Reborn

Reborn

Chapter I: Encounters

"Sometimes, I just don´t know what to do with you."

"Tell you what, you can stop picking on me and don´t take points off my house," Fifteen year old Helen Hemmingsway told her new professor condescendingly but still with much scorn. He was at least four years older than she was but she looked as if she could care less if it was a hundred and four.

"Watch what you say Miss Hemmingsway," the professor sneered.

Robin bit her lip nervously and whispered to Helen, "What are you doing? Are you trying to get us in trouble?"

Helen ignored her friend, "Listen Smith, I don´t care what you do but stop picking on me, will you? Honestly you´re such a prat!"

People stared as their `quarrel´ went on. Robin´s face had already changed from surprised to appalled, and now it was ashen. She couldn´t believe Helen was doing this. And how did she know Professor Smith anyway?

"Professor Smith, Miss Hemmingsway," a curt voice interrupted them and at the same time silenced them. It was Professor McGonagall. "Why are you two having a row in the middle of the Entrance Hall? Sean, you should know better. You´re a teacher here now after all. And Miss Runette, couldn´t you have stopped them?"

Robin gulped. It felt like all the eyes were on her now. Her face burned as she answered. "Professor Smith said that he´d take points away..."

McGonagall´s glare turned back to Professor Smith. "Sean," she said warningly.

Professor Smith ran his fingers through his short, white-blonde hair. He sighed then answered bashfully, "Oh I know Prof--Minerva... I can´t help it though. I know Helen here and she´s just... I just can´t stand her!"

"Me neither!" Helen stamped her foot in frustration.

"Hemmingsway, a detention for you. See Mr. Filch tomorrow night. Now please Runette take her and go..."

Robin pushed Helen along as Smith cringed while McGonagall started to scold him for the wrong way of dealing with misbehaving students. Robin was quite unnerved.

They were now starting their fifth year at Hogwarts and both were currently fifteen years old. Robin wore a prefect badge with her uniform but Helen didn´t have hers. Robin suspected it was because of one of the new additions to the staff.

Starting September 1, 2003 for with new teachers wasn´t much of a surprise. Their Defense Against Dark Arts teacher, Professor Granger, had taken maternity leave and gave birth to her second child James Harry Potter. She had come back to teach, much to her husband´s dismay. Though she informed the class at the end of the year that she would be taking a longer leave. For a few years. The class was disappointed but glad for her. In her last class, a double with Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff fourth years, her husband had come with little baby James and their three-year-old daughter, Elizabeth.

And their Ancient Runes professor had finally had enough. Her recent years of students were her worse yet and she couldn´t stand it. So she down right quit.

The startling shock was the new teachers. Other than Sean Smith (teaching Ancient Runes), who both Robin and Helen knew, was Goodrich Geoffrey. He graduated only last year.

The thing was, Robin fancied him. Ever since second year. That was the year she met Smith. And Geoffrey too. She had bought a brand new broom. He was in her house, though most thought he should´ve been in Slytherin. Robin had could not ponder how on Earth did Helen know him. He was not only a prefect (and would be Head boy) but also the captain of their Quidditch team. He didn´t think Robin was good enough, though she was definitely better than decent. Robin didn´t tell Helen about it; instead she stormed off, hid under the belchers and cried. You wouldn´t think her to be one who liked Quidditch but she was astonished by not only the physics, but also the sport of it. She wasn´t an overly obsessive fan; she didn´t even show any interest. Perhaps that was why a couple of the people who tried out were surprised to see her. She quietly told them not to tell Helen before she walked away.

A few hours had passed and she was still crying. Eventually, someone had ventured over. It was a Gryffindor. Apparently they had practice after the Ravenclaw team auditions. Robin remembered clearly was happened.

She was crying softly, not a bit aware of her surroundings when a voice, coming out of nowhere, said, "Hey, you okay?"

She looked up and saw a boy leaning on a post. He was two years her senior, tall, handsome, and confident. She found he had a noble air for some reason. Embarrassment took over and she hastily tried to dry her tears.

He smiled. She melted.

"Smith´s just a thickheaded prat, don´t let him get to you," he said. "I´m Goodrich Geoffrey by the way. Just call me Geoffrey though. I hate my first name." She stared up at his light brown eyes with flecks of gold in adoration.

Robin smiled, "I´m Robin." He simply started a conversation, helped her up, and stayed where he was. He told her that he was watching the try-outs. And that she was great, no matter what Smith said. Robin was deeply embarrassed but just had fallen into infatuation with the boy. She was still smiling when she reached the Ravenclaw common room.

Though no matter what she refused to call it love. She decided long ago that she wouldn´t know what love is until she was in her late twenties or older. It was premature, she knew but she certain about it anyway. She decided not to tell Helen about him either, but Helen found out eventually. When Robin sighed in despair each time she passed by Geoffrey last school year.

Ever since the first day, when the two new professors were announced, Robin had been in a slump. He became a teacher! At eighteen no less! How many N.E.W.T.S. did he receive last year? Robin dreaded it all. She knew she had no chance with him, no hope to have a high grade. She was intelligent and was the biggest pessimist that Helen had ever known.

That was certainly what Helen thought as Robin shoved her out a door leading out the courtyard. "Humph!" She mumbled indignantly, her arms crossed. Her black eyes were filled with fury as she glared at her best friend.

"Don´t give me that!" the other girl remarked. "What is your problem with Smith anyway? Huh?"

"That´s none of your business. It between me and him and no one -- wait a minute, how do you know him?" On her face was definitely etched suspicion, anger, and something that Robin had no expected to see.

"Smith was in Ravenclaw before he graduated, remember?" Robin told her, exasperated. "Head boy, class of 2001?"

"Oh, right." All the emotions faded from her and her face was back to normal, save a pinkish, embarrassed tinge.

"Now, you explain yourself."

Helen bit her lip and said she´d tell her if they went somewhere private. Robin agreed and trudged along to an empty classroom.

"Okay," Helen said in barely a whisper. "You know how I get all like... `And someone else I know...´ and such?" Robin nodded. "Well, that someone else is Sean."

"Sean?" Robin raised an eyebrow.

Helen rolled her eyes. "Oh shut up. I still hate him. His parents are friends with mine. My aunt and uncle are magical, you know. He´s friends with my cousin and so I see him every summer. Like being in the same school isn´t bothersome enough! We´ve never liked each other."

"The day I came to live with my aunt and uncle, he was there and he was glaring at me like I was some useless, disgraced slug! When I got my things in my new room and went downstairs he called me a mudblood! I launched at him and got grounded--but so did he!" She smiled at that memory. "Hee hee."

Robin rolled her eyes. Helen found the strangest things humorous.

"Oh brother," she muttered.

"You don´t have a brother," Helen smirked. "You´re just bitter you can´t go out with Professor Geoffrey. Like you´d ask him out anyway.

"What makes you think I wouldn´t?" A look of disbelief was all she got for an answer. "Fine. But c´mon! He´s teaching. Here. Now. What am I suppose to think?"

"You go by the books too much. Relax... stop listening to the rules for once. Break out of regulation, protocol, whatever!" Helen told her getting more frustrated.

"I can´t!" The other girl insisted. "I won´t!"

"He´s only three years older than you though, that´s not too much. I´m sure that--" But she trailed off looking at Robin´s half aggravated, half pained face. She sighed with empathy, "Oh Ro."

Helen often pitied her but never mentioned so because Robin didn´t accept pity. She was a strong girl, Helen knew. When she first met her, Robin was smaller than most on the train was and she was all alone, without friends or family. But Helen could never forget that look of determination in her eyes and she told her that she wanted to make the best out of this journey that was life. Helen found that she was philosophical sometimes and quite a know-it-all when she wanted to be. In their early years they both got into some mischief with teachers with some ghastly habits. Helen managed to get rid of some of them, and Robin... she turned into a model student. In fact she had become a prefect that year. Helen teased she´d become a head girl. Robin didn´t believe so. There were so many head girls that did so much better academically than she, Robin had told her. Like Professor Granger for one, or Lily Potter, Mr. Potter´s mother. Helen reminded Robin that when Granger was young, she used to get into all sorts of trouble too with her future spouse, Harry Potter, and Ronald Weasley. And Robin would counteract with the fact that they had exemplary grades. Helen would´ve argued more but it wasn´t worth it.

Robin made a lot of dilemmas for herself. She was ever a perfectionist. She wondered if she was like that before Hogwarts. More laidback, certainly. Of course she also survived without her parents. Sure, Helen´s parents divorced but they were alive. Robin´s parents... they were gone. Maybe just dropped dead in front of her. Robin often said it didn´t bother her. She didn´t know them very well anyway. But Helen doubted it. Everyone missed his or her parents, or at least the idea of their parents. Helen had a feeling though Robin was very young she knew her parents well enough. Robin was a quick study. It hit her hard but she always buried her grief with labor. And one day it would all topple over.

She was taller than Helen was now, though months younger. And she stressed the little things. But the shy, curious girl that Helen first met was still there. Masked over by academics and books. Helen had a philosophy herself; your life is only good if you feel good about it. Helen knew that Robin was far from any jovial spirits. And would get farther from it if she kept going the way she did. Cheering Charms didn´t help either. Robin wouldn´t have it unless it was relevant to the lesson plan. Which, for about 99.9% of the time since third year, it wasn´t. So in short, Robin was a downer. Helen questioned why on earth she chose her for her best friend.

"You don´t choose your friends," Robin said, frowning and eyebrows narrowed.

"What?" Helen asked, baffled for a few moments. "You didn´t!" In their first year they accidentally found a book that belonged in the Restricted Section that could let them hear each others thoughts. Robin promptly returned the book, saying that it was probably dangerous but not before they took a peek into its pages. They tried out the spell, but found it to get out of hand, thoughts spilling into their heads, so they rarely used it. But there were times that were too quiet, that seemed too distant that they caved into it.

"I only listened into your thoughts for the couple last sentences! What are you doing analyzing what I do anyway?"

"Like you don´t do it."

"I haven´t!"

Well, that was obvious, Helen thought, suddenly outraged. All she thinks about is her damn grades! "That´s because you´re a self-centered know-it-all! All you care about is you! And you´re not even conceited about it! You always think you´re at bottom! Honestly! I have a worse life than you ever will! You and your petty problems with your stupid grades!"

Robin looked positively hurt. More than Helen saw her hurt before. At once, Helen regretted her words and wished she could take it all back. "I mean... I´m sorry Robin, I didn´t mean--"

"It´s clear what you meant!" Robin tearfully shouted. Anger and sadness clear in her tone. She tore off crying, leaving a very guilty Helen to shame. Robin, though tough with her schoolwork, was sensitive. She didn´t have many friends.

Helen shouted bitterly, "Oh I didn´t mean that!"

---

Robin ran through the corridors, not quite aware that people stared at her as she passed. All that mattered was she got to her bed. But before she could even reach the Ravenclaw common room, she literally ran into someone. The tears couldn´t wait and she just broke down, her head hung, though her hands were frantically trying to wipe them away.

"What´s wrong now?" A voice asked above her. Robin´s already flushed face reddened even more. She emitted a quiet gulp. Oh God... she thought, and the tears gradually stopped. She didn´t dare to look up; surely she couldn´t look him in the eye. A strong hand, larger than hers, offered to help and she took it. Her heart leaped for joy but as soon as she was up, Robin felt as if she´d fall back down and her heart sank to the pit of her stomach. Dizziness took over and she looked up at her long time crush and Defense Against Dark Arts professor. Everything seemed blurry. Everything but his eyes. His tawny eyes sparkled with worry. Robin felt her heart beating painfully.

"I-I´m f-fine," Robin stammered.

"Miss Runette," he said firmly but after let out a sigh. "You were crying. Last time that happened, I believe you were upset about--"

"Please don´t mention that," she pleaded. "Please."

"All right," clearly enough, he was giving room for her to explain herself.

"It´s nothing really. It´s just my friend, she--I don´t really want to talk about it," her eyes looked down again.

"That´s okay Robin, but be careful," he grinned weakly at her. Unexpectedly, Robin found that her hand was still in his and he stroked the back of her hand a couple of times before letting go. "I´ll see you around then, Miss Runette."

Robin was left in shock, staring at her hand. Then she realized her present location. Oh... looking around, she found herself unaccompanied. Precisely where she wanted to be. But she also realized she didn´t want to be. Not anymore. Sighing, unsatisfied with the isolation, she marched to the Ravenclaw common room.

While making her way to her dormitory, she mulled over her recent actions. Hating herself for her piteous moments and her personal quarrel (if you could even call it that) with her own best friend. She could sympathize how Helen felt, of course. Though usually it was other people that Helen accused of being too self-involved. But that wasn´t what hurt the most. She knew she could get lost in her own problems but it just wasn´t fair of Helen to say that they were petty. Helen had gotten into more ridiculous quibbling arguments of anyone she knew. Then again, Helen had quite a dysfunctional family.

Helen had made a whole list about her family. She showed Robin frequently, to ask for improved vocabulary or to proofread it. She put the every trivial detail she could remember. Robin mused on a conversation of theirs the May of that year.

As Robin was looking over "cousin Juliana has no grammatical sense in her essays" (which was unfair, because Helen didn´t have much of it either, in her opinion), Helen was ranting on about this Juliana´s garbled speech. Robin rolled her eyes and told her exactly what she thought.

"Helen, I don´t know why you, of all people, are complaining about someone else´s grammar. Let alone someone who is related to you."

"What´s that suppose to mean?" Her eyebrows furrowed heavily.

Robin reasoned, "Well, you aren´t all that grammatically correct either, are you?"

Helen was indignant, "And I guess you are?"

"To a certain extent, I presume so."

Helen stared at her in disbelief. "You are so insufferable. You know that?"

Robin shrugged. She also presumed that Helen was only jesting. Well, obviously, she meant it. To Robin´s discontentment. She had only dismissed it as an ordinary Helen Hemmingsway flippant remark. Apparently she was wrong.

Sighing yet again, Robin flopped unto her four-poster bed. After closing the curtains she quickly nabbed a petite, crimson, leather-bound book. It was probably the only thing in the whole dormitory that was scarlet, except her classmate Beth´s ink. She bought it at Flourish and Blots, many years ago. It wasn´t anything special but it comforted it her. All that was in her were her confessions, wonderings, and reveries. Yet another thing she kept away from Helen. But even the best of friends needed privacy and the journal lifted some of the burden she often carried.

Dipping her quill into her inkwell, she started to write.

Ever since the beginning of this school year I´ve felt a little out of place, which I haven´t felt since...

---

Helen was pacing back and forth in the Entrance Hall. All the students that were either trying to get in or out of the Great Hall were strategizing their way around her for she wouldn´t budge. Helen wasn´t a very strong person but her stubbornness made up for it. Even the current Head Boy, who scolded her and threatened to take house points, couldn´t make her stop. He had left her with a very offended air (she told him, "So what? Hufflepuff´s already got the lowest house points!" The Head Boy was a Hufflepuff himself).

She had been pacing back in the empty classroom, feeling very guilty. Then she made a discovery that she was anxious to share with Robin. Then she also remembered that Robin was angry with her. Figuring that Robin must come to the Great Hall sooner or later, she waited in front of the doors. But she couldn´t keep still and her fidgety, tense self took over. She remembered doing exactly the same thing that summer.

That summer was, there was no other word for it, hectic. It was why she was so moody and got sudden outbursts of fury. It gave her headaches thinking about it. Her mother appeared out of the blue in the middle of summer and said she wanted to take Helen with her. Helen was apprehensive all that day that she´d have to leave. She didn´t necessarily like her aunt´s strict personality or her uncle´s overly careless disposition, but it was better than living with either of her parents as far as she was concerned. Then it was all made chaotic that night when who-of-all-people appeared. Her father. It seemed like they were married again and their was up in her room hearing to their despicable conflicts. It was impossible. What would they be doing there together and both wanting her to come live with them? The only thing Helen knew true was that the reason wasn´t her well being.

Her mother traveled habitually. And changed her looks everywhere she went. She felt like taking a part of where ever she went to be a part of her style (currently she had red hair and Helen wondered if she got it from Run Lola Run, which her mother sent to her a few years ago). Her father was a workaholic. He didn´t really care for anything else. It flabbergasted his family for him to even have time to marry wife and conceive a child. It was incredible for them to even have fallen in love. They were so far apart from each other. Perhaps that was why they had fallen for each other in the first place. But it certainly didn´t work out. And it wasn´t as if they didn´t love Helen, it was that they were very self-involved, thinking of almost nothing but themselves.

So it was no shock for Helen to be suspicious of them. She didn´t believe them at all. They visited her once a year (her mother) or once every three years (her father). Also those visits weren´t very pleasant either. Why should she come to live with them? They´d probably never even pay attention to her at all. Plus her mother had already remarried and Helen detested her stepfather and stepbrother and stepsister (they were twins). Why would she ever want to live with them again?

But she didn´t mean to take it out on Robin. She hadn´t told her about it yet. She was planning to tell her; then again Robin didn´t seem to have time to talk to her anymore. But Robin needed to know the truth. Time to stop procrastinating, she thought as she spotted a glum looking Robin approaching the doors.

"Robin!"

The girl raised her head and sighed.

"I´m sorry!" They both said together.

"What? Why are you apologizing?" Helen inquired with more disbelief.

Robin shuffled her feet shyly. "I´ve been a prat, I haven´t been much of a friend lately."

Helen bit her lip. Here goes...everything. "Well, I´m sorry because lately I´ve been having problems and I´ve been taking it out on everything, even you." She hugged her friend tightly, close to tears.

"Helen?"

"Yeah?"

"You´re kind of hurting me..."

"Oh! Sorry!" Helen released her grip and grinned sheepishly. "You know what?"

Robin smiled back, "No. What?"

"You´re too tall! And too thin!" Helen told her teasingly.

Robin rolled her eyes. "And you know what?"

"What?"

"You talk too much."

Helen looked at her blankly, "I knew that already."

Robin raised an eyebrow in a skeptical manner and let out a laugh. "Oh c´mon. You´ve been disturbing the peace at Hogwarts again haven´t you?"

"Only a little bit."

"Then why on earth did the Head Boy just looked at you as if you were some ghastly disease?"

Helen shrugged, "How should I know?" The other girl gave her a look of `are you kidding me?´ and grinned. "Okay, okay... you see, I found this room and I wanted to show you."

Robin´s eyebrows furrowed. "What room?"

"You´ll see... and you´ll never believe what´s in there!"