Choices & Fortunes
By J. Lynn (j.lynn@email.com)
J.K.R. owns everything but a nameless Gypsy woman.
Author's Notes: This story is the first in the Acceptance series. It is followed by A Piece of Advice, Becoming Slytherin and Acceptance Of Things To Come.
Summary : In the summer of his twelfth year, Draco gets his fortune told by an old Gypsy woman.
A boy, no more than twelve pushed his way past the drapes and into the tent. Small for his age, fair-haired, with a regal bearing that almost covered his nervousness and his unfamiliarity with the new looking clothes he was in.
"Hello?" his voice betrayed his nerves, but also held an edge of steel and the daring flavor that comes with the forbidden.
"Sit child." As I move into the light I catch sight of his eyes. A cool, clear gray -blue, the eyes tell their own story. Here is one who will be worth the effort.
So few that make their way into my tent are worth the effort of looking to the spirits for. Their lives are boring, meaningless, and to them all I can say will be a joke. But tonight, for this one, I will dim the lights, leave off the smoke machine, and tell him his destiny.
"I wan-"
I remove my hand from his mouth, and those eyes flash dangerously. Here is one not used to being thwarted. A pity, if what I am seeing holds true. I settle back in my chair, closing my eyes, preparing for the rush of signs and choices.
Hmmm... This is odd. We each have the choice of good and evil, but the choices rarely make a difference, the paths tend to intertwine and become muddled through the years, to the point where the choice itself doesn't make that much difference. But here...
"You have two distinct possibilities, and however you choose there will be a multitude who will follow you. You have the mark of both a leader and a follower, whatever you choose will affect more than you, so pick your master wisely. The path you are on now is easy, though twisted and winding as a snake. This way starts out pretty, as a beautiful darkness, but if you follow it to the end, there will be slavery, bondage, pain and death, for you, your followers, and all who you meet."
"The other path you might take lies half in sun, and half in shadow. This way will be difficult for you. You will have to slowly bring your followers to it, as well as bringing the master of the path to you. The leader of the path leads three times as many followers, and they walk in the sun. But he, he is master of the whole path, and must be made to realize it. You must bring him to walk between the sun and shadow, split down the middle as if by a lightning bolt. When he walks down the middle he will lead you to a great battle with the old path, and from the middle he will bring a triumph in the end. After the battle he will reward you above all others, because in coming to him you have brought him victory over your old master, and a time of peace and freedom for all who have followed him."
I open my eyes and look at him. He is frozen in place, face a ghastly mask of understanding. I feel a moment of sorrow. So young, but already his choices are hard upon him. "You will never be your own master, but the master you will choose will decide the fate of your world. Choose wisely lad."
Slowly I stand, making my way towards my bed. My daughter, Kira, will show the lad out and turn away any others. His is the only fortune I will tell tonight, and tomorrow the caravan will pack up and be on its way to the next town. But for now I must rest, for who knows when I shall next need the sight.
fin
By J. Lynn (j.lynn@email.com)
J.K.R. owns everything but a nameless Gypsy woman.
Author's Notes: This story is the first in the Acceptance series. It is followed by A Piece of Advice, Becoming Slytherin and Acceptance Of Things To Come.
Summary : In the summer of his twelfth year, Draco gets his fortune told by an old Gypsy woman.
A boy, no more than twelve pushed his way past the drapes and into the tent. Small for his age, fair-haired, with a regal bearing that almost covered his nervousness and his unfamiliarity with the new looking clothes he was in.
"Hello?" his voice betrayed his nerves, but also held an edge of steel and the daring flavor that comes with the forbidden.
"Sit child." As I move into the light I catch sight of his eyes. A cool, clear gray -blue, the eyes tell their own story. Here is one who will be worth the effort.
So few that make their way into my tent are worth the effort of looking to the spirits for. Their lives are boring, meaningless, and to them all I can say will be a joke. But tonight, for this one, I will dim the lights, leave off the smoke machine, and tell him his destiny.
"I wan-"
I remove my hand from his mouth, and those eyes flash dangerously. Here is one not used to being thwarted. A pity, if what I am seeing holds true. I settle back in my chair, closing my eyes, preparing for the rush of signs and choices.
Hmmm... This is odd. We each have the choice of good and evil, but the choices rarely make a difference, the paths tend to intertwine and become muddled through the years, to the point where the choice itself doesn't make that much difference. But here...
"You have two distinct possibilities, and however you choose there will be a multitude who will follow you. You have the mark of both a leader and a follower, whatever you choose will affect more than you, so pick your master wisely. The path you are on now is easy, though twisted and winding as a snake. This way starts out pretty, as a beautiful darkness, but if you follow it to the end, there will be slavery, bondage, pain and death, for you, your followers, and all who you meet."
"The other path you might take lies half in sun, and half in shadow. This way will be difficult for you. You will have to slowly bring your followers to it, as well as bringing the master of the path to you. The leader of the path leads three times as many followers, and they walk in the sun. But he, he is master of the whole path, and must be made to realize it. You must bring him to walk between the sun and shadow, split down the middle as if by a lightning bolt. When he walks down the middle he will lead you to a great battle with the old path, and from the middle he will bring a triumph in the end. After the battle he will reward you above all others, because in coming to him you have brought him victory over your old master, and a time of peace and freedom for all who have followed him."
I open my eyes and look at him. He is frozen in place, face a ghastly mask of understanding. I feel a moment of sorrow. So young, but already his choices are hard upon him. "You will never be your own master, but the master you will choose will decide the fate of your world. Choose wisely lad."
Slowly I stand, making my way towards my bed. My daughter, Kira, will show the lad out and turn away any others. His is the only fortune I will tell tonight, and tomorrow the caravan will pack up and be on its way to the next town. But for now I must rest, for who knows when I shall next need the sight.
fin