CHAPTER 14 – BURDEN OF THE HEART
The trio had to face more than just studies. They had to make sure that they don’t get themselves into serious accidents. They may be pregnant spiritually but that doesn’t mean they can toy around with their bodies as they want to. Harry, of course, was constantly bossing Becka around, asking her not to do this and not to do that, making Becka feel quite sick of him. Rach could take care of herself pretty well, but she couldn’t run away from Harry’s watchful eyes either.
Jude, on the other hand, had Draco to boss her around. It made up for the loss of care she expected from Prof. Snape, but she still felt downcast about it. She felt as if after all said and done about the prophecy and all, Prof. Snape will have nothing to do with taking care of her safety anymore. She wanted him to care for her like he did when she became a human inferno, but sadly it wasn’t possible now. Jude started cutting Prof. Snape’s class out of disappointment and a little guiltiness, because she felt as if she was betraying him by having Harry’s child first instead of his.
“Malfoy, do you have any idea where that dunderhead Light is?” Prof. Snape asked one day during Potions class.
“No, sir,” Draco replied, “I haven’t. She always disappears when we’re going for your class, and then appeared back again for other classes. It’s like she popped out of nowhere.”
“Brixius, where is Light, may I know?”
“Sorry, sir,” Tony replied nonchalantly. “I don’t have a clue too.”
“If she does not show up again, she will be expelled. It’ll cost her more than her points.”
Draco sighed worriedly. Tony secretly had a dark gleam in his eyes.
Jude sat quietly at her side of the table, shoving huge spoonfuls of food into her mouth. She may not have terrible ordeals of stuffing her head into toilet bowls puking her guts out or sucking sour things like all pregnant people do, but she sure worked up an appetite. If stuffing her gut wasn’t bad enough during meals, midnight snacks were a must. The trio often met at the stairs, avoiding Argus Filch, Mrs. Norris and Peeves the poltergeist. The house-elves were pleased to help them and were sworn to secrecy about her and her girlfriends’ late night visits to the kitchen.
Tony surprisingly scooped a bowl of mash potatoes and moved towards Jude. He sat beside her and handed the bowl of mash potatoes to her. Jude was quite taken aback by his action but no words were spoken between them. He watched her as she scooped the mash potatoes into her mouth, then picked up Jude’s plate to help her get a second helping of everything. She saw that solemn, authoritative look on his face and was sure that he was determined to do something, whatever it was. Draco appeared quite suddenly from the other side and got her a drink. When Tony and Draco’s eyes met, Jude could feel the tense aura between them.
The next class was Potions. Jude skipped the class again. She hid at Hagrid’s hut and sat there and watched as her dog Max played with the boarhound Fang. Hagrid actually let her hide in his hut when she skipped Prof. Snape’s classes. He liked it when someone helped him dog-sit Fang while he did his rounds. Jude felt so peaceful when she was well away from Prof. Snape. That way she won’t feel so hurt every time she sees him.
Suddenly the door burst opened. Jude was shocked when she saw that it wasn’t Rubeus Hagrid, but Severus Snape standing at the door, his eyes glaring coldly and dangerously at Jude. Jude shrank behind the two massive dogs Max and Fang. The dogs weren’t too pleased to see him either; they growled at him.
“Judith Cecelia Light! Do you have any idea what have you done?”
Jude looked away, afraid to answer.
“No, you do not have any idea. You are always getting on my nerves and bent on breaking the law, just like that Potter boy! You deliberately missed my classes. That is a very serious offence! Now you come with me to the lab right this minute!”
Prof. Snape took Jude’s hand and dragged her out of the hut, ignoring Max’s annoyed bark. Jude resisted until she finally shook her hand hastily free from Prof. Snape’s strong grasp.
“I’m not going to your class,” Jude said quietly. “I can’t go to your class anymore.”
“And what, pray tell, is your reason not to come to my class?” Prof. Snape said coldly as usual.
“Because…Because of my…condition. My…pregnancy…”
“You know very well that spiritually pregnant people will not get affected when they smell anything in the lab. The Headmaster has already briefed you about that before you girls left for your dorms that night.”
“No, that’s not the point! That’s not the point at all!” Jude finally snapped, letting everything out that has been bottling inside her heart. “When will your puny little cold mind ever understand?! I didn’t want to go to your class because of you! I don’t want to face another day knowing that you’re not going to care about me anymore! You cared about me a lot when I first came here, but now…You never care about me, do you? You just want to keep me alive so that I can fulfill the prophecy and then just dump me like some kind of trash! I cannot put up with this anymore!!”
“Light, you know that’s not true. Stop yelling. You’re a Slytherin…”
“To hell with all your talk! It’s hard enough for me to be rejected by you! I love you, Severus, I love you! Don’t you ever understand?! I want to have your baby, not this!” Jude burst into tears as she took out her wand. “I wished I never had this baby!”
Prof. Snape rushed over to stop her from striking herself. He got there just in time to grab the wand from her hand and threw it away. Jude struggled when Prof. Snape tried to hold her close to stop her from doing anything silly, and she finally used her power to push him away, sending him a few feet away from her. Jude got up and ran away as fast as she could, right into the Forbidden Forest. Prof. Snape gave chase but she was too fast for him and she was already straying into the depths of the forest.
Prof. Snape huffed, picked up her wand and rushed back into the castle.
“I feel so guilty being with you.”
“Why would you say that?”
Becka was in one of her secret meetings again with Cedric and she looked quite downcast like Jude as she let herself be cuddle by her beau.
“Because…Because of the prophecy and all. I’m…I’m pregnant already and…”
“I know about the prophecy, Rebecca. There’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
“But this is not yours. It’s Harry’s. I feel like I have betrayed you or something.”
Cedric chuckled as he cuddled Becka a little closer, “Nonsense. You didn’t betray me. You and your friends are just fulfilling the prophecy. It’s not that bad. It’ll be over soon.”
“But…” Becka’s words were stopped short by Cedric’s finger.
“Just pretend that it’s our baby. That’ll be much easier.”
Becka smiled as she nuzzled into Cedric’s chest. He smelt of cinnamon and peach. She loved his smell. When they were about to kiss, Rach’s call stopped them short.
“Becka? BECKA~~!!!”
“You better go,” Becka said as she tore herself away from Cedric’s hug. Cedric nodded and flew away with his broom. Rach appeared a few minutes later, gasping for breath.
“What is it, Rach? What’s wrong?” Becka asked worriedly. She had never seen the calm and collected Rach that panicky before.
“Wait…a…sec…let me…catch my breath…” Rach replied breathless and took in a few deep breaths. Finally she stopped gasping and said, “Jude. It’s Jude. She disappeared into the Forbidden Forest. She had some fight with Prof. Snape and she just took off. I just heard about it a while ago.”
“What? The Forbidden Forest?! That place is creepy even in daylight! She shouldn’t be there!” Becka started to worry for Jude’s safety. “Who knows what beast could be lurking inside that forest!”
“Hagrid and some of the teachers are having a search. We better go and see if they’ve found her.”
“Let’s!” Becka replied as she and Rach rushed quickly towards the direction of the Forbidden Forest.
The day at the Forbidden Forest had no difference than it was at night. It was still pretty dark and dense and it was downright scary. The centaurs Ronan, Bane and Firenze galloped around, unperturbed by the eeriness of the forest. Firenze came across a unicorn and stroked its mane as he chit-chatted with it in a friendly matter. Suddenly, the unicorn looked up and gave a soft whinny.
“What is it, lad? Saw something?” Firenze asked as he looked at the direction of the unicorn was facing.
There at a distance, he saw a girl with dark-brown hair and green eyes walking about among the trees. She looked as if she was crying, judging by the way she was wiping something off her face. She was quite tall and by the looks of her robes, he knew she was a Hogwarts student.
“You there! What are you doing here? Don’t you know it’s dangerous to be out alone in the forests?” Firenze called out, trotting towards her. “Come here. It’s not safe out there.”
The girl remained standing there, looking at him with awe. As soon as Firenze was near, he stopped to look at the girl. It was no other than Jude, the girl who just fought with her beau and went running into the Forbidden Forest without a care in the world. Firenze was surprised to see her.
“Why, if it isn’t the Black Witch, one of The Ones,” Firenze said in astonishment. “What are you doing out here all alone? You know very well this place lurks with evil.”
“You’re…You’re a…” Jude was at lost of words at upon seeing this half-man-half-horse creature.
“I’m a centaur,” Firenze smiled kindly. “Pleased to meet you, Black Witch. Hop onto my back and I’ll take you back to Hagrid’s hut.”
Jude backed away, shaking her head, “No, I don’t want to go back.”
“Is it because of someone you like?”
“How…How did you know?”
“Come, Black Witch, there’s nothing better than forgiveness,” Firenze said, not answering her question. “Come, hop onto my back and let me take you back. You don’t want to hurt the child in you now, do you?”
Jude wanted to ask how he knew that she was pregnant, but finally decided not to question him. After all, she’s still quite new to everything in this weird magical world. But she still did not want to go back.
“Firenze! Firenze! What have you found?” It was Bane’s call. Firenze turned around to face his brothers.
“Look who has stumbled into our humble domain.” ‘Humble’ was such an understatement to a eerie, horrible place like the Forbidden Forest.
Bane, together with Ronan, came towards Firenze and were astonished too when they saw Jude sitting timidly on a tree stump.
“She should not be here!” Bane exclaimed. “She is carrying a child!”
“We must take her back,” Ronan said. “She’s not safe here.”
“But she refuses to go,” Firenze replied, gesturing at Jude. “She’s still angry at him.”
“Still,” Ronan said firmly, “she is not fit to be around danger. Firenze, take her on your back. We’ll drop her at Hagrid’s.”
So, despite Jude’s loud protests, Firenze picked Jude up and put her on him. She complained a few times when they were on the way, but finally she got tired of complaining. As much as she hated going back, she still had to consider her girlfriends who might be worried about her. And also her other friends too.
Gradually, voices could be heard at a distance. She recognized Hagrid’s voice, Prof. McGonagalle’s voice, Prof. Lupin’s voice and Prof. Flitwick’s voice. Finally she heard Prof. Snape’s voice. He was actually looking for her too! Jude was both startled and touched.
“You see, Black Witch? He still cares,” Firenze said softly as he stopped. “Go to him.”
Jude got off the centaur hurriedly and raced towards the teachers’ call, yelling, “I’m here! I’m here!”
Before she realized it, she bumped into Prof. Snape. He knelt down and held Jude tight, burying his face onto her dark-brown hair. She never felt like this before. She dreamt of hugging Prof. Snape all the time but she had no idea it would come true. He just hugged her without saying a word. She hugged him back, whispering, “I’m sorry, sir. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry…”
When the rest of the teachers arrived, he let her go hastily. She didn’t mind. She knew that he didn’t want to spoil his reputation as the cold, emotionless teacher. Hagrid picked her up high in the air and said, “Oh, ye naughty girl! Ye had us really worried! What wuz ye thinkin’, bein’ out ‘ere alone in da woods?!”
“Sorry, Hagrid,” Jude apologized to the half-giant, then to the other teachers. “I’m really sorry. It won’t happen again, I promise. I’m alright now.”
“Thank Merlin you are! Have you come across anything? Are you hurt?” Prof. Lupin asked.
“No, I’m not hurt or anything. But I did come across some centaurs.”
“Those mysterious beings, aye?” Hagrid grinned as he looked into the dark dense forest. “They won’t ‘arm ev’n a bloomin’ fly, I kin tell ye. Come, let’s git out of dis forest ‘afore we git eaten alive by ‘em creatures.”
As soon as they got out of the Forbidden Forest, Rach and Becka rushed to Jude and hugged her, fussing all over her like a little child. Jude had to assure them profusely that she was alright and that she wasn’t hurt or anything.
“But what about the baby? You didn’t have any accident or anything now, did you?” Becka was still worried.
“I’m telling you, I’m perfectly fine!” Jude said exasperately. “Nothing to worry about, really! Now let’s go back to the castle! I’m starving!”
So saying, the trio walked quickly towards the castle, laughing as they went, leaving the teachers behind. Inside the castle, she was again fussed by a number of people: namely Harry, Ron, Hermione, Darren, Angelica and lastly Draco. By that time, she was too hungry to explain anything to them. All she wanted to do now is just stuff herself silly with food.
In the Great Hall, the trio sat at their respective house table and chomped down as much food as their hands can get them, with the help of their housemates’ help in getting them second helpings. After the trio ate their fill, Prof. Dumbledore stood up and said, “Judith, Rachel, and Rebecca. Come with me to my office, please.”
“Ooh, busted!” the Great Hall echoed with the voices of the students. Jude got up, knowing what was coming for her, but Rach and Becka was surprised that they were in it too. They followed Prof. Dumbledore to his office. On their way, they discussed among themselves quietly.
“Now this is not right,” Jude said. “It was I who ran into the Forbidden Forest, not you guys. Why are you two called together with me?”
“I have no idea,” Becka replied, shrugging. “It’s not that standing near the forest is against the law.”
“We’ll just have to see what this old Headmaster has in store for us,” Rach said as they went up the spiral staircase.
As they entered Prof. Dumbledore’s office, he told them to wait a bit before disappearing out of the office. The trio felt the familiar feeling again like the first time they came to Hogwarts and did the special sorting session. They sat at the chairs in front of the Headmaster’s desk. Jude went over and braved herself to stroke the phoenix that was perched near his desk. The phoenix closed its eyes as it let Jude tickle its head.
A few moments later, Prof. Dumbledore came back and sat at his desk. Everyone was silent for a while before he said, “I’m sure you’re having a hard time coping with both studies and your children, are you not?”
“Sir, please. My friends did nothing wrong. I’m the one skipping Prof. Snape’s classes and I’m the one who ran into the Forbidden Forest,” Jude tried to explain herself. “There’s no need to punish them…”
“Calm down, Judith. I’m not going to punish anyone of you. You have a perfect reason why you react this way. I know.” Jude blushed when Prof. Dumbledore had that grin on him. She sat back down. Prof. Dumbledore continued, “Here, Judith. Prof. Snape said you dropped this.”
Jude eyed at her dragon heartstring and ash wand for a while before taking it from the Headmaster’s hand, “Thank you, sir.”
“Be honest, girls. Do you feel stressed out recently?”
“Very, sir,” Becka groaned. “Not a day goes by without having to put up with that worried wart Harry!”
“He even asked Darren to keep an eye on me!” Rach said, exasperated. “If I had to go through one day with him again, I’m gonna explode!”
“What about you, Judith?” Prof. Dumbledore turned to Jude.
“Well…Draco has been taking good care of me, which I don’t mind. It’s just that…I had a little problem with Prof. Snape, that’s all.”
“I understand, Judith. It would definitely be nice if you could actually have a grown-up to talk to than some peers fussing at you all the time, is it not?” Prof. Dumbledore said, nodding with a concerned look on his face.
“Yeah,” Becka smiled. “You’re a great teacher to talk to.”
“I’m not much of a listener compared to them,” Prof. Dumbledore chuckled as he pointed behind the trio. The trio turned to look. There stood 3 couples. The first couple looked intelligent and professional. The man had blackish-blue hair and was wearing a pair of glasses and the woman was quite short, about a head shorter than the man, and was tiny and dainty-looking. The other couple were both almost the same height and it was obvious that the woman had maroon hair. The man looked important but kind. Lastly, the third couple was about a little taller than the rest of the two couples. The woman was in her 30’s and hair as long as Jude. She was quite thin and frail, as if she would break if ever you squeeze her a little harder. The man didn’t look too fatherly or handsome either. He was lacking of muscles and looked only a little bit stronger than the woman. Furthermore, he’s black.
“Girls, these are your real parents—or in Judith’s case, your mother,” Prof. Dumbledore introduced them to the couples.
The trio was speechless for a while as they stood there staring at the couples. They found it hard to believe that their real parents who only existed in their dreams would be right there in front of their eyes. Only when the couples held out their hands to embrace them did the trio rushed towards them, crying and sobbing like little children once more.
“You can talk at the guest room, people,” Prof. Dumbledore smiled as he led them out of his office.
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