awake, so they most likely figured that they wouldn’t be rousing her. Don’t
take it so personal. They aren’t disowning you; we’re still their best
friends.”
“I know,” Ron said, semi-reconciled. “Should we offer to keep Ben for the day?”
“That’s a nice idea. We can stop by at Draco and Ginny’s apartment before going
to the infirmary,” Sam suggested. “Ben will probably be eager to see his family
and then he can spend the balance of the day with Timmy and us. I assume all
the Potters spent the night in the hospital wing.”
“Most likely. The note doesn’t go into a great deal of detail,” Ron responded.
“Harry does ask us not to question Jamie about what happened.” Ron shook his
head. “I have a feeling that the poor girl went through a living hell the past
few days.”
* * * * * *
“Ron and Sam are going to stop
by and pickup Ben on their way to the hospital wing,” Ginny said explanatorily.
“Should we go with them to visit Jamie or would you rather stop by to see her
later today?”
“I can’t go to visit her, at all,” Draco replied uncomfortably.
“Why not?” Ginny asked, perplexed. “I’m sure she’d appreciate your coming.”
“You don’t understand,” Draco bawled. “I’m the reason she’s there in the first
place. I can’t face her knowing that I was responsible for the suffering she
endured.”
Ginny stared mystified at him. “What on earth are you talking about, Draco? You
were with me when Jamie was kidnapped. Don’t you remember? We were busy
bringing this small bundle of joy into the world.” Ginny looked down lovingly
at little Molly, cradled in her arms.
Draco sat down and rubbed his face in his hands as if trying to erase a bad
memory. “I lied to you about where I was the weekend of the final task,” he
admitted. “I wasn’t helping my mother; I had been summoned to finally meet Lord
Slytherin. I was there when he received the news that the Hogwarts team had
been rescued from Fantastic Island. He was livid.
“Nott and I just stood there watching on tenterhooks as he ranted and raved. We
both doubted that we would ever leave the room alive. Finally, when his anger
subdued, he approached me. He had such a cold, uncaring look in his eyes.
“Nott tells me that you wish to join my ranks,”
Slytherin bellowed. “Yet you don’t seem to be in any hurry to prove your
loyalty to me. It has been months since you were assigned the task of
delivering Professor Granger to me. Perhaps you need a stronger incentive.”
“I’m sorry, My Lord,” Draco pleaded. “She never leaves the castle.”
“SILENCE,” Slytherin roared. “I’ve grown weary of excuses. It is my
understanding that you are soon to be a father. Is that correct?”
“Yes, My Lord,” Draco murmured.
“Then I give you a choice,” Slytherin bellowed. “Either deliver the Professor
to me or I will kill your first born.” Slytherin paced the room. “And don’t be
so foolish as to think that the walls of Hogwarts will protect the child from
me. I designed the castle and can enter and leave it at any time I desire.”
Draco wondered to himself, why Slytherin didn’t just snatch Hermione, if that
were the case, but he prudently held his tongue.
“Why Hermione?” Ginny
interrupted fretfully. “What is Slytherin’s fixation with her?”
“It’s not Slytherin, but Damien that has the obsession with Hermione,” Draco
explained. “When The Great One returned the spirit of Slytherin to our time, it
took possession of Damien’s body. It was Damien who had so cruelly tortured
Hermione and who is still fascinated by her. Slytherin’s spirit controls
Damien’s body, but occasionally Damien’s thoughts and desires bubble to the
surface.”
“I didn’t know what to do; who to turn to,” Draco sobbed desperately. “I was
afraid to go to Potter and The Order of the Phoenix. If Slytherin could get
into the castle, there was no protecting you and the baby. I again considered
suicide as a way out, but I doubted that even that would secure your and the
baby’s safety.”
“Then Hermione came to us and told us that she and Jamie were going to go into
Hogsmeade,” Draco declared. “It was my way out of this hell.”
“You were going to actually give him Hermione,” Ginny said, horror-struck.
“Not in reality,” Draco quickly cut in. “I owled Nott telling him that Hermione
would be in Hogsmeade the next day.” Draco bit his lip. “I planned to tell
Potter the whole arrangement in the morning. I didn’t like using Hermione as
bait, but didn’t see any other choice. Potter could have the Order watch over
her and thwart any abduction attempts. Hopefully, Slytherin would not blame me
for the stymied attempt and we would all be safe.
“Then that morning, Molly decided to enter our lives. Hermione was helping with
the delivery, so I didn’t bother telling Potter about the plan. I knew she was
safe. I wasn’t sure if Slytherin would accept another excuse from me, but at
the time my mind was occupied with more contented thoughts. I didn’t for a
moment consider Jamie to be in any danger.”
“Slytherin, unfortunately assigned Crabbe and Goyle to pick Hermione off the
street, total dimwits that they are. I know Jamie and Hermione bear a striking
resemblance, but they’re not twins. Those two idiots went to school with
Granger for seven years and have seen her since, yet they screwed up and
snatched the wrong girl.”
“Are we still in danger?” Ginny asked.
“No, at least not at the moment,” Draco explained. “Slytherin feels I did my
part and that I’m not to blame for Hermione not going into Hogsmeade.”
“Then everything ended okay,” Ginny said matter-of-factly. “Jamie made it back
safely. Everyone is out of harm's way. You shouldn’t blame yourself. You had a
horrible decision to make, but it all turned out fine.”
Draco stared at Ginny, an astounded look on his face. “I’d hardly call it
fine,” he said vehemently. “Slytherin’s first inclination was to kill Jamie.”
“But thankfully he didn’t and she made it home safely,” Ginny proclaimed.
“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” Draco shouted. “Slytherin didn’t
just decide to good naturedly release Jamie. He gave her to his underlings and
let them have their way with her. She was subjected to all manners of abuse and
torture. His only orders were that she was not to be killed. He wanted her to
be a walking message of what happens if you wrongly cross Lord Slytherin’s
path.”
“Do you mean that she was…?”
“By just about everyone of his followers,” Draco declared with revulsion. “A
good number of them, numerous times. She was furthermore beaten, tortured and
mutilated. I doubt even Caitlin with her remarkable powers can put right her
cruelly disfigured body. Even if she can do the impossible, the girl will
always have the memories. And I’m to blame for it all. Somehow I don’t think
that my going to her and saying that I’m sorry will be quite sufficient.”
Ginny looked at Draco, then Molly, and then stared off into space, not uttering
a word. She had literally no idea what to say.
* * * * * *
When Caitlin and Hermione both
passed out from exertion the previous evening, Harry gently carried them each
to a separate bed and then settled on a chair next to Hermione.
“I imagine you’ll all be spending the night?” Madam Pomfrey asked Harry, Emily
and Alex.
“If you don’t mind,” Harry said tiredly. “We all want to be here when they wake
up.” He glanced first at Jamie and then at Caitlin. “Will they both have those
scars for the remainder of their lives?”
“Some, but not all,” Poppy replied. “Dittany will help diminish the scarring.
There will unquestionably be some faint scarring remaining surrounding the left
breast, but considering the original damage, that’s to be expected. The facial
scars should fade away completely in a few days.”
“It’s amazing,” Harry said, scanning Jamie’s striking body. “It’s almost as if
the atrocity never occurred. Anyone who didn’t see her before the healing
wouldn’t be able to fathom what she suffered.”
“If only Caitlin had the power to heal the psyche, too,” Poppy declared. “I’m
afraid Jamie might be haunted by nightmares of this experience for the
remainder of her life.”
“Jamie’s strong,” Alex said assuredly. “It might take her some time, but she’ll
rebound from this experience.”
“I hope you are correct, Mr. Ward,” Poppy replied. “All we can do is be
supportive and not push her. She is going to need time to adjust.”
Madam Pomfrey said her good nights and then went off to her quarters that
adjoined the infirmary. Alex and Harry settled into chairs next to Jamie and
Hermione, each holding their loves hand. Emily crawled into bed next to Caitlin
and cuddled her sister into her arms.
It was a few hours later, after they had all fallen asleep, that Jamie awoke.
At first she was startled and bewildered. Then finally, she recognized where
she was and who was holding her hand. The excruciating pain was gone, her
physical suffering at an end. She saw her family sleeping in close proximity
and understood instantly that Caitlin had healed her. She reached her
unoccupied hand to her breasts and anxiously examined them with her fingers;
she was relived that they were still there. She felt her face. The cuts were
gone, but she wondered how awfully scarred she might be.
Despite her efforts to block out the memories, her mind returned her to that
day and she began to cry. She felt like a used and battered slag. Even though
the room was sterile clean, she felt dirty; she felt like she would never be
clean again. She knew in her heart that she was going to lose Alex. He couldn’t
possibly want her anymore; not after what had happened to her. She sobbed.
Their love had been so special and now… Now she felt like a soiled rag that
would be tossed aside.
Alex stirred and then awoke. “Hi,” he said, smiling at Jamie. “Welcome back. I
imagine you know that you had us all rather worried.”
“I was somewhat scared myself,” Jamie said understatedly. “Not a vacation that
I’d recommend.”
“No, you didn’t appear to have been treated very nicely,” Alex sighed.
“Thankfully your ordeal in over and you’ve been returned to us. I love you so
much. I couldn’t picture living without you by my side.”
“Are you sure you still want me?” Jamie asked. Her eyes widened as she looked
up desperately at Alex. “They didn’t just beat and torture me Alex. They used
me in every sick depraved way imaginable. I feel like a filthy village whore.”
She burst into uncontrollable tears.
“Jamie, I love you,” Alex said, wrapping his arm around her quaking body. “I’m
not going to say that what happened doesn’t matter because that would be
treating it in a frivolous uncaring way. It does matter; it was atrocious. I
won’t be satisfied until every one of the sick bastards is dead or residing
permanently in Azkaban. But what happened doesn’t change the way I feel about
you. It just makes me that much more sure of my feelings for you. I love you.
Nothing will ever change that.”
“But they destroyed something special we had,” Jamie sobbed. “You and I had
only ever been with each other, now I feel like I’ve been shagged by the whole
damn dark army.”
“Nothing was destroyed,” Alex said comfortingly. “We still have what makes our
relationship special. You see, I consider shagging and making love as two
entirely different things. We still have that special connection and always
will.”
“You mean you still want me?”
“How could you think otherwise?” Alex replied.
“You’ll have to be patient with me,” Jamie said. “It might take a little time
for me to be comfortable being intimate after what happened.”
“Do you still love me?”
“Of course, I love you,” Jamie insisted.
“Then time is no problem,” Alex replied. “I’d wait an eternity for you.”
“I hope it’s not that long,” Jamie said, giving the glimmer of a faint smile.
“Would you like me to find other accommodations until you are ready?” Alex
asked.
“No! I like you close and you holding me feels good,” Jamie answered. “I’m just
going to need a little time before we do the other stuff.”
“Does the other stuff include kissing?” Alex inquired.
“No! Actually I could really use a tender kiss right now from someone.”
“Would you like me to get either Harry or Hermione?” Alex kidded.
“Only if you want to die.”
Alex leaned over and their lips met in a caring, affectionate, gentle kiss.
Harry squeezed Hermione hand. “They’re going to be all right,” he whispered.
Hermione smiled. Emily and Caitlin hugged each other happily.
* * * * * *
Madam Pomfrey had Dobby bring breakfast to the infirmary for everyone. She
wanted to give Hermione and Caitlin a full examination prior to releasing them.
She insisted, however, that Jamie remain in the infirmary for at least a few
days.
It was nearly lunchtime when Poppy finally told Caitlin she could leave.
“You two better ask Madam Pomfrey if you can borrow hospital gowns,” Hermione
suggested. “The Headmaster didn’t seem too happy that you were both nude last
night.”
“I had to be naked in order to treat Jamie’s injuries properly,” Caitlin
insisted. “Besides he didn’t have a problem with you stripping off your
garments.”
“That was poles apart,” Hermione insisted. “It is not unusual for a Hyperempath
to be nude when rendering care. I believe he was upset by the fact that you
both obviously had traversed the distance for our apartment to here without any
clothing. He won’t tolerate you running about the castle starkers.”
“I’ll never understand why some people get so bent out of shape over nudity. It
should be a matter of choice,” Emily declared. “I don’t insist he go naked; he
shouldn’t insist that I wear clothes. What does my being nude hurt?”
“Honey, we’ve had this discussion a million times,” Hermione said with a sigh.
“I agree with you, but I’m not the ruler of the world. When I become ruler,
I’ll declare the entire world clothing optional.”
“Could you hurry up with becoming ruler then,” Caitlin asked jokingly. “I’m
getting more and more fanatical like Emily. I’m really beginning to hate the
feel of fabric against my skin. I can’t believe there was a time when I actually
used to wear knickers.” Caitlin shuddered at the thought.
“Do we really have to put on those awful hospital gowns?” Emily begged.
Hermione gave Harry a questioning glace. “Okay, forget the gowns, but go right
to our apartment and try to avoid contact with anyone. I don’t want you two
getting on the bad side of the Headmaster.”
Caitlin and Emily kissed everyone goodbye and then promised Jamie they’d return
shortly after lunch. They checked the corridor to make sure it was empty before
slipping out the door.
“Those girls! Sometimes I just don’t know what to do with them,” Hermione
declared. “If they had their way, they’d never wear clothes.”
“I noticed you haven’t scurried to put your robes back on,” Harry joked.
It was only then that Hermione became conscious that she was still nude from
the previous night. She hadn’t even thought to cover herself when Sam and Ron
came to visit Jamie. No wonder Ron had acted so weirdly.
“I think I’m going to have to reclassify you,” Harry said with a laugh.
“Pardon?”
“Don’t tell me you forgotten the famous Potter Classification System, the PCS
of nudists?” Harry asked.
“Oh! That!” Hermione laughed. “Of course, I remember. I even recall the four
classes. The Fourth Class is the private nudist. That’s someone who likes to be
in the buff, but only when alone. They’re always dressed if someone else is
about. The exception being that some fourth class nudist don’t mind being naked
in front of their mates.”
Second and third class are both recreational nudists. They have no problem
being nude in a public nude environment. The third class tends to play it
straight when out of the nudist atmosphere, where the second class continues to
be nude as much as possible as long as they are comfortable with the people
they are with. I remember you classified me as second class and you as thirds
class,” Hermione laughed.
“Then there are our girls, first class nudists all the way. If they could,
they’d never wear a stitch. They don’t care who sees them nude. They’re not the
least bit embarrassed. Given the freedom and safety to do so, they wouldn’t
hesitate to go anywhere starkers even if everyone else were fully clothed.”
“Mione, you never cease to amaze me,” Harry exclaimed. “Don’t you ever forget
anything you’ve read or heard?”
“I try not to. So, are you changing my classification up or down?” Hermione
asked.
“Definitely up. I think you are ready to be first class.”
“Harry, I’m nothing like the girls,” Hermione protested. “I’m not an extreme
nudist.”
“True, unlike the girls, you wouldn’t push the boundaries of naturism but you
have to admit that your modesty factor has changed appreciably. Does it
embarrass you at all any more to be seen naked?”
“No, not really, but that doesn’t mean that I’m going to parade into Hogsmeade
in my birthday suit, either,” Hermione asserted.
“I doubt there would be many complaints if you did,” Harry teased.
Hermione blushed. Harry was correct; a part of her would be quite content to
forgo clothing. She wondered if, like the girls, she would be at ease naked in
a world of fully dressed people. There was a time that the answer to that
question would have been a definite no, but now she wasn’t sure. Stranger
still, was the fact that she’d like to have the opportunity to find out.
* * * * * *
“Will you and Jamie always have
those scars?” Emily asked concernedly, as she and Caitlin made their way back
to the Potters’ quarters.
“Yes and no,” Caitlin replied, unemotionally. “Madam Pomfrey feels that the
dittany will cause the facial scars to fade completely away. I’m rather
thankful of that. No girl wants to resemble Mad-Eye Moody. The scars on our
chests are another matter. They’ll fade, but the ones around the left breast
especially will always be noticeable to the observant.”
For a time they walked in silence, both lost in thoughts.
“It looks like we’ll make it back to our apartment without being seen,” Caitlin
finally said, as they neared the teachers’ quarters.
As if she had tripped a jinx, they turned the corner and nearly ran into
Professor Bell and the Headmaster.
“We’re sorry,” Caitlin cried out nervously. “We know we shouldn’t be out of our
quarters in the buff, but last night we left in a panic and forgot our
clothing. It won’t happen again.”
“Calm down,” Katie said understandingly. “No one is going to reprimand you. How
is Jamie?”
“It’s going to take her sometime to deal emotionally with what happened to her,
but she’ll be all right physically,” Caitlin explained. “Except for a few
scars, most of which will fade away.”
Caitlin indicated the blemishes on her cheeks and chest. Severus cringed,
remembering Jamie’s initial butchered appearance.
“We’re on our way to the hospital wing now to visit her,” Katie said. “It’s
fortunate that we ran into you; the Headmaster has something he wants to chat
about.”
Katie gave Severus an obvious nudge.
“Ah yes,” Severus said indecisively. “I wanted to talk to you about this whole
naturist thing.”
The Headmaster seemed unable to look at the unclothed students, instead his
eyes seemed fixed on a spot on the wall behind them about a foot above their
heads.
“Professor Bell has pointed out to me that I haven’t been nearly as
understanding of your choices in life as I should be.” He gave a deep sigh
before continuing. “Admittedly, I find your state of undress upsetting, but
that is caused more by my dated way of thinking than by any harm your nakedness
actually causes.”
He took another deep breath. Evidently he was having a hard time groping for
the correct words to express his feelings.
“I honestly don’t understand naturism. Professor Bell tells me that it sort of
boils down to you being as uncomfortable with clothes on as I would be without
them.”
Emily suppressed a giggle and nodded her head in agreement.
“You young ladies spend ten months of the year uncomfortable, forced to wear
garments that you loathe. Since the castle is just about vacant in the summer,
I imagine that it wouldn’t cause a hardship if you were allowed to be
comfortable for those two months.”
Emily and Caitlin exchanged startled expressions. Had they heard the Headmaster
correctly? They had expected to be chastised. Was he actually saying that they
could spend the summer as true naturists?
“You’re having a go at us,” Emily blurted out.
Snape laughed in spite of himself. “I assure you, that I’m not.”
“Just us or can others be natural, too?” Caitlin asked.
“I assume you mean young Timmy and your friend Miss Thatcher if she again
visits at the end of summer. Certainly they may likewise be comfortable,” Snape
said. He was noticeably uncomfortable.
“I more meant adults,” Caitlin replied. “Jamie, Sam, our parents?”
Severus noticeably gulped. “If they so choose, I imagine it would be
acceptable.” He glared momentarily at Katie, as if asking her what she had
gotten him into.
“We can be nude all the time; anywhere on the grounds or in the castle. Even
the Great Hall?” Emily questioned excitedly.
Severus nodded. Suddenly he felt as if he had opened Pandora’s box and that all
hell was about to break loose.
“We have to get down to the infirmary,” Katie said, grabbing Severus’s hand.
“You girls have a wonderful summer.”
“We will,” Emily and Caitlin shouted happily in unison.
When Professors Snape and Bell turned the corner, the girls exchanged high
fives. It was going to be a marvelous summer.
End of chapter one
My thanks go out to my betas for this chapter:
Don, Ken and Mistri-Tonks' Admirer.
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