KH: Been a long time since I've written fanfiction. I want to do this one…just to do it. I really hope you'll read it and review. It'll keep me going. :D
I don't own any characters but my own.
Sweat rand down Jessi's jaw line, and dripped from her chin. Falling repetitively in the same spot between her crossed legs. Her wand was clenched in one hand and the other was forcibly relaxed in her left knee. Her mind stretching out where her eyes were blind, holding up the hundred or so pounds, forcing her magic to suspend them, her mind concentrating it.
"It's midnight Miss Jessi, I believe you father will see you've trained enough for today," said the old wizened voice of Cope, the Rands's family house elf. The hair that sprouted from his ears was almost as long as the strands on his old feeble chin.
Jessi's concentration broke and the weights she had been holding up blind with assistance from her wand came crashing down. Her eyes were livid, but she was not unhappy with the elf who looked on unfazed.
"Thank you Cope," she said as she rolled out her bent legs. Muscles strained and bones popped from their poised structure.
"Shall I prepare a bath?" he asked.
"Yes, that would be nice. Thank you," she said as she twisted, her back arching and popping. The elf nodded and departed. Leaving her alone with the only portrait in the training and exercising room.
"I'm almost there, mom," she said to the portrait of an attractive red-haired woman whose eyes gazed on affectionately. Her daughter, sporting the same red hair, bowed as she turned the lights of and left.
The elf had set out a light fluffy towel, robe, and had lit a few slightly scented candles, aimed to relax a fighter after arduous training. Jessi eased into the deep tub full of hot water. Sleep ebbing behind her eyelids but the cries of her strained muscles kept her awake.
She had been training for hours on end. Her last bit before head back to school the next day. She would be gone till spring and she didn't want to start off her sixth year as lazily as she had her last. The twanging and complaining muscles spoke of a testament. She wasn't yet strong enough. Physical training was just as important, if not more so, that her magical training. Because once you disarm your opponent, you still have to kill them.
The Rands line was not only as pure as it was fierce but deadly too. All who carried Zenith Rands blood in their veins abided by the clan's deep rules. Ones that had not only kept themselves safe for years but had kept much of the wizarding world safe as well.
For the Rands were Dark Wizard hunters, but often enough given the title of Aurors. Some of the best as well. Trusted for centuries to guard and protect the will of the wizarding world.
But the Rands name held a curse, which was almost unstoppable. There was not one person under its name who did not die a most gruesome death. Jessi's mom had died that way, as had her grandparents and their parents.
All of these thoughts fell onto Jessi's conscious as she let the warm water ease her muscles. She was not the heir, thank God, but the honor of her line weighted heavily in her chest like most Rands's. Honor above Defeat. The golden rule.
Scrubbing herself before she fell asleep she couldn't help but see the brand on the upper shoulder of her wand hand. It was an intricate arrow, pointed upward with curls and points decorating it and the phrase, "Fall unto our Might," in Latin below it. Zenith Rands's famous words and his line's motto. Her tattoo was always hidden, either via spell or clothing. The wizarding world often did not know the identity of Rands for they often chose false surnames to hide themselves. Secrecy was of utmost importance. Even at a young age Jessi was taught to respond to the name Davis, but honor Rands.
Forgoing the robe, she dried off with the towel and wrapped it around her tense and quivering body. Sleep weighted heavily on her head.
'You've been more tired before,' she chided herself as she looked into the mirror at herself. As a child she'd had long wavy red hair, but upon turning twelve it had been sheared off to her chin. The waves flitting in every direction and sporting a color similar to the Weaslys.
Jessi was not related to them in any way; Rands were infamous from their roots in Slytherin house, like the Weasly's were in Gryffindor. There were many rumors of the Wizard hunters using Dark magic themselves.
That could have been true for all Jessi knew. Until she was twenty, or took down a dark wizard on her own, she could not be inducted into the center most circle and would not know the clan's inter workings. For now she had but one mission. And that was to watch the students of Hogwarts for any Dark Magic.
And that was an easy job when you're in Slytherin.
00—00—00
Jessi had few friends, and the ones she did have weren't what one would confide secrets to. They gossiped mercilessly about others and each other. Jessi tried to stay as neutral as possible when the discussion came to such people as Harry Potter.
The Rands were not ever, nor would be, a part of the Order of the Phoenix; they would have laughed at the suggestion of it. They did not work with others. A Rands was taught to depend on herself and only herself.
But Jessi tried to pretend to be engaged in whatever her friends were saying as they feast for the new school year blossomed before them. She was ravenous but made sure to eat only what was necessary. She wouldn't be caught cumbersome and unwieldy. Years of training had scared her in such a way.
"Can you believe that bitch?" snarled Coralline to Bev as they pointed over their chicken and dumplings toward Pansy Parkinson who looked as pleased as punch as she stroked Draco Malfoy's shoulder.
Jessi nodded and focused on the two with her friends. Savoring the taste of her pudding.
"I don't see what he does in her," said Bev indignantly, "She's a bloody pig."
"She's and easy lay," said Coralline factually, "but she's horrible. She lit my transfiguration homework on fire last year during exams because I called her an idiot."
Pansy had done nothing but glare at Jessi, something she did to any girl she thought might want to steal him from her clutches. Jessi, herself, had never done anything to provoke her as far as she knew. Her father on the other hand, had her uncle locked up in Azkaban three years ago for charges of smuggling Dark Objects into France.
Jessi watched them a tad longer than her friends, who had resided to telling horror stories about the tyranny of Pansy. Her prodding brown eyes were met by a pair of steeling grey ones belonging to none other than Draco Malfoy. She pulled her gaze from him but noted his up and down glance at her. She narrowed her eyes instinctively and shot him a reproachful look. 'Do it again I dare you' look and he simply smirked and turned away.
"Did…did, Draco just smile at you?" asked Bev incredulously, knocking Jessi from her harmful thoughts. A soft warm blush touched her pale and slightly freckled cheeks.
"No, he was just… I don't know… smirking," she responded awkwardly. No amount of Rands training had taught her about social situations.
Coralline's face lit up. "Did he catch you staring? He catches me all the time but he never smiles," she said, trailing off with a pout.
"I just gave him a disgusted look because he was…" Jessi couldn't finish the sentence because she just realized what he had been doing and the words had frozen in her throat.
"Oh my God!" squealed Bev, "he was totally checking you out! Right?!"
"He was just looking," she whispered as she looked down into her pudding. Her hand froze holding her spoon.
"I can't blame him," said Coralline despite Jessi's scathing look, "You have got to work out all the time to have a body like that."
Jessi shot her a glare which she shook of easily by saying, "Just saying."
Jessi let the conversation slide off into some other topic and she gave one more glance down at the blonde before heading to the dormitories. This time Draco did not catch her looking but Pansy did. Giving her a glared and sticking out her tongue childishly.
Jessi kept the spell from her lips and relaxed her hand around her wand beneath the table. Its point directed at the girl's heart.
Her mission said keep a look out for Dark magic. Draco Malfoy was the best place to start.