A Gift of Retribution
by: Xianetra
Summary: Long thought to have been extinct, the Erinyes have been lost in wizard time. Living on only in ancient Greek records, no one would have guessed that these frightening monsters would ever be encountered again. However, when a dead body is washed ashore at the edge of the lake at Hogwarts, and the body is drained of blood... People's worst nightmares are coming true, and witches and wizards are forced to realize that nothing is what it seems...
Chapter One: Discovery
I have absolutely no idea how it happened. I didn't know why I had been so angry at them. They had just been SPLASHING me, for Christ's sake. However, I'm known for my short fuse with my friends when they DO do something incredibly stupid, and that fuse has been lit one too many times that day, so it has been shorter than usual. Perhaps I should start at the beginning, lest you start to get confused. Hell, I'M confused, and I'm supposed to be the smart one.
After Herbology, Harry, Ron, and I decided it would be fun to sit out by the lake before lunch. Well, that's not entirely true. Harry and Ron decided it would be fun to sit by the lake. I was dragged along, despite my vehement protests. It's hard to argue with them when you were outnumbered two to one. Sigh. It's just not fair. When we had settled down, I could see out of the corner of my eye Harry talking with Ron, and the both of the grinning mischievously. Ah, shit. What do they want? For awhile, though, we sat there in companionable silence, with me thinking how to organize my Potions notebook. That is, until my thoughts were rudely interrupted by a splash of cold, lake water. What the HELL?
More splashes followed the first, and soon I was screaming and vainly holding up my hands in an attempt to block the water. Why do people do that, anyway? It doesn't DO anything!
"Stop it, you twats! I said stop it!" I yelled. Though I was trying to be angry, I couldn't help a hysterical giggle from bursting forth. The splashes of lake water continued to bombard me, and finally I whipped out my wand. "Stop it, or I swear I'll hex your balls off!" I hoped that would make them turn pale and run away with their tails between their legs, but Harry and Ron only laughed and continued to splash me. Fuck.
"Come on, Hermione," Harry admonished. "You need to have a little bit more fun. Plus, we just came from Herbology, and we're awfully dirty..."
"You're the one who's always obsessed with cleanliness," Ron interjected.
"Yes, but not with filthy lake water! You're getting me soaked!" I snapped, standing up from the lake's edge. Indeed, my robes were darkened with water, and they felt ten times heavier; all thanks to the Boy Wonder and the Red-Headed Oaf. Merlin. I wrung out my damp, frizzy hair and finally wrestled it into a messy pony tail. I then proceeded to stomp away from my friends, my shoes squelching with every step. Ughh, that is so nasty. Harry and Ron howled with laughter and followed me. Go away, annoying people with whom I do not wish to speak with.
And this is where you came in.
I ignored them, but a small smile was fighting for dominance on my lips. Despite my reservations, and the fact that I was soaked, it had been kinda funny . . . NO. Absolutely NOT funny, I reminded myself. Then I remembered I was still wet. Ah, geez . . . I passed my wand over myself, muttering the effective drying spell. Glaring at them once more, I continued to walk at the lake's edge, Harry and Ron struggling to keep up with me. Good. Make them run after me.
"Hermione, stop getting your knickers in a twist -- we were only having fun!" Ron said, putting on an innocent face. Hah! When has Ronald EVER been innocent? I just ignored him and picked up my stride, effectively putting some distance between myself and my so-called "friends." Harry and Ron, while known for their daring natures, weren't stupid enough to try and keep up with me, bless their hearts. I suppose they didn't want their me anymore, and I'd like to think that they didn't want me to follow through with my promise with that hex . . . I tried to convince myself that I really was angry, but found that I couldn't possibly be angry with them. This only served to infuriate me more, so I kept walking until the animated voices of my friends eventually degenerated into a low buzz, and finally disappeared all together. I'm not worried; I have been this far down the lake before, and it's not like I can get lost. All I had to do was follow the lake backwards.
Although, what DID worry me were the stories that I had read in an old book on ancient magic in the library two years ago. According to one of the anecdotes in the text, the far end of the lake of Hogwarts had been home to a number of strange and mysterious creatures . . . Strange even by wizarding standards. Even though all of them are either extinct or have migrated away, I'm still a little anxious. The stories and the monsters had been quite . . . grotesque. These beasts had been ruthless, fearsome, and had killed and tortured their prey in a number of interesting ways that would make even Filch shudder. I was not keen on coming across one of them, but I insisted to myself that they were all gone. They're just mere fantasy now, the objects of old legend and folklore.
So why do I get the feeling that I'm being watched?
I quickly shook the feeling and continued walking. A strange smell wafted up to my nose, and I sneezed. What in the world? I cautiously sniffed my shoulder and scrunched up my nose. The smell was coming from me . . . Oh, dear God, it's ME! Sweet Merlin, I smell absolutely horrid! I smelled like a nauseating combination of algae and dirt. However, there was one smell that stood out from the rest, a smell that wasn't coming from my person. I sniffed the air again, trying to pinpoint the location of the stench. Following my nose, I traced the smell down the edge of the lake, where it was growing stronger . . . And becoming more gut-wrenching. I pulled my robes over my nose and mouth, finding the smell to be too overpowering. This was when my survival instincts kicked in, and I reprimanded myself for being so stupid. Who, in their right mind, wanders aimlessly in the undergrowth by the lake trying to find the origin of a nasty stench? I'm so DISGUSTED with myself. I turn around, intent on hiking back to Hogwarts and taking a long shower; or better yet, a bath . . . I haven't had one of those in a while . . . After all, who needs to know what that smell was? Who would WANT to know what that smell was? Maybe it had just been coming from the lake.
My walk turned into a run, and in my haste, I tripped over a large, gnarled root. Landing with a painful THUD on the ground, I winced in pain. Ah bugger. I sighed and remained motionless on the ground for a few moments, contemplating if it would be better if I just died here. But then, I wouldn't get to take my Newts, or get my degree, or return my library book . . . Aw, hell. That did it. Groaning, I turned my head to the side, planting my hands firmly on the ground to haul myself up. My dark brown eyes locked on a pair of dead, gray ones.
Oh FUCK.
I supposed that's when I screamed.
A/N: Whoo. I've finally delved into the world of fanfiction. I had been toying with starting one for ages, but have always talked myself out of it. But, I finally convinced myself and wrote this. Though I have read many fanfiction, and have even started a few (though I haven't posted them), I've never really felt the insatiable urge to actually post one HERE. But, apparently, now I have, since now you're reading this. I'm so proud of myself. Heh heh. Anywho, I had been doing research for a paper on the Medieval era, and when I came across mythical monsters, a plot bunny hopped into my head, and I just HAD to write it down. So, here we are. Reviews are much appreciated, for they feed the starving artist. And since I am, by the textbook definition, a starving artist, reviews will be vastly helpful and encouraging. Thanks so much for taking the time to reading this! --Xianetra
