Amnesia

Chapter 4: The Wrong Delivery


After the feast, the students made their way back to their dorms. Chloe and Draco accompanied some of the 7th year Slytherins to their common room.

Chloe, Blaise, and Pansy seemed to become instant friends. While Pansy went off to have a chat with Draco, the other two girls got into a long discussion about the books they had read recently. Neither one could believe they had found someone who read as much as they had. A short later, the conversation slowly turned from books to boys as Blaise asked what they must have all been wondering.

"Chloe, are you and Draco...dating?" she asked slyly as a small smile played on her pink lips.

"I don't think so..." Chloe answered, looking down timidly. " We're just good friends."

"But you want more?" the other girl pressed.

"I don't know, maybe..." Chloe said, smiling softly. "But I only met him a week ago."

"That's true, but I think he fancies you." Blaise said, smiling mischievously.

"I doubt it!" Chloe answered, laughing slightly.

~*~*~*~

On the other side of the common room, Draco and Pansy were having a conversation of their own.

"So you know where she is, Draco?" Pansy asked, leaning towards him, "The Dark Lord would be very pleased to know her whereabouts."

"I know that, Pansy," Draco whispered, growing impatient, "that's why I'm telling you! Since I am Head Boy and all, I was in Dumbledore's office when she came to decline her job as Head Girl. Then she told him that she was scared for herself and her family and therefore had decided to move to America."

"America?!" Pansy exclaimed.

"Yes, America," Draco confirmed, pleased with her reaction, "She said she would be leaving the Wizarding world until Harry needs her. Knowing this, you know what you have to do, don't you, Pansy?"

"I must go to the Dark Lord," she answered solemnly.

"Yes, go to him and tell him what I told you. Tell him I am sorry for not delivering this information myself but I am preparing a gift for the Dark Lord," he said smiling, as both looked in Chloe's direction, "You may also tell him that I just may have a new Death Eater for him."

Pansy gasped, realizing his intentions.

~*~*~*~

Late at night, in the Gryffindor Tower, many hearts ached and many tears fell for the loss of Hermione Granger. Everyone missed her but some more than anyone would know.

Ginny lay in her bed, staring at the deep red canopy. She was gone. She would be gone for a long time, maybe even forever. The two girls had become quite close in the past years and told one another everything. Ginny just couldn't believe that Hermione wouldn't tell her of something as big as this. She couldn't believe she hadn't said good-bye. As the tears escaped her eyes and slid down her cheeks, Ginny felt something she had never felt before when it came to Hermione. Betrayal.

~*~*~*~

"Ron?"

"Yes, Harry?"

"Why do you suppose that Laurent girl got Hermione´s Head Girl Badge?" Harry asked.

"She´s Snape´s daughter, she´s probably a genius," Ron answered, sounding a little bitter.

"I guess you´re right," the other boy replied.

"Good night, Harry," the redhead said, before closing the canopy around his bed.

"Good night, Ron," Harry answered.

When he was sure the boys were all asleep, he grabbed the quill and parchment he had hidden beneath his pillow and began to write. A few minutes later, he reread what he had written;

Dear Hermione,

We have all just arrived at Hogwarts today and found out that you will no longer be with us. I wish you had told me where you were going, or why. I wish you had said good-bye. I wish you were here. Why did you leave, Hermione? You were supposed to be Head Girl; now Snape's long-lost daughter (a Slytherin) has taken your place. I know, it's awful, but I´d rather it be her than anyone that actually knew you. I wish you'd just come back to us. I'll send this with Hedwig and hopefully she will find you. She always seems to find the right person, no matter what. Let´s hope it works this time, as well. Please write back, Hermione. I'm begging you.

Love,
Harry J. Potter

Satisfied with the letter, he tied it around Hedwig's leg and opened the window.

"If you can't recognize her, just look for the silver locket," Harry whispered before allowing the bird to take flight.

~*~*~*~

*Tap, tap, tap*

"Hmm?" Chloe mumbled through her sleep.

*Tap, tap, tap*

Opening her eyes, she noticed there was a snow-white owl at her window. Getting up slowly, she headed toward the window. Once she opened it, she noticed the owl giving her a peculiar look before glancing down at her neck where her silver locket hung. Looking satisfied, the owl held out her foot where a piece of parchment was attached with a small red ribbon. Untying the ribbon and rewarding the owl with a small treat, she unfolded the parchment.

Reading it over quickly, she folded up the parchment as a feeling of utter confusion filled her mind. 'The owl must have made a mistake,' she thought, 'guess I'll have to just give this back to that Potter boy.'

With that, she fell back to sleep, making a point to get up early and return the letter.

~*~*~*~

"Wake up! Wake up!" screamed Chloe's alarm clock.

"I'm up, I'm up," she said, getting off her bed slowly and making her way to the bathroom. It was five in the morning, but she knew that in order to catch Potter by himself, she would have to catch him on the Quidditch field; at least that's what Blaise had told her. She still found it kind of funny that Blaise fancied him.

Twenty minutes later, she was ready to leave. She wore her school uniform and school robes. Her black hair fell down her back, with a few front pieces braided and decorated with silver ribbons. `May as well support the House of Slytherin,´ she thought. After one last mirror check, she grabbed the letter and headed toward the Quidditch field.

~*~*~*~

Landing softly, Harry grabbed his Firebolt and made his way to the lockers. As he neared his destination, he felt a pair of eyes watching his every move. He looked up quickly and caught a glimpse of Chloe Laurent leaning against a brick wall, waiting. Suddenly, she looked his way and smiled. He couldn't help thinking how familiar she was.

"Hi," she said, "My name is Chloe Laurent."

"Hello," he replied, "I know who you are: you´re this year's Head Girl." As much as he wanted to like her, he couldn't help thinking that she didn't deserve to be where she was. She was taking Hermione's place and no one deserved to do that.

"And you are Harry Potter, right?" she asked nervously, trying to keep the conversation going.

"Yeah," he answered, trying hard not to sound cruel. "Is there something I can help you with?"

"Um, sorry, yeah there is," she stammered, noticing his cold tone of voice. "Your owl made a mistake last night and delivered this to me. I thought it would be best to return it to you." With that she handed him the letter he'd written to Hermione the night before.

"Hedwig doesn't make mistakes," he said.

"Well, apparently she does, because I'm not Hermione," she replied, sounding a little annoyed at his comment. "Look. I'm sorry about your friend; I can tell you cared about her. But I also know that the reason you're being so rude to me is because I was sorted into Slytherin and became Head Girl. Well, guess what. I'm not going anywhere, so you may as well deal with it. I thought you might have been a nice and decent person, but I see that I was wrong. You are just as prejudiced as everyone else," she finished, sounding a little angry and extremely hurt. Turning on her heel, she began to make her way back to the castle.

'But Hedwig doesn't make mistakes...' Harry thought. As realization made its way to through his body, he began to run until he caught up with the pretty girl. Grabbing her wrist, he pulled the sleeve of her robe up slightly, looking for the small star shaped scar he knew Hermione had.

~*~*~*~

"Master, she has moved to America." Pansy said, the fear evident in her voice. "Draco was in the Headmaster's office when she made the announcement."

"America?" Voldemort asked. "Young Draco told you to tell me this? Why didn't he come to tell me himself?"

"Master, Draco told me to tell you as soon as I could. He would have done it himself, except he is occupied with something. Something he said would please you, Master," Pansy answered.

"Really? And what would that be?" he demanded.

"He has found you a new Death Eater, Chloe Snape-Laurent," Pansy whispered.

"Arwen's daughter?" Voldemort asked.

"I- I do not know, Master," she stammered, "I only know that Professor Snape is her father."

"Tell me, Pansy, what color are Miss Laurent's eyes?" he asked, already knowing the answer.

"Well, they are...every color," she answered.

"Chameleon Eyes," he said "Just like Arwen's. Tell young Draco that I am very pleased with his choice."

"Yes, Master," she replied.

"Oh, and tell Professor Snape that I am glad he found his daughter," Voldemort said, smiling cruelly. "You may go."

With that, Pansy disappeared.

"Lucius," he called.

"Yes, Master?" Lucius asked, stepping out of the shadows.

"You must congratulate your son; he has found my dear Arwen's daughter," Voldemort said, smiling at his servant.

"Yes, Master," Lucius replied. "But are you sure that she is Arwen's? And Snape, why didn't he present her?"

"Arwen may no longer be here, but she is still part of us. She is still loyal," he began, "I do not think that Snape meant to keep this from us; I believe he will present her when he thinks the time is right. Then we will know if she really is Arwen's daughter"

"And if he doesn't?" Lucius asked.

"Then we shall find out on our own."