Similar Project
Chosen swept through the halls toward the Library. Dark should be there, but if he wasn’t then he didn’t know where to look.
I can’t believe I’m doing this. His plan of making himself stand out to the Ministry to give them a bigger target seemed to be working so far, but it made his position quite precarious. She’ll want answers, and I don’t know how far she’ll go to get them. He didn’t know what to expect next from that toad woman.
Chosen arrived at the library, entering without a second thought. Searching for his brother’s red hair came up dry as he was nowhere to be seen. He must have gone somewhere where he can't be bothered to make his mysterious project. Where?
He sighed as he left the library empty-handed. It looks like he’ll have to wait till after dinner for their conversation.
Maybe he’ll have to talk to Harry first after all. Facing his fate, he marched down to the Great Hall for dinner. Maybe Dark was already there.
Once he arrived and entered through the grand double doors, the hall became silent for a second, then everyone started whispering at once. What he and Harry did has spread throughout the school, it seems.
He didn’t see Dark at the Slytherin table when he glanced over. Just where in the world is he? Maybe he lost track of time? He decided that must be the case.
Briskly walking over to Harry, Ron, and Hermione he sat down next to them.
He didn’t get a second to breathe before Harry shot at him, “Why’d you do it?”
Chosen looked up at Harry, “You’re going to have to be more specific.”
“Why’d you stop me?” Harry’s hands were shaking, he was probably angry because of the loud whispers being sent their way.
Chosen moved a strand of his hair out of his eyes. “You were going to yell at her, correct?”
“Yeah, so what? She would have deserved it, saying I’m a liar.”
It looks like he had his work cut out for him.
“Harry, The Ministry is already interested in both of us, and getting angry will make you look worse to everyone else, even if they are all wrong. It hurts your case. That’s why I stopped you.”
“It’s the truth, isn’t it?" Harry said heatedly, "Why does it matter then?”
“Harry,” Hermione interjected, “Chosen is right. Going about things with a level head, even if it makes you angry, is better for your image in everyone's eyes. People will only see you as insane like they were told if you lash out at them.”
“I’m not insane though! I’m just angry at their stupidity, Dumbledore told them what happened. Why don’t they believe the truth?”
Chosen knew what it felt to be angry all the time. He’s glad he is not there anymore. Those were dark times. He empathizes with Harry.
“Look, Harry,” Chosen started, “I know this is hard for you but Umbridge can do more than give you detention and deduct points if you cross her. She is with the Ministry, you need to be careful.”
Hermione nodded in agreement at him. Ron just continued eating his apple pie. Harry still looked angry, but he seemed to understand what he was saying at least.
The silence between all of them made the other people's whispers audible.
“He believes Harry about Cedric DIggary…”
“Come off it…”
“He did make some good points…”
“... like he wanted detention.”
“He was kinda hot though…”
What the hell was that last one? Chosen shook his head eating a spoonful of his mashed potatoes. Looks like some gossip always stayed the same. I wonder who they are referring to. Chosen immediately put that out of his mind. I accomplished my goal. It seems like they are talking more about my interaction with Umbridge than Harry’s outburst.
“I’ll try,” Harry said to them. He now seemed quite tired, “But I’m still angry.”
Hermione sighed with relief at his statement, “Good. We care for you Harry, and I’d rather you not get into trouble again.”
“If that’s all, I’ll be going,” Chosen got up, he had eaten only a few bites of his mashed potatoes but he wasn’t hungry, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Wait,” Hermione said as he got up.
“What?” he asked, looking down at her.
She turned away from his face and coughed, “I just wanted to ask if you are really done eating, it is rather important you know.”
Ron scowled at him, “He’ll be fine Hermione. Why do you care?”
Chosen blinked in surprise. Ignoring Ron, he told her, “I’m good, Hermione. I’m just not hungry, thanks for your concern.”
“Alright then! Goodbye,” she said in a weird voice, still covering her face in… embarrassment? Annoyance? He had no clue.
“Goodbye…” He said, stepping away from the table and out of the hall.
He had to find Dark. He probably was working too hard on his project. The last time he had a project he skipped meals as well and didn’t tell him about what it was. His virabots.
Traveling to the seventh floor was quick and easy, because he has done it plenty of times before. Once he arrived, he started talking to a familiar painting.
“Good afternoon, Isabella. I have a small question to ask you.”
“Ah, Good morning, Chosen!” Isabella closed her fan as he approached her painting, “If you're here to ask about your brother, he went down to that room you came out of the first day we met. He still hasn’t left.”
“I don’t believe you two are actually brothers,” George said in the next painting over, grumbling under his breath.
“George!” Isabella admonished him.
“What! Everyone is already saying he’s part vampire! We all know they don’t look alike!”
“Part vampire?” That was the first time he had heard that one. Dark’s teeth were pretty pointed.
“Yes, boy. I hope he is not for the sake of our school.” George said loudly and confidently, “Letting half-breeds in to mingle with ordinary wizards should be a crime!”
Chosen growled, angry at his words. “My brother isn’t part vampire and even if he was, I don’t see why that would be a problem,” He had the sudden urge to commit arson, but stopped himself. It wasn’t worth his time. He nodded at Isabella saying, “Goodbye Isabella, and thanks.”
Isabella waved at him smiling sweetly, then she shot George a look with righteous fury. He could hear her furious whispers, even when he made it a few steps to his destination.
He knocked on the wall where the room had disappeared last time, trying to sense how to open the door. Nothing happened. I should just wait until Dark leaves then enter. With these thoughts in mind, he plopped on the floor next to the wall, waiting for Dark’s exit. Thankfully he didn’t have to wait long until the door appeared.
“Shit!” Dark said as he sped out the doors, Cho caught the door, keeping it from closing and disappearing. Dark spotted him as he walked down the hallway. His hair was messy and his hands were dark with soot. He looped back to him quickly.
“Let’s go,” Dark told him, grabbing his arm and pulling him into the room. It happened so fast, that Chosen felt a little stunned.
The room was quite nice, and not at all what he was expecting. It looked like a workshop. There are metal plates scattered on the floor in a pattern with markings and a blueprint on the desk in the middle of the room. The furnace lit up the room, making it nice and warm.
THUD!
The door shut behind them.
“Cool huh?” Dark said, walking to the center table and picking up a nearby blueprint, “This is my new workshop. I don’t even need to buy supplies anymore!” He seemed tense for some reason, clutching the blueprint tighter than he had to.
“Yeah, it is,” Chosen agreed, walking up behind Dark. He wanted to see the blueprint.
When he got close enough, Chosen peaked over Dark’s shoulder at the blueprint in his hand. He paused. That blueprint has a Virabot on it! His heart dropped, Dark wasn’t planning on making them again, right? That’s why he was tense. Chosen tensed up as well, now on high alert.
“Dark-” he began in a warning voice but was interrupted.
“I know,” Dark said, his head down. His hand was still clutching the blueprint in his death grip.
“Why-”
“They look similar, but they don’t have the same function.” Dark turned around to face him, his eyes flashing for only a second with fear. He might have imagined it. “These ones will be enchanted with complicated runes. If they work, they’ll be the perfect spies. They won’t be destroying anything.”
A couple of seconds passed as all he heard was the cackling of the fire. Chosen saw that Dark's hands were shaking. He’s afraid that I won’t believe him because of what happened last time…
“I trust you, Dark,” Chosen said, relaxing the best he could. He still felt thrown off, but Dark is not controlled by his code anymore. He has changed, just like Alan.
Dark’s eyes widened for just a second in surprise, then he grinned genuinely.
“Thanks, Chosen.”
“No need to thank me.”
There was a comfortable silence.
“WELL, that’s enough of that,” Dark said suddenly, now facing his blueprint, “Wanna see my plans?”
“I’d love to, but I have something to tell you first.” Chosen began, not looking forward to the impending conversation.
“Hm?” Dark glanced at him, intrigued. But after seeing Chosen’s face he suddenly asked, “What did you do?”
There was a slight pause.
“...I may have got detention,” Chosen said slowly, bracing for impact.
There was another pause as Dark processed the information. Then there was an explosion.
“WHAT! ON THE FIRST DAY!” Dark yelled loudly, running up and grabbing his shirt. “HOW THE FUCK DID YOU MANAGE TO DO THAT?!”
“Dark, listen to me,” Chosen said, now clutching Dark’s hand in his own.
Dark quieted down (still rather angry), led him over to some comfortable chairs near the bookshelf, and pushed him toward a plush orange chair.
“Sit,” Dark was looking at him disapprovingly. Chosen sat down. “Explain.”
I won’t be able to explain my plan to him without him disapproving. He guesses he’ll just have to live with it.
“In Umbridge's class,” Chosen began.
Dark immediately started grumbling. “Of course it was that woman. The-” He cut himself off, noticing Chosen had stopped talking and gestured at him to continue.
“Well, just a side note but we aren’t allowed to perform spells in her class. Even as practice.”
“What?!” Dark asked, startled, “Does she want everyone to fail?!”
“That was also my reaction. Well, Hermione asked her about it and she used the opportunity to try to get Harry angry. She did, but it would have been worse if I didn’t step in. Harry got detention for yelling about Lord Voldemort.” Chosen took a deep breath in and said, “I purposely got detention to be able to be there with him in case something happens.”
Dark’s eyes narrowed at him, his arms crossed. He didn’t believe him.
“And what’s the other reason?”
Dang it! I wish he wasn’t that good at reading me.
“... Also because I wanted the Ministry to direct its focus on me so they forget about Harry,” Chosen said, looking anywhere but at Dark.
“You…” Dark seemed to be processing what he said. “That’s dangerous, Cho. You know that.”
His tie suddenly felt tight around his neck. He loosened it.
“Yes.”
Dark took a deep breath like he was trying to calm himself down. Again.
“You shouldn’t be risking your own safety for a boy who you shouldn’t even be protecting. Heck, we were supposed to be at that picnic ages ago! That old man better-”
“Dark,” Chosen interrupted, “It’s fine, I chose this.”
“Did you?” Dark asked quickly, “Or do you just feel obligated to help because of your name?”
More silence filled the room.
That’s preposterous!I don’t only want to help because I’m The Chosen One! Chosen didn’t know if he believed himself. He opened his mouth to debunk Dark’s words, but it felt as if his vocal cords were on vacation. He couldn’t speak.
Dark walked up to him and placed his hand on his shoulder. Chosen looked up and their red eyes met. Dark’s eyes looked soft. It was strange, but a nice change.
“Look, Cho. I’m worried for you. I know there is nothing we can do now, but please promise me that if you get into any danger, you’ll tell me. We’ll kick their asses together.”
Chosen felt like Dark was acting more like an older brother.
“If I can, I will.” He promised.
“Good,” He said firmly, a grin spread on his face as he started, “Now about my invention…”