Witch Me?(Witch or Shadowhunter?Book 2)

Polyjuice Mishap

Nightmare bounces around my feet, pawing at the air randomly. I giggle as he darts away and stops in front of the portal, staring from it to Pater and back again. I glance back at my house and see Dad struggling to convince Grace to stay behind. She refuses yet again and hurries over to me, shaking her head but smiling. "We should tell him," she says and I nod. Then she glances at Pater, who's smiling at Nightmare, and pokes my arm. I smack her and tug her further away from the warlock. "You should give him a chance, he's cute," she tells me. I shrug, "Its not fun ruining guys who already like me, I've told you that." Grace glares at me, "then don't ruin him. Just treat him like a NORMAL guy, not one if your playthings." I stare at her for a moment before shaking my head, "you know I won't do that, so don't waste your breathe. But if you want it that bad I'll at least get him wrapped around my pinkie finger." She claps excitedly and I sigh, strolling back towards the portal. Nightmare returns to prancing around my legs and I roll my eyes at Pater. He smiles and I force out a small, sly one in reply. This leaves him blinking in surprise while I scoop up my kitten and turn to my dad. "Hey Dad, Grace and I have something to tell you" I say as Grace joins me. He glances between us and raises his eye brows in question. I nudge Grace and she starts talking at once. "Mr. Jay, Naila and I, we, uh-" I take over for Grace, "We decided to... Well, that we-" I pause and glance at Grace. A moment later we blurt out at the same time, "we're going to be Parabatai." Dad chuckles and I glare at him until he stops. Momma huries over, shaking her head. "Naila, if you don't want to miss the train we need to get going," she says, glancing at Grace in a way that I know means she heard us. I glance at my watch and race towards the portal, Grace easily keeping pace. I pause just long enough to wink at Pater before stepping through the portal.

My feet hit the pavement hard enough that Nightmare squeaks in annoyance. Moments later Grace lands next to me, followed by Momma. We're in an alley just outside the station and Momma pulls us forward, huffing at Grace. We make it to Platform 9 3/4 and I hug Momma tightly. "I'll see you soon, okay? And I was wondering...." I break off and glance at Grace. "Yes, Naila?" Momma prompts me gently. I swallow and say, "could I bring my mundane, um, companion over during the summer? She has the Sight and has had demons following her for years, I thought maybe you and Dad could help me figure it out. I'll take full responsibility for her, and will make sure she doesn't find out anything she shouldn't know." I'm practically begging by the time I finish, but Momma's looking thoughtful. The train whistle blows just as she nods in agreement. "If you feel its best, I trust you Naila. Have fun at school." She bends down and gives me a hug, then ushers me towards the train. I catch Grace in a quick hug before darting to the train and climbing aboard easily. I slip into an empty compartment and watch Grace and Momma from the window until they're out of sight.

Curled up in the corner of my compartment and with Nightmare on my lap, I chose not to acknowledge when someone enters. Without out looking up I stroke Nightmare gently and wait for whoever it is to speak. After a moment a soft voice asks, "is anyone sitting here?" I recognize the voice as Ms. Loopy, and shrug. I glance up long enough to see her sit down across from me before returning to Nightmare. He let's out a soft hiss at Ms. Loopy and I smile at him. Then I block out everything else and watch the fields roll by. Nightmare eventually falls asleep as I absently stroke him. I must look as if I'm in a doze, but only Valentine or J.C. could be more alert than I am now. Not that I've met J.C. Yet.

My Censor goes off weakly in my pocket just at we reach Hogwarts and I leap to my feet immediately. Having already changed into my robes, I take of down the train, shoving past the mandanes ungraciously. I take neither the carriages waiting for the older students nor head for the boats for first years. As I jog towards the castle my Censor's vibrations gradually pick up and I get a sinking feeling that the demon's after Ms. Know-it-all. I reach the front doors and shake my hair out of my face, stepping inside and pulling out the vibrating device. I go slower now, holding the Censor in each direction at every turn before moving forward. At doesn't take long for me to realize I'm heading in the direction of the Hospital Wing, and I start hoping Ms. Know-it-all isn't there.

I hear a scream and push forward, no longer needing my Censor. The scream was unmistakably Ms. Know-it-all and I'm not letting anything happen to her when I'm anywhere near. I dart into the Hospital Wing and see the demon, an Eluthied, chasing a cat-like figure I quickly realize is my tutor. The demon's glamour is slipping as Ms. Know-it-all throws things at it, thrashing wildly. Madam Pomfry is huddled in a corner, eyes wide. Before the demon even sees me grab a dagger from my belt and leap forward, slashing out. The runed dagger meets its mark and slashing the side of the demon, splattering black ichor down my arm. I screech but it quickly turns to a growl as I bare my teeth and yank a seraph blade out. With a muttered, "Haniel," I twist around and slash the demon's throat. As Haniel sinks into the rotten flesh the demon sinks its teeth into my right shoulder. Its teeth can't grip too hard as it dies, but the combination of ichor and bite leave me to weak to stand and I slump to the floor, panting. I toss the used seraph blade aside and order Ms. Know-it-all to check on Madam Pomfry before pulling out my stele and placing it to my skin with gritted teeth. After drawing on an iratze I pull myself to my feet. The Eluthied is gone, with no trace that it was ever here. With a glance at the shoulder of my ruined robe, I make my way over to my tutor, who's back in her bed with Madam Pomfry fussing over her. I stop just behind the nurse, who has no idea what I'd just done, being a regular mundane.

Once Madam Pomdry leaves I pull a chair up to Ms. Know-it-all's bed and glare at her. "Keeping you safe is going to get me killed, and soon," I inform her angrily. She starts to say something but I cut her off. "You're coming over to my place over the summer holidays, my parents and I will try to figure out why demons are going after you. I might even teach you some basic defense moves." She stares at me and her ears prick slightly. As an after thought I add, "also, how did you end up looking like a cat?" Ms. Know-it-all gulps and stutters, "I, uh, well, it wasn't...." Then realization hits me and I burst out giggling. "You were the one who made the polyjuice potion!" I exclaim. She motions frantically for me to quiet down and I manage to control the giggles, looking at her expectantly. Before she can reply, Mr. Thunderhead and Mr. Eats-a-lot enter. They glance back and forth between me and Ms. Know-it-all, obviously confused. Ms. Know-it-all gives a slight nod and the two boys blink at me on surprise. "How did you crack Hermione?" They demand at the same time. I shrug, "maybe if you were smarter you guys would have realized that you lost a vial of your potion before Christmas." All three goggle at me and I shrug again, "I gave it to my mentor, if you're wondering. Now, while I'd really like to hear your explanation, fighting wears me out and I'm starving. I expect you to tell me everything later, though, or next time I'll just let you're potion fail. And Hermione, tell them anything and I'll stop trying to figure it out, and let them get you." With that I stride from the Hospital Wing, not even confused about how Nightmare made his way from the train the here.

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Have a little something(and some Naila X Pater)for Harry Potter's birthday. Enjoy!