The Nine

Chapter 13: Nakuru's Sentinel

Nakuru walked into the Gryffindor common room beaming. Gwen and Ron sat together on one of the couches- Gwen apparently attempting to teach Ron the basic concept of Euchre. "I'll never get this bloody game," he sighed as Nakuru sat across from them.

Nakuru rolled her eyes. "Men. You'll learn, trust me."

Gwen shuffled the cards idly. "So where is everyone?"

"What- it's just you two up here?" asked Nakuru, half-hinting at Ron. "I thought everyone was in the library playing cards. But then I saw you two and figured they were all here."

"No," Ron interjected, "they left us about a half-hour ago. I can't believe Harry left me to my own defences with her," he said jokingly as he nudged Gwen.

Nakuru shrugged. "Any way we can find them without, say, leaving our seats?" she asked, half-joking.

"There is the Marauder's Map. But that's missing," Ron admitted as he sorted his cards.

"Marauder's Map?" Gwen enquired. "Another one of your brothers' inventions?"

Ron shook his head. "No, actually. They're just how we came by it. It was actually made by Sirius, Lupin, and Harry's dad- and some no good underling. It's very handy."

Nakuru looked intrigued. "Remus helped make it?"

"Long story. It's a map of the school that shows where you, and everyone else, are in the school. It's a great sneaking device!" Ron explained. "But I can't remember what happened to it. May have been taken away..."

A look of depression came over Gwen's face. "Oh that's so sad. That'd be really useful."

Nakuru rolled her eyes. "Pranksters... I'll never understand your kind."

Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced Nakuru's mind. She clutched the sides of her head as she began to writhe in pain on the floor. It felt like a severe headache being amplified to an excruciating degree of agony. A high-pitched screech filled her mind, and everything went black. It felt as though her head was going to split right open; she cried out in pain.

Gwen jumped off the couch instantly, and knelt by Nakuru's side. "Nak! Nak! Not again!" She shook Nakuru's shoulders frantically. "Come on, hun! Answer me! Nak, are you okay?"

Ron was now beside Gwen, unsure of what to do. Nakuru was screaming in pain. "Is she okay? What can I do?"

"Go get Madame Pomfrey!" Gwen yelled as she tended to Nakuru, who continued to thrash about uncontrollably on the floor.

Ron did quickly as he was told and make a run for the door.

All Nakuru could see was darkness. As the shrill screeching resonated in her mind, images began to flash before her eyes. They appeared more vividly than ever before, but she was nearly unable to decipher them due to the pain. A colossal tremor and shockwave overpowering the school... Darkness... Screaming...and that evil laughter that Nakuru now knew to be Voldemort's... She could see people dying- in pain. She could feel their torture...

The images sand screeching subsided, but the pain from the sharp resonance was still very much present. Nakuru's body shook uncontrollably, and her face was as white as a ghost. Gwen attempted to hold Nakuru's hand to comfort her, but Nakuru cried out in pain. Her skin was cold to the touch.

Ron rushed into the room with Madame Pomfrey, followed by Salinas and Chris. Madame Pomfrey pushed everyone out of her way. "Don't touch her! She's sensitive!" She opened a small vial labelled 'Savin' and put it to Nakuru's lips. Nakuru swallowed the liquid and struggled to sit up, though she was still vastly enervated. Madame Pomfrey forced her back down. "No, child. Rest."

Chris was beside himself with worry. He turned to Gwen, who was biting her nails and shaking uncontrollably- she was almost in tears. "Worse than before?" he asked quietly.

"It's never been this bad, Chris. Never." She incessantly looked from Nakuru to Chris. "I'm scared. She was so cold..."

Chris hugged Gwen, and looked down at Nakuru, who was now curled up in the fetal position on the floor, still shaking. Madame Pomfrey scowled angrily at any who dared approach her or the broken girl.

Salinas sat on the smaller armchair, and stared into the fireplace- her back to all of the commotion. Ron stood beside her. "It was really bad, wasn't it?"

"I didn't know what to do," Ron admitted as he too looked into the fire.

"I can only 'magine what Gwen and Chris are feeling. They mus' be so scared... I mean- I'm worried too... But I'm not used t'all this... Imagine what it's like for them seein' Nak getting worse..."

Ron nodded, and looked over at Gwen and Chris. Gwen was now sitting pacing frantically around the room, and Chris sat on the floor as close as he could get to Nakuru without interrupting Madame Pomfrey.

"Why can't we bring her to the hospital wing?" asked Salinas suddenly.

"Physically and magically we can't. We'd be hurting her. Salinas, dear, will you please put a charm on the common room door, and see to it that it not be opened for anyone but a Professor? Just go outside and 'stand guard' for me..."

Salinas nodded and did as she was asked.

Ron walked over to Gwen silently. He couldn't stand to see her upset like this. "Gwen," he started, nervously clearing his throat.

She stopped pacing and looked at him uneasily. All she could handle was looking at her feet- tears began to stream down her face. "I want her to be okay," she said as she began to cry. "This has never happened before..."

Ron walked up to Gwen silently, pulling her into a hug. "She'll be alright. You'll see." He patted her back as he held her, Gwen still looking over his shoulder down at Nakuru. "She's lucky to have friends like you."

"I could've done more... I should have," she protested.

Ron shook his head. "It'll all be okay..."

As Madame Pomfrey stood up, she turned to Chris. "I'll be right back. And don't touch her," she reiterated as she left the room.

Chris looked down at Nakuru, who was curled up, and staring at the floor silently. He inched closer to her slowly, and curled up on the floor beside her, so as to be at her eye-level. "Nak..." He looked into her eyes, hoping she'd respond. "Are you okay?"

As if on cue, her eyes flickered, and she looked him in the eye. Her body still shook uncontrollably, though her face was not as white as before. "I'm cold..."

Chris made a pouting face. "I'd try to warm you up, or give you a blanket or something... But I don't want to hurt you."

"You'd never hurt me, Chris," Nakuru said softly with a weak smile, closing her eyes again.

Reluctantly, Chris put his arm around her, pulling her closer to him. She winced slightly at first touch, but then relaxed against him as she absorbed his warmth. The pain began to slowly lessen as she began to warm up, and she found herself able to move without pain shooting through her body.

Suddenly, Madame Pomfrey returned with Dumbledore and Remus. Contrary to what Chris had expected, Madame Pomfrey smiled. "Christian Shazzar, my word! I leave the room for two minutes and tell you not to touch the poor girl and what do you do?"

"I touch the poor girl?" he said uneasily as he let go of Nakuru.

"Don't be smart, boy! What did you do?" she demanded curiously. "How is it that she's not screaming in pain?"

Remus looked down at Nakuru. "She trusted him."

Chris looked perplexedly at Albus. "Did I do something wrong?"

Dumbledore smiled. "No boy, you didn't. Would you care to assist Madame Pomfrey and I in bringing Ms. Summers to the hospital wing, now that she can move?"

Chris nodded and slowly helped Nakuru up. She wobbled on her feet for a moment before she adjusted, and then leaned on Chris for support. The four exited the room, leaving Ron, Gwen, Salinas, and Remus

"How does that whole trust thing work, Lupin?" Salinas enquired as the Fat Lady's portrait shut.

"Well... From what it looks like," Remus explained, "Nakuru was hurting because she put up a natural defence when she was having her vision... But after the vision and pain in her mind abated, because it was so terrible, Nakuru was still subconsciously trying to defend herself- not realizing that she was bringing herself more harm than relief."

"Well then, how'd Chris 'break' that defensive barrier?" asked Salinas. "That doesn't explain what you said 'bout the trust stuff."

Gwen nodded. "Yeah, I mean... When I touched her, she screamed so loudly... And she knows that I'd never hurt her. She trusts me, but yet I couldn't do anything."

Remus nodded. "It's not so much a matter of trust, as it is a matter of who you allow. Chris is apparently Nakuru's sentinel."

"Her what?" asked Ron, who'd been rather quiet since Nakuru and Chris left.

Remus sighed. "A sentinel is a guard or guardian. You learn all about this stuff in your first year Natural Magic course in University, so trying to explain it all in one shot is a bit tricky..." He took a deep breath, and sat down in the nearest chair before continuing. "Every living thing has a natural, magical defence system. It's not as strong in muggles and other living things as it is in magical entities. Anyway, every person will have someone whom they trust act as their sentinel- whether they consciously choose this person or otherwise. They're chosen so that in the event of something terrible happening the sentinel can still help protect them. Am I making any sense?"

Gwen nodded silently; then shook her head.

"Sentinels protect and help when nobody or nothing else can. Chris is Nakuru's sentinel. Understand?" Salinas reiterated Remus' words. "It's not that difficult."

Remus looked at his watch. "Well, I really must be going. Have to go check on her, and then leave, or I'll miss the train."

Salinas nodded. "Well, thanks for filling us in- I think."

"Your welcome," replied Remus as he exited the room.

***

In the hospital wing, Chris handed Nakuru a piece of chocolate. "Madame Pomfrey told me to give you that. It'll help with your shivering."

Nakuru smiled as she took the chocolate, and took a bite. "Thank you for what you did up there."

"I was just doing my job. I hate seeing you hurting like that, you damn cubby," Chris said with a smile.

"I wanted to laugh when you said 'I touch the poor girl'," said Nakuru, smirking. "It made you sound really perverted."

"What- I'm not perverted? Heaven forbid people know the horrible truth!" he exclaimed sarcastically.

Nakuru shook her head. "You're so weird."

"You know you like it," said Chris wittily.

Nakuru shrugged. "Maybe just a little bit."

"Only a little bit?" her asked her curiously.

"Maybe a lot..."

"We're not talking about me being weird anymore, are we?" Chris asked after a moment of awkward silence. He had never been good at serious conversations, and theirs appeared to be heading in that direction.

Nakuru bit her lip uncomfortably. She was blushing.

***

Chapter 14: Secrets Revealed

It was growing late in the afternoon, and Nakuru was famished. She turned to Chris, who'd been with her for most of the afternoon. There had been a very long, awkward silence between the two for a good hour. "So..."

He looked up, seemingly amazed that she was talking again. "So?"

Nakuru fidgeted. "I, er- well, I've wanted to tell you something...for a while now."

Chris tilted his head in a 'confused puppy-dog' sort of way. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing's wrong," Nakuru said with a weak smile. "I just don't really know how to say it... For a while now...uhm--"

"You don't have to say anything," Chris interrupted with a smile. "I think I know what you're trying to say."

Nakuru turned three shades of red. "Oh?"

Chris nodded. "If it is what I'm thinking... Then I feel the same way, too."

Nakuru smiled; she didn't know what to say. "Well, I was talking about me wanting to move back to Canada, but that works too," she said with a smirk.

"You liar," Chris protested as he hit her over the head with a pillow.

Suddenly, Gwen and Ron appeared at the door; they were holding hands. "You guys plan on coming to supper? I heard there's poutine," said Gwen, knowing full well she was tempting Nakuru.

Nakuru and Chris exchanged glances, and grinned. "Count us in. Madame Pomfrey gave me the go-ahead," Nakuru said happily.

Gwen gave a thumbs-up. "Good job!"

Nakuru turned to Chris and whispered, "I knew those two would get together."

***

Supper neared, and the teachers and staff took their seats at the front of the Hall as the rows of seats began to fill up with students. People began to chat amongst themselves, and many were discussing the upcoming exams. Professor Dumbledore sat at towards the centre of the staff table, and looked rather to be in rather high spirits. Professor McGonagall stood with an air of authority. "Your attention please. Professor Dumbledore would like to say a few words."

Dumbledore rose from his seat and smiled. "As you all know," he started, "it is drawing close to the end of the term. Exams will start once school resumes in January, and I assume some of you are beginning to study."

Hermione smiled. She was more than confident that she would pass the exams with ease, no thanks to her friends nagging about her persistence.

Albus continued. "This year, a new system has been proposed. For those who have put forth much time in studying and keeping their grades up, there shall be exemptions from examinations." The Hall filled with hushed whispers. This was a first in Hogwarts history, and none were too sure how to take the news. Hermione's face went blank. "Your mark must be above ninety percent in your class. If so, you qualify for an exemption. Another option, for those whose marks are less than stellar, is performing a Culminating Task."

Hermione seemed to be beaming. All of her hard work appeared to be paying off. Ron and Harry, however, did not seem as impressed.

"Or," Dumbledore continued, "you can take the Memorée Intelligus test, which is another substitute for the examination. It is rather painless, I assure you. I assume that most would prefer this method. You will drink a potion brewed by Professor Snape, which will unlock your subconscious. At this point, you will no longer be conscious, and instead, you will be in a dream-like state. You shall be asked a series of oral questions. If you know the answer, you receive marks. If not, you do not gain any marks."

Nakuru grinned. "I love him."

Salinas nodded in agreement. "I like his way of thinking."

"The Cumulative Task is a task that will be performed for your teacher, and shall be decided upon by your teacher. But if you wish to keep with custom, you are still allowed to take the exams." Dumbledore paused. " Is everything understood then?" Silence filled the Great Hall. "Assuming there are no questions then, let dinner commence." All at once, food filled the tables, and everyone began to eat.

Ron shook his head in disappointment. "This is horrible. I'm doomed to write those bloody exams."

Gwen patted Ron's back sympathetically. "It's okay, Ron. You'll do fine in whatever you take. Besides, how hard could the Memorée Intelligus test be- if you study well beforehand?"

"I don't know," Harry shrugged. "But I don't think I trust my subconscious," he said with a grin as he tapped his forehead.

Gwen and Nakuru ate their poutine with extravagant grins on their faces. Salinas shook her head as she, too, grinned and picked off of their plates.

"What are you three so happy about?" Fred asked, popping out of nowhere.

Gwen nearly jumped out of her seat, accidentally spilling some of her milk onto Ron's potatoes. Ron let out a groan of disgust, and stirred the soggy mush. "I barely eat as it is..."

"We four," Nakuru said, grinning at the other girls, "qualify for exemptions. We all have over ninety percent in all of out courses."

Fred and George sat down beside Nakuru and commenced feeding. "Women," they mumbled with full mouths. "Think they know everything."

George extended his hand towards Ron's, as if to hand him something. In his hand were small, round, green gumball-looking candies. "We call them Gnarly Caps."

"They make your teeth swell about two sizes larger than normal," Fred added with a wink. "And we used your suggestion about adding the pokeweed berries to made a red stain, Gwen."

Gwen grinned. "People are gonna have blood red teeth for two days!"

Salinas turned to Nakuru uneasily. "How're yeh feelin'?" she asked.

Nakuru shrugged. "Been better, but I'm fine." She continued to pick off her plate of poutine absent-mindedly.

Fred looked confusedly at Nakuru. "What happen? You have a fit again?" he asked jokingly.

Hermione patted Nakuru's back. "Well we're just glad you're alright. You had us all worried," she admitted with a sheepish smile. "You scare us, you know."

"Scare you?"

"Not because of your visions- we 're just afraid of you getting hurt," said Harry.

George nodded. "Yeah, that's all. We don't think you're a freak or anything," he said with a wink.

Nakuru smirked. "Yeah..."

"So, you guys excited for Newfoundland, or what?" asked Gwen, attempting to change the subject.

"I'm sure Salinas is overjoyed," said Hermione. "She hasn't stopped talking about it since Hagrid mentioned the trip. All she talks about is Newfoundland this, screech that."

Salinas punched Hermione's arm. "Yer exaggerating, yeh sook. I do not go on like that."

"I think it'll be interesting. Travelling overseas and whatnot," said Harry, finishing his glass of milk.

"Interesting? I'll be amazing!" Ron exclaimed. "Think we'll get to see any moose?"

"We can only hope," said Salinas. "If we're lucky, we may. But with our luck, we'll prolly get stuck in some dense fog and not be able to see anythin'."

"Will there be a lot of snow?" asked Hermione.

"I wouldn't think so," answered Salinas. "If there is, it wouldn't be too thick. It's more wet out there right now than anythin'."

After supper, the group exited the Hall, and made their way to the Gryffindor common room- no one had asked Nakuru about her vision. As they entered the room, Miggles, Gwen's cat, leapt onto Ron's shoulder. "I think she likes you," said Gwen as she picked up Crookshanks from the sofa.

Miggles played with Ron's hair. "I don't. I think she's trying to kill me," he objected as he let the cat down. "All she ever does is claw at me and pull my hair. The next thing you know, she'll be trying to smother me in my sleep."

"That's Crookshank's job, Ron," said Hermione, taking her cat into her lap. "It's no secret that he hates you."

"I just wish that thing would go back to the hole it crawled out of."

Nakuru rolled her eyes at the two. "My back is so sore, and I don't know why." She stretched and rubbed her back. "I think I bruised my spine or something."

"Suck it up, buttercup!" shouted Gwen as she tossed a pillow from across the room.

"So Gwen," Salinas started, "tell us... Are you and Ronny going out?"

Ron looked around the room nervously. "I didn't say anything!"

"Nobody had to," said Nakuru as she tossed the pillow back at Gwen.

Hermione had an irritated look on her face. "Really, you people are so immature."

"What? Dating's immature?" pondered Salinas as she shot Harry an amused look. "Well then, we must all be th'most immature sooks in the world."

Hermione looked snobbishly at Salinas. "What do you mean 'we'?"

"Harry and Sally!" exclaimed Gwen proudly. "I'm their biggest fan!"

"Yay- a shipper," said Salinas sarcastically.

Ron looked sympathetically at Harry. "I swear I didn't say anything!"

Harry shook his head and found a book to bury his face in. "Well Nakuru and Chris are together! Don't just look at us!"

Nakuru's face went red. I swear these people know too much, she thought to herself, just waiting for Gwen's reaction.

"Nak? Shazi? When! How!" Gwen tackled Nakuru from behind. "Tell. Me. Everything!"

Nakuru shrugged uninterestedly. "It just...happened? I don't know."

Hermione rolled her eyes and let out a sigh. "You're all hopeless."

Salinas turned, and contorted her face as if trying to think of something. "You... Yer with that Viktor guy, aren't yeh? I mean...you guys seemed real close before, right? So technically yeh can't nag on us 'bout this stuff."

Hermione stroked Crookshanks. "Everyone makes such a big deal about relationships, that's all. I don't see the need. Anyways, I'm going to go to bed. I'm a bit tired."

She left the room, leaving the five others in the common room by the fireplace. "I don't think she's with Viktor, Salinas," said Gwen as she picked up Miggles from the floor.

"What do you mean?" enquired Ron. "She's always writing to him."

"I was reading a Quidditch magazine, and it showed that Viktor guy she's 'always writing to' with his girlfriend, Anita Bolieux- the infamous Seeker from France's Quidditch team," Gwen explained. "She's a blonde, though. That's the only thing I could find wrong with her."

"So, Hermione isn't with anybody- which is why she'd find us all immature," Harry thought out loud. "And we were all assuming that she was with Viktor."

Ron rubbed his temples. "There are too many secrets in this bloody school."