[2] storm of rage ~ harry potter × marvel

13- You...

"We're so glad you're alright, Skyler." Hermione whispers, as she, Harry, Ron, Fred and George are standing around her bed. Though, all of the visitors smile at her, but Skyler looks mirthless.

"I'm sorry..." She responds to the questioning looks of her friends, "I'm sorry for what is going to happen..."

"What in Merlin's name are you talking about, Skyler?" Fred asks, raising one eyebrow.

"Listen to me, alright? I'm a member of the Order and I always will be. Dumbledore gave me an assignment, I need to get close to Umbridge and the Ministry. In order to do that..." Skyler sighs.

"You need to act like you hate us." Hermione states, realising what Skyler's getting at.

"I'm going back to a cold-hearted, cocky Slytherin who hates everything that has to do with Dumbledore... or Harry Potter." Skyler says, looking straight at Harry.

"But we wanted to ask you something too, Sky..." Ron objects, giving all of the others a look.

"We've started our own DADA-class. Harry is teaching, and we'd hoped you would like to do that as well." George says. Skyler bites her bottom lip, then shakes her head.

"That won't be possible. I need to gain all of Umbridge's trust. I'll probably be offending Muggleborns with Parkinson and Davies. I'm going to be your help from the inside. I'll pass you information about Umbridge, and I'll be more than honoured to give a guest-lesson, but I can't be a part of the organization. I've heard Umbridge talking about a certain squad, I can't remember the name, but it contains people who're loyal to the Ministry. I'm going to be a part of that." Skyler explains, her eyes shining mischievously.

"So, whatever you're going to say to us, you don't mean it right?" Harry asks. Both Skyler and Hermione groan.

"Of course not, idiot." Skyler smirks, "but I'm already apologizing, for I've heard some nasty insults over the years. Expect to be called Potty from now on, Harry."

"We forgive you, Sky..." Fred says, hugging her close, "as long as you promise to come to the Headquarters with Christmas, alright?"

"I'll be there." Skyler grins, hugging each and every one of them, "Now, go. I'm expecting other visitors. Certain Slytherins..." It hurts. She's going to lie to the persons she misses the most. She's going to pick a side, whilst she already picked one.

"We'll give you a note during classes, if we need your help with one of the subjects." Harry assures her, before the group leaves the infirmary.

Not even ten minutes later, the door of the infirmary opens again. Skyler rises from her pillow, groaning when the bandage on her side touches the healing wound. With her elbow on the side of the bed, and all of her weight on the same arm, makes Skyler roll over and fall out of the hospital bed. Though she prepared herself for the crash, two arms catch her right in time.

"I've got you." Draco Malfoy huffs, putting her back in bed, "Falling for me again, Sky?" He jokes, and Skyler glares at him.

"Leave the jokes to me, Malfoy, that's my level of expertise." She growls, sitting up in her bed, glancing over to Pietro Maximoff at her other side. The boy himself is still sleeping, and under the watchful eye of Madame Pomfrey.

Skyler then looks at her former friends... who she's planning to befriend again, "So, what are Traitor One, Two, Three and Four doing here with Daphne Greengrass?" She mocks, grimacing at her housemates.

"Skyler..." Pansy Parkinson starts, but Skyler cuts her off with a glare that could've given Natasha a run for her money. The girl's breath hitches but she continues speaking, "Skyler, we want to tell you..."

"You're sorry. Yes, yes, I get it." Skyler sighs tiredly, "The question is: do I know you guys possess genuine regret, or is it just something that you miss as amusement?" She says.

"Sky... we don't deserve your forgiveness, but we miss you... unconditionally." Blaise assures her. Then, Skyler's smirk falters.

"Remember what I told you, Blaise, that day on the train?" She whispers. Blaise's face straightens, and his eyes show some kind of fear. He even takes a step back from her.

"Y-yes... perfectly clear..." He stammers.

"Then I'm going to tell you something – and I'm going to tell you once," Skyler says sternly, "I'm taking it back. All of what I've said to you guys... I take it back. I'm sorry frightening you... it just... it really hurts when your best friends tell you that you can't be around them anymore, you know?"

"So... everything is forgiven and forgotten?" Daphne utters astonished. Skyler chuckles.

"Daphne, you have done nothing wrong. There was nothing to forgive you for. The others, however, are forgiven. For the last time." She says.

"WHAT IS THIS? Ms. Foster needs rest! One visitor at the time!" Madame Pomfrey exclaims, causing all of the visitors to turn their eyes to the floor and turn around, ready to walk away. Only, Skyler takes one of their hands, making him stop his tracks and look around. Her eyes tell for him to stay, and his head nods. He gestures his friends that he'll be in the common room soon, but not yet.

"Why do you want me to stay?" He asks, taking place in the chair next to Skyler's hospital bed, even though their hands stay connected.

"I want to explain to you," Skyler starts, "why I haven't picked a side yet."

"Sky... you don't have to pick a side. No one will ask that of you." He answers, squeezing her hand just a little.

"But someone will!" Skyler insists, "And when that time comes, I won't choose Voldemort. I won't choose Dumbledore. I won't choose the Ministry."

"But then you won't pick a side. Those are the only sides possible. There's no way around or between." He states, chuckling.

"Yes, there is." Skyler says firmly, "When they ask me to pick a side, I'll choose you." And somewhere, deep inside, Skyler knows that that's not a lie entirely.

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Who do you guys think it is?

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