The Third Point and Devil's Snare in the Girls

Chapter 7

Jakkin slowly came to. The room was out of focus, but was starting to refocus. His forehead was prickling. He propped himself up, and looked around. Once again, he got landed in the hospital wing. He saw a little mirror on the nightstand by his bead, and picked it up, and held it in front of his face. He gasped. He was looking at Harry's face! Then Harry, Ron, and Hermione came in, and ran over to Jakkin's bed when they saw him awake. Jakkin looked at Harry carefully, as he came forward, and kept glancing at the mirror. <>On Jakkin's forehead was a lightning bolt shaped scar

"Well," started Harry, "when you fell, I uh... um... used that Entarpatinesco jinx on the guy that did the.... the curse on you. Then I summoned one of our pillows, and gripped you, and touched it , just as Voldemort got ticked off and yelled 'Avada.' It seemed as if our pillows were made portkeys"

"Oh," there was a pause, then, "Can you explain..." Jakkin gestured to his own forehead. Harry shook his head, "I don't think you have been marked, so it must be something else."

"Marked?" asked Jakkin, "What is that?" Harry looked around at the other beds, and then gave Jakkin an 'I-will-tell-you-later' look. Jakkin understood and nodded.

Madam Pomfrey came rushing down to the bed, "Out, out you three! Can't you see that this boy needs some rest? Wouldn't you if you have been hit by the...... cast by one of the followers of He-who-must-not-be-named?" She paused frequently, and Jakkin could tell that she had a hard time believing it herself. "What time is it?" Jakkin suddenly asked.

"Well, you have been asleep for fifteen days, let's just say that. Now shoo you three," Madam Pomfrey waved Ron, Harry, and Hermione scurried out.

Before he left, Harry whispered to him, "Ron gave me his 'Very Ugly' list. The dance is tomorrow. Hope you can make it... that is, if you don't get yourself knocked out again."

Jakkin chuckled to himself, almost imagining Ron trying to ask someone out.

Madam Pomfrey let Jakkin out later that afternoon, and he sought out the threesome. He found them sitting in front of the fire in the Gryffindor common room. Ron was hunched over a piece of parchment, and muttering, "Padma, Lavender, Herm-own-ninny," Hermione rolled her eyes, and Harry sniggered. Jakkin figured that he was going through his 'Not Bad' list. Harry caught site of Jakkin, and beckoned him over. When Jakkin got closer, he saw names crossed out on Ron's list.

"Unsuccessful askings," Harry said laughing, noticing Jakkin watching. Hermione was the one that noticed the look on Jakkin's face.

"What's wrong Jakkin," she asked.

"The second clue, did you get it?" he asked. Ron and Harry looked up. They all started talking at once. "Whoa! Slow down, a yes or no?"

"Ya we found it," Ron said, "It was an ol' chunk of clay. And a metal plate to go with it."

When he saw the puzzled look on Jakkin's face, Harry explained, "The next day after our encounter with... Voldemort, we decided to follow up on the first clue, after taking you to the hospital wing. Sorry we didn't wait for you, but we didn't think we could afford to lose fifteen days." Jakkin nodded, indicating that he understood, and Harry continued, "Anyways, we got there a little before noon, and searched for this purple rock hidden inside of a muggle penny. Anyways, it stumped us until we realized that we were standing in a round indention, so we decided that is what the riddle referred to, you know how coins are round and such. Anyways, near the side farthest from the lake, there was a huge dark rock that would pass for purple... when it was wet anyways. Sure enough, the shadow of the hawk pole fell right on that rock. On the side where moss grew, that is where we had trouble. There was no moss growing on it! So, Hermione figured it must be the north side of the rock we were looking for. So, she had a hole blown out in no time in the ground on the north side of the rock. And right there was the clay with the second clue on it, and a leather bag with a shiny metal disk in it."

"And...?" pushed Jakkin.

"Well, read the clue if you want." Hermione said, and raised her wand. Out of the girls' dormitories, a package flew towards her. Hermione caught it and put away her wand. Carefully unwrapping the parcel, she took out a clay tablet with words pressed into it, and a leather case, from with she withdrew an ordinary looking metal disk, about eight inches in diameter. She handed Jakkin the clay tablet. Jakkin took it as Hermione went back to writing and Ron back to his list. Harry kept looking at Jakkin. Jakkin read:

Jakkin looked up, "Sounds simple enough." Harry nodded.

Ron muttered something, and then announced, "I have decided who I should ask to the dance next." Harry rolled his eyes, and Jakkin chuckled. Ron continued, "Herm-own-ninny... that is, unless she invites Vicky over." Ron, looked down, and went red after finishing, as if regretting what he had just said. Hermione looked up, surprised, and started laughing.

"Yes... Yes, I'll... go... with you," Hermione managed to choke out, laughing so hard, tears were forming in her eyes. "Under... one... condition." Ron looked up hopefully, and she finished, "Do... not... step on... my... feet." She was rolling on the floor now. She managed to pick herself up, and she got her stuff together, and went up to the girls' dorm, still laughing. Jakkin looked back at Ron who was redder than his hair, which was pretty hard to believe.

"Umm... guys, did she say she would?" he asked.

"Must have? Do you think she took you seriously?" Harry said before he himself burst into a laughing fit.

"We are just kidding with you man." Muttered Jakkin, before he too was rolling on the floor laughing. He started humming 'Weasley is our King.' "Weasley is our king, he is gonna go dancing, Weasley is my king." After that, Harry and Jakkin went up to their dorm, hooting all the way.

At dinner, Ron was still very red. Hermione, Jakkin, and Harry managed to stop laughing. "So?" Demanded Ron, "What was that all about?"

"Well," started Hermione, on the verge laughter again, "Think about it. I mean, you of all people asking me. 'Member, in our first year?" She clears her throat and starts mimicking Ron, "'It's not Leviosaaa, its Levioooosa. She's a nightmare, really. It's no wonder she doesn't have any friends.' And are you the same person that poked fun of poor little me at every chance you got? For example, in our second year, the polyjuice potion, and my cat tail? And don't let me start on our third year, or go back through year one to mention everything." She burst into heavy laughter again, and some Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws looked over.

"And who is the one that got all jealous of 'Vicky' when he danced with Hermione?" Harry asked. Ron started to go red again.

"Well... I er... she er.... Well... I is now older and wiser, and I have... er..." Ron stuttered, but Hermione only laughed harder, causing the Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws, and Slytherin to look over again.

"You.... Know what Ron?" She asked, still shaking, "You are really something else." She seemed to cool down enough to sip some pumpkin juice from here goblet.

"Um... Ron?" Jakkin said, through a mouthful of pot pie, "Think about it." He gestured upwards, as if placing words on an imaginary piece of paper, "'Hermione and Ron, the Perfect Match.'" He started laughing too, almost spitting out his food.

Ron, now redder than his hair again managed to say, "You... guys are just... jealous." Hermione, Jakkin, and Harry laughed even harder. Ron muttered, "Oh right, now I somehow managed to put the 'Rickluesempra' charm on you." He rolled his eyes, and started on two turkey drumsticks. "You guys don't even have dates."

"There is only one thing wrong with your reasoning there, Ron," said Harry, cooling down, I do have a date. And no way, it is not in a million years Cho... she is impossible. By the way, the D.A is going to start up next week, Hermione has Dumbledore's permission even."

"Oh, and I do too Ron, that is, if I manage not to get knocked out again for twenty days tonight," Jakkin said, getting up. Goodnight you three, I am gonna hit the sack. They just raised there hands to say goodnight, because they were laughing so hard. Ron, was just Staring down at his plate, getting redder, and redder, and redder.

Jakkin was laying in bed, and gradually fell asleep.

Jakkin was in a dark room. There was no way out. Then be heard maniacal laughter, and an evil high pitched voice taunting him. In the center of the large room, he saw a shining orb that shone brightly. Jakkin thought of it as of top importance. He wanted it bad. He really needed it. He cautiously headed towards it. The laughter and taunting increased in pitch. He was a yard away from the orb now. He reached for it-- and managed to grip it.

His dream vanished suddenly, and the rest of the night, he managed to go dreamless, now that he felt he has accomplished something.