Fayal Wood And The Plot-less Book
By: Deedlit Magic
Chapter 1 End of Summer
The morning light drifted through the trees of a forest outside Auchtermunchty to dance on the thatched roof of a large stone house. As with any Scottish family a thick brogue was audible as they awoke. "Oliver Matthew Wood get up!" A woman's voice broke the morning calm of birds chirping merrily.
"Aye Aunt Michalea, I'm up." He yawned as the captain and the best Keeper of the Gryffindor Quidditch team rolled out of bed.
"Fayal, put down that book and go feed the chickens." The woman continued.
"Aye Mum, here Ashelie, hold my place." There was banging and then the front door opened and an average height, shapely, and plump woman with skin that was ivory, delicate, and fair came out the into the dapples of sun. Her hair the hues of a fire, while her sparkling eyes decided to be a soft lavender for the time. Her eyes where as Wizard's Silk, changing with her mood from blues to silver, purples to green. She was dressed a long black skirt and a long sleeved purple top.
Her hair hung down her back in wild curls, hinting her self to be unruly as the wind when she wished. She went to the barn and grabbed a pail of feed before heading to the chicken yard and scattering it for the feathery beasts.
"Oliver, your parents have gone off to the ministry for some reason or the other, so you need to go to town and collect the things we need from the hardware store. That barn roof is leaking again." His Aunt shooed him out the door.
"Cousin, could you get me some parchment? I'm fresh out." Fayal looked up as Oliver buttoned up his shirt as he walked up the path.
"Aye...but only if you take Ashelie to school."
"No problem." She waved as she walked back to the barn. She made sure the milking cow was fed and watered before she milked her and took the frothy hot liquid back to her mother.
The woman who looked remarkably like Mrs. Weasley looked up with a smile. "Oh good. As soon as you get back from taking Ashelie to the school house you and Oliver can go get your supplies from Diagon Alley. Floo powder is on the harth. I'm off to the shop." She gave her daughter a little hug before going out the door.
Ashelie was Fayal's little brother of ten. He was as some joked prettier then Fayal. He had the same eyes and curly hair that was kept back in a ponytail with no bangs. His freckles were darker but aside from that and the distinct male /female differences they could not deny relation.
He was studying the last page Fayal had been reading in Magical Herbs and Fungi (2000 More to Learn). "Related to Willow. Used in teas as pain reliever. Attracts lightening." He said aloud.
"Ok, time to get your things together for class. I'll pack your lunch while you eat breakfast." She tasseled his hair before he ran up the stairs to get his book bag.
She made him some toast and eggs and poured some orange juice into glasses and set the table for three before making a lunch parcel for Ashelie. Before she had put it on the table next to the front door he had bolted back down the steps and was sitting at the table. She sat with him and they prayed over the meal before they ate. Oliver came back before they had finished and sat down to eat also. He plunked down a pack of paper as she looked up.
"Thank you, though it's no longer necessary. Oliver, when I get back we have to go to Diagon Alley. I've got my things together already since I haven't unpacked from my summer work." She smiled, giving him some more bacon. "Ok Ash, ready to go?"
"Aye!" He was to the door before she could stand.
She dropped her napkin on the table and raced him down to town. There were other wizarding families who had their children in his class and she told him to go home with Mrs. Dippet if Mum didn't come to fetch him. Then she went back to the house. Oliver was still packing. She cleaned the kitchen and finished reading her book before he was ready. Then they took their things and traveled by Floo Powder to Diagon Alley.
It was a lovely afternoon, dreary and cloudy as they came out of the Leaky Cauldron and parted ways. This was according to very few people mind you. Muggles mostly hated the weather, but it was a wonderful day for shopping out of doors for magic folk. The annual collecting of Hogwarts school supplies had begun.
An average heighted lot gathered hugging each other and greeting one another excitedly in front of the clothing store Fayal being the shortest. A delicately boned, slender, pale skinned beauty with dark mahogany hair and deep blue eyes stood wearing nothing close to the school uniform. She wore a black crushed stretch velvet shirt featuring bell sleeves and a laced bodice as well as a skirt with an embroidered material panel on the right quarter panel in the front and left in the back. Platform shoes made her look more willowy then normal. Her thick dark hair was cropped to her shoulders in several lengths, showing her favor of Japanese life. "Fayal! Oh, Ryn, is your mother better?" Her voice was flat and slightly deep, all though it was full of happiness.
"Celesta, you've put on weight!" Fayal teased her with a loud joyous voice that still made her sound sweet and innocent. She was dressed now in the school uniform except her grey jumper dress had been the uniform nearly one hundred years before.
Ravenclaw coloured stripes matching her silver and blue striped tie decorated the neck, pocket, and sleeve holes as well as the hem that came down past mid-calf. The sleeves of her crisp white shirt hit just at her wrists. "Ryn, Aye, how is your mum?" Her voice was as soft as a feather as she finished though her Scottish accent was still thick.
The girl they spoke to had medium brownish blond hair to her shoulders, flipping up on the end cutely and happy looking blue eyes, kind of crescent moons, twinkling with merriness. She had a solid figure and was a farm girl. "Well, she's ok I guess. She's not dead, though some times I thought of helping her because she is so ugh! And I can't take it some times. It's nice to be back to school, I needed a vacation from her. WOMAN!" The blond highlighted hair was lighter then her skin, which was a nice light toffee color from her long days in the sun of Ireland and New Zealand. "So uh yeah, anyway, how's it been going?" She tried to look cool and calm as she fretted with the front of her sweater. She was dressed in the normal Hogwarts school uniform for girls though the colours where a bit off from being worn and the black robes where to short for her. She was a loyal Hufflepuff through and through.
"Poor Ryn, don't worry, once we get back to our old antics you'll feel better!" Celesta patted her on the head. Her Slytherin style always showed through.
"Bawk meow! Bawk meow!" She clucked like a chicken and meowed like a cat. "So any how...I finally talked them in to letting me have a Griffin. It was so embarrassing to have a parrot. And he was stupid to." Immediately all three girls bobbed their head and began saying "Pickle!" repeatedly as the bird had done for the past seven years. Ryn uncovered a cage that sat near her feet. A small yellow Owl Griffin mix blinked at them. It was the size of a toy poodle. "Everyone meet Bobbleamabingodama, the Owgriff."
"Do what to who?" Fayal cocked her head to the side.
"Bobble-ama-bingo-dama...Fine, Bob for short!" She gave up after they continued to give her strange looks. "Stop looking at me! I didn't name him. I wished his name to be *she grumbled so they couldn't hear*" She whined. "Mom named him, thanks Mom..."
"Merrrooowwww!" A sleek grey tabby cat wound between the girls' legs. She wore a pair of spectacles and had on a golden collar. Someone nearly stepped on her. The cat took a few steps then keeled over. "Zzzzzzz...."
"I see Manic, your cat, is still narcoleptic." Fayal poked the cat with her toe smiling at Celesta.
"Yes..." Celesta picked up the cat and shoved her in the duffel bag she carried. "I see everyone has their books and clothes, so let's drop by the wand shop before we go get a snack so we can sit and talk." Celesta began walking away from Madam Malkin's Robes For All Occasions where they had met as Fayal had left after getting her robes let down. Ryn was probably wishing she could get some new ones and looking in the window and Celesta had dropped by to mock rule followers. She hated being normal. Fayal just wanted to be eccentric.
"Wait a second you need a wand to?" Ryn looked startled.
"So do I!" Fayal grinned as soon as Celesta nodded. "Ollivander's it is."
They soon reached the dusty little old shop that had been selling them wands since they were eleven. It was thanks to customers like them that the shop had been around since 382 B.C.... "Good after noon. I've been expecting you three...again. Do you realize you've gone through twenty-eight wands in nine years between the three of you? What happened this time?" The ancient man asked them in his hazy voice as he walked towards them through the stacks of wands.
"My Griffin ate it." Ryn looked apologetic.
"And it was such a nice wand too...Dragon Heart Strings, You, 6 1/4 inches." He sighed. "And you, Gargoyle Nails, Worm Wood, 12 inches imported from Germany?"
"Um...It got stepped on bay a Centaur when I was in the field last spring." Fayal explained with a grin.
"Let's just say my Phoenix Ash, Cedar, 9 1/3 inch from Gwam got broken." Celesta said ominously.
"Well, Never mind that, things happen...Especially to you three it seems. Try these." He began handing them wands, telling them about the specifics with them ignoring him. They had heard the tales so often they could probably tell him about half of the wands in the shop. "If only you were like Miss MacGahee. She dropped by this morning just to say hello. She has two wands. Never has broken either of them. The one she got from me was willow with a phoenix feather in it. Her other is a solid crystal with stardust in its core that she got on a trip to China with her grandmother."
Ryn and Celesta took wands and began waving them. It was an awful thing to watch the shop's destruction. The card catalog flew apart, the pillow in the window was set on fire, one stack of wands was scattered, and the front window was blown out before the two had their wands. Ryn took her new Dragon Heart-Strings, Golden Oak, 13 and 1/3 inch wand and waved it at the fire speaking the extinguishing spell and the fire went out. Then "Reparo!" the window fixed itself. "Terribly sorry bout the mess."
Celesta waved her Phoenix Feather, Red Mahogany, 9 3/4-inch wand and placed an Unbreakable charm on the window. Then she muttered at the still smoldering pillow. "Reparo." It was as good as new. "Very nice. Now let's go to the junk shop across the street...Fayal, care to find your wand now or are you waiting for an engraved invitation?"
Fayal had stayed well out of the way of them. "Wingardium Leviosa." She spoke softly and all the wands scattered on the floor floated up to hover about waist high. Then she spoke a binding spell and gathered them into a pile on the desk. "Wandardium Selectose Spacificous." She closed her eyes and held out her hand. Two wands rose from the stack and placed themselves in her hand. She separated them, holding one at a time before picking one. "Papel Rinted Assemde." The cards put themselves away. "Thank you sir once again for your assistance." She tucked her new Unicorn hair, Rosewood, 13 and 7/8-inch wand into her robes. She was getting far to good at that.
They all paid and left him sighing. "Perhaps the Unbreakable charm would be best cast on your wands." The door closed, silencing the little bell that rang in the back of the shop when someone arrives or leaves and the girls had left him for the junk shop.
They selected some books on Muggles, by Muggles, and on topics of interest like Runes. Fayal got four books on potions, Ryn got two on Fantastic Creatures, and Celesta got one on Black Magic. They left the shop and headed on past the second-hand robe shop to Gambol and Japes. Ryn and Fayal shrugged as Celesta darted in side. "Meet you at Florean's in a half hour."
The cuddly force pulled Ryn, "Magical Menagerie...They are all so cute..."and into the shop she went. So Fayal stood alone. She passed Gringotts, Knockturn Alley, the ice cream parlor, the robe shop, Flourish and Bott's book store, stationery shop, magical instruments, Owl Emporium, and Quidditch supplies finally reaching her destination, Slug and Jiggers Apothecary.
She took one last breath of fresh air and plunged into the strange store. She sat down her book bag and pulled a wooden box with an ornate scene of a bubbling cauldron carved into the top from the bag before re-shouldering it. She opened the box and walked around looking at the items on the shelves lining the walls. The box had many compartments and had been used often, proof of which was stains covering the lighter inner wood.
Before long she had selected all of the items called for on her list from Professor Snape's potions class. She placed extra items she decided would be wise to have for projects beyond the classes he planned. She paid and hurried down the street to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor. Ryn was all ready waiting impatiently and Celesta was walking up the street towards them, wizards swarming around like gnats when Fayal arrived.
Ryn stood leaning over the case of flavors. "Grape Marmalade with Pixy Dust topping. Sparkly..." The shimmering magical sugar was more then she could resist.
"Frost Covered Pansies 'n Cream." Fayal ordered with a smile.
"Pumpkin Marshmallow." Celesta spoke finally after scowling for a while.
After a minute of fumbling to get them their fancied flavors they received their treats. "Grape Marmalade with Pixy Dust toppings, Frost covered Pansies and Cream, and Pumpkin Marshmallow. That will be one Galleon, twelve Sickles, and four Knuts."
Sixty-eight Knuts came from Celesta's pocket. "I've got the change."
"What a help." Ryn commented.
"Here is a Galleon." Fayal scrounged her pockets.
"Eleven Sickles..." The clerk reminded them.
"Here are five." Fayal found a few.
"And I've got six." Ryn tossed the last few on the counter.
"Hello!" Aurora appeared with a smile, her robes in perfect order. Her ivory skin and rosy face were perfect. The predominantly green wizard silk eyes hinted at her good potential in Divination. Her long curly brunette hair hung down to her waist. They exchanged greetings.
They all flopped down on a bench and ate their ice cream. "I've got to go to the bank. Some body's got a crush I hear." She changed the subject.
"Who?" The other girls asked.
"Fayal, you like Severus, right?" Ryn prodded.
"So?"
"Well, you have a cousin and he's cute, so I'll help you if I can if you hook me up. You will wont you?" She blushed at her ice cream.
"So you only like me for me cousin Oliver? Well, fine. Sure I will set you two up together." She smiled at her friend. "I'm done, I'll go on to Gringotts and grab some money. Me vault is a ways down. Later!" Fayal cleaned her hands off with a simple un-sticky spell and set off leaving Ryn and Celesta talking about Oliver.
She ignored the magical verses that warned thieves away. She wasn't doing anything wrong, why read it yet again?
The other girls finished their ice cream and Celesta went to a shop next to Gringotts that had a tiny creatures exhibit from all over the world. Ryn went to get more money, hurrying past rows of goblins.
Celesta looked at rats, bats, cats, snakes, bugs, lizards, and other creatures. She stopped to examine a particularly sad looking Golden Snidget when her friends returned and distracted her. "Come a long." Ryn called to her. They stood together on the street as she exited the shop. "What else do we need?"
"Hey you guys, let's go down Knockturn Alley!" Celesta begged, trying to look sweet and innocent. "Come on, just for a peek?" "Ok, I have wanted to go there for ever." Fayal grinned with a mischievous glint in her eye.
"Oh gee, look over there, owls!" Ryn wandered down the street quickly, rounding the corner and presumably dashed into Eeylops Owl Emporium.
"I'll take that as a no." The red head giggled. "Ok, let's go now." She took a few steps towards it, before feeling Celesta's hand on her arm. "I can't feel me arm, loosen up would you?"
"Uh, sorry." She unclenched her fingers a bit. "Look over there! Valkyrie feathers, Albatross blood, and werewolf fangs...now that's advertising...Oh shit, run!" Celesta turned and fled the scene.
Fayal looked around, wondering why she was left standing alone. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?" Professor Snape was suddenly looming over her, hissing angrily.
Her heart skipped a beat. "Professor...I was jest curious." She told him the truth with out flinching. In nine years one learns to overcome the urge to turn and run from even him...Well maybe not, but she wasn't his best student for letting him walk on her. "Are you shopping?"
"I am here to pick up some supplies. YOU should leave." He was looking at her in his usual intimidating way. His hair was loose and a piece hung over his eye.
"Might I walk with you? Then I would be safe cause you would be in control." She brushed her hair out of her face and smiled at him.
"Fayal, you really should not venture into such places. Stay close and don't lag behind." He frowned darkly, but nodded curtly. "Come along." He started down the dark streets.
She followed, moving silently over the cobble stone street She glanced in the windows as she followed him. Giant spiders, shrunken heads, venders with fingernails...the place was strange and creepy. If Snape had not been leading her she would have never made it so far down the alley. Borgin and Burkes caught his attention and he veered off into it. She followed closely. He held the door open for her, then shut it solidly behind her.
Glancing around her eyes drifted over cases of strange mummified objects and a large wardrobe. A magical glass eye followed her around as she looked at a noose. "Stay here. And do not touch anything." Snape went into a back room. She could hear him speaking with someone.
A necklace caught her attention. She leaned over and studied it. A tall skinny man appeared from behind a thick curtain. "Why hello dear."
"Good day." She smiled, then continued looking around.
"It suits you, you know."
"Pardon?"
"The necklace." He picked up the opal necklace and walked over to her. "Let me look at it on you." She was startled by his spontaneousness and didn't try and stop him. "Just as I thought. Have a look." He motioned to a mirror on the wall. She looked in it and was surprised to see the jewels had the same brilliant purple and teal sparkling to them as her eyes. "They are only done justice on someone like yourself."
"Just WHAT do you THINK you are doing?" Snape growled from the doorway.
The man turned white. "Severus...I didn't know the lady was with you." He grabbed at the necklace.
"Ow! Hey, let go of me! I'll do it me self." Fayal was being partially strangled by the man.
"Oh no! It is stuck sir!" The man sounded frantic.
"And just what does it do?" Snape's face was unreadable which was twice as scary as being able to tell how mad he was.
"Um is matches the eyes of it's wearer...And it...Um...kills the wearer..." He flinched, the cowered as Snape's eyes grew larger, then narrowed at him.
"If she dies, you die...or worse." His sneer made even Fayal take a few steps back.
"It's all right. In protection against the dark arts they taught us bout cursed jewelry." She tapped the stone in the middle with her left index finger. "I must say it was about the only thing I got out of Quirrell. Unicorn's purity, curse dis-spell, Demansuno Tolast Kimbora."
A dark shadowy vapor came from the jewel with a hiss. It dissipated into nothingness as Snape eyed it. "Miss Wood, preforming magic out side of Hogwarts is strictly forbidden." He didn't sound half as angry as he might have other wise.
"Sorry Sir, but it isn't forbidden. I spent a year doing field study and that classifies as Special Causes, Article B; Any student taking study outside of the normal schooling environment may practice magic until the day regular learning is reestablished." She watched him, wondering how mad he was going to get over her retort.
Robes rustled as the professor turned away with a snort. His fierce eyes fell on the cowering shop owner. "It is lucky for you that it did not kill her. I believe you owe her an apology." His words were harsh and aggressive. She was reminded rather of a Bulldog sneering at a poodle. She stifled a giggle.
"Y-y-yessir. I-I am terribly sorry about this Ma'am." He squeaked as Snape tossed loose Galleons at him.
"Come along. I have other business to attend to." Snape opened the door and went out into the street.
"Please feel free to pick something from the shop as our gift to you." The man waved his hands around.
"The necklace then thank you. Here, I'll take the hand too." She pointed at the mummified hand in the case, then held out her money.
"Do you know what The Hand of Glory does?" He picked up the small withered hand off of the cushion that held it and placed it in a small bag.
"Duh. Place ah candle in its hand and the light is seen only by its holder, blah, blah. Hurry up." She snatched the bag from him and shoved it in her knapsack. Then she hurried after Snape.
"I told you not to dottle." He looked sourly at her from across the street. "I have to get some candles for Trelawney. Stop wasting my time." He pulled the door to the nearest shop open and waved her inside.
"Sorry Professor!" She entered the store that read simply 'Poisonous Candles' and looked around as he closed the door. Rows of candles lined the wall and covered tables. Jar, bucket, tapered, stick, rolled, dipped, scented, toxic, sleep inducing, lover enchanting, and trance enhancing; every candle for any need was visible. "Blimey..."
"Exactly. You may buy some candles if you wish, just keep away from the back wall." He began picking up boxes of candles. Votive Seers' was written on the boxes.
She chose a sleep inducer, trance enhancing, lover enchanting, super illumination, butter cookie, and pumpkin spice. They each had their own box and went into a velvet bag. She reached in her bag for money, but Snape put some coins down on the table. "Why are..?
"I have a request to make of you." He took her to the door by the arm. "The professors all must put away their new supplies and make sure everything is in order for the student arrival in nine days." They walked down the nearly empty street to another small building that read 'Fire and Ice, the magical elements store'. "Your friends and yourself could pick up some extra credits if you are willing to help."
"So we would go today?" Examining the pale features of the tall dark haired man, she nearly tripped over the doorway.
"In about an hour." He nodded to her. Then he looked to an ox like man with dark brown hair behind the counter. "Good morning Windersell. I need a case of wind for Madam Hooch and some instant fire for the hall lamps."
He paid for two wooden boxes, before hoisting them on his shoulder and leading the way back to Diagon Alley. As they came to it he finally spoke again. "Fayal, do you need anything else?"
"I have yet to get my quills, ink, and parchment." Her brilliant now blue eyes fell on Ryn and Celesta sat on a bench hiding behind an addition of 'The Daily Profit' as she nodded to the right, indicating it was on the way out.
"I'll fetch them while you discuss it with your friends." He spoke curtly before setting off in the direction of the stationery shop.
"But..."
"I know, rainbow inks." He sighed. "O'Mearz, Robbins." He simply spoke their names as he passed them, then stifled a smile as the paper they held was ripped in two.
As soon as he had glided out of sight the paper was tossed aside. "Oh my gosh, you actually went shopping with THE one and only sexy yet sinister Severus SNAPE?" Celesta looked at the bag she held.
"Aye. He wants us to go to school today with him and help the teachers with setting up for the new school year. We can get extra credits." Fayal spoke excitedly.
"Sure, I need all the extra credit I can get. I'll owl my parents when we arrive." Ryn nodded, glancing in the direction of Snape's departure. "Is he sitting with us?"
"I don't know...But you said Oliver for Snape, deal with it." His cousin used the poor boy as bait, if only he knew. "Don't you think it will be so worth it?" The Scottish girl continued to encourage Ryn, topping off the words with his picture from her pocket. He was looking bewildered and trying to hide behind a broom.
"Mmmm..." The picture was snatched away as she nodded. "We'll go!"
"Hey, nobody let me say anything!" Celesta cried. "Oh bloody broomsticks! Fine, I'll go." She noticed neither was paying her any attention. "I'm going to seduce both of them and take them away from you." She said it as evilly as possible.
"Whatever." Ryn rolled her eyes. "Wait, where did Professor Snape go?" The nervous girl glanced around as if he might jump out and dock her points for asking such a thing.
"He went to get me ink, quill, and parchment for school so I could ask if you would come with me to Hogwarts now." The not so matter of fact tone she used made her friends laugh.
"How sweet, he's buying her presents all ready." The skinny European teased her. "Ok, I'm ready to go. Are you two?"
"Yes." Nodded the light brown haired girl.
"Aye." Fayal smiled happily. "Let's go!" She set off following the path Snape had taken humming to her self. On the way she spotted Oliver and bid him farewell, telling him to let her mum and da know.
It was less then an hour later that the girls had found themselves in a compartment on the Hogwarts Express with their things all ready stashed away. Snape had chosen a place to settle on the opposite end of the train. The place was crammed with things the school needed like food, new sheets, magic supplies, spell-o tape, and other things. They had been served some treats and before they knew it they had arrived at their destination.
"I did not steel it, she conveniently forgot it in my pocket." Celesta was defending herself as Snape opened the door to their compartment. "That is to say..."
"Miss Robbins, are you starting of the year on the wrong foot?"
"Why which foot would that be Sir?" She used her utmost innocent face.
"I suppose either foot would suffice for you Robbins. I'm not going to have a problem with you this year Miss O'Mearz, am I?" His scowl turned deeper as his attention focused on his second most delightful victim in all of Hogwarts. Neville was his first, but she had been first for years before the boy came to school.
"N-no-o s-sir!" The Irish girl looked about ready to cry.
"Professor, could you take us to the castle now? It looks as if it might rain any second." The curly haired girl stood up and grabbed her bags. She smiled pleasantly at Snape.
"Yes, I suppose that the things should get to the castle before I deal with you." He turned in a great swirl of robes and led them out of the train. They all looked in awe as the castle loomed over them as they came nearer. Finally they reached the entrance hall, feeling quite small in the shadow of the immense building. Snape had dismissed them until the next morning and they had gone to put their things in their room on the staffing hall.
"Is something wrong?" Celesta looked up from placing her things in their places at Ryn spazzing out. "Should I take your circling the bed like a vulture dancing about something dead as a yes?"
"My God, you're starting to sound like him! You are you aren't you...Of coarse you're you, but you aren't Snape to are you?" She looked at her friend in complete panic.
"Chill." Celesta sighed. "I'm hungry!" She turned to the golden platter sitting on the table for four on one side of the room. "Oi plate, I'm hungry! Feed me!" The plate just sat there. Nothing happened... "Oi are you awake?!" She rapped on the plate with her knuckles. It clanged loudly but nothing happened. "Faaayaaallll! The stupid plate isn't enchanted anymore!"
"You have to...Never mind..." Her voice drifted out of the bathroom, sounding strange in the cavernous space. She came out, hair tied back in a bun. She picked up her wand from her desk and tapped the plate gently. "Engorgio Lepata Umfeed." POOF! The platter was heaped with food.
"Yippy! FooD! I don't know why it likes you better." She began stuffing food in her mouth.
Ryn followed suit and they sat together eating while Fayal flitted around putting things up. Finally she sat down with them and they chattered about their vacations. Celesta was just finishing her tale about a particularly hard conquest of a Musician in Japan. "So he wrote his next song about me."
"Beasts of Blood?" Fayal guessed teasingly.
"You are so mean."
"I'm jest truthful." She grinned, ducking as a piece of bread was lobbed at her head. "And you call your self ah chaser?"
"Only when I have to. I'm a seeker!"
"Seek quiet!" Ryn thumped the table between them, making their goblets and silverware rattle on the table. "Geese, I'm only asking for a few minutes of peace. And thanks for asking, yes it was the same old boring farm girl summer. Now, tell us about the Dark Forest." She propped her chin on her palms, elbows resting on the table as she looked at Fayal.
"I stayed with a pack of Unicorns and stargazed with Centaurs. I met a pack of talking spiders the size of Hagrid and ah wild car. Me partner Aurora and I collected one hundred sixty seven different plant samples for research with Sprout and some are also for Snape's potion classes. I spoke with him at the end of last year and he said he would help me make more difficult potions the class would not cover after dinner on Tuesdays..." She blinked, realizing she had gone off topic. "Anyway, I ran into a Werewolf and vampire, but they started fighting over who got to kill me and I got away. That's pretty much it. Lots of bugs, trees, and the likes. Oh oh, I've got ah surprise for you! I got some unicorn blood from some cuts I mended and I put it in some nail polish."
"Bloody nail polish?" Celesta gave her a bewildered look.
"If we paint it on our index finger we can use it as a power channeler in place of our wands. I've done it for nearly two months. It doesn't work for dark magic, but I've yet to have ah problem with it."
"Cool!" Ryn grinned.
"I also have some unicorn hair I'm going to stitch into our house emblems any place that is gold, white, or silver. This will protect us against dark magic and boost our power." She smiled back, holding up a spool of silvery thin yarn and a spool of sparkly white yarn.
"Squee!" Celesta waved her hands in the air. The girls left the table, food forgotten and began working on their new robes. After a while they had their robes finished and went to bed with sore fingers. Ok so they really just lay around and talked about school and things until Ryn was asleep. Then Celesta got an idea. "Hey Fayal, we are the only kids in the castle, right?"
"Aye...So what are you getting at?" Fayal sat up and looked at her mischievous friend.
"Dungeons!" She bolted out of bed and pulled on her clean off white pants and a white shirt. She ran out of the room in her socked feet. Her lantern swung as she went.
"Have fun..." Fayal sighed. "Well, I'm not tired sew maybe Professor Snape has something I can do now." She slipped out of bed and dressed, pulling on her robes before heading out into the hall, her own lantern in her hand. She walked down the silent halls and stairs. After about ten minutes of descending steps and walking halls she made it to the classroom he used for potions. She knocked lightly on the door.
There was a soft clatter, and then she heard his voice. "Come in."
She pushed the door open, it creaked as it swung open to reveal the dimly lit room with its twenty abused desks with stools and Bunsen burners. Snape sat at his desk, unpacking his supplies. He stood, looking surprised to see her. "Is there something I can do for you?"
"Actually I came to see if I could start. May I help you?" She stood in the doorway, tracking one side with her fingers absently.
He nodded, rounding his desk. "Yes, of coarse. I was unable to rest my self. You may unpack the student cabinet supplies and make a list of them, stocking them in the proper places. Make notes of any I missed so Hagrid can get them." He picked up some parchment and a bottle of ink with a quill sticking out of the top as he spoke, then walked across the room to her. "Here is some paper."
She extinguished her light and set it aside before she took the items he offered her with a smile. "Do they need to be alphabetized?" She glanced at the pile of stuff before turning back to meet his dark eyes.
Professor Snape thought for a moment. "I do not have a design on how the cabinet should be set up. I will leave it up to you on how you decide to arrange things. Just so long as they are labeled. I have no desire to see rat spleen added to a potion instead of frog stomach ever again. It took hours to put that boy's nose back properly last year."
"Oh Aye, I remember hearing the fuss when I came to do me weekly check in with Aurora." Fayal nodded. "Well, good luck with your mess!" She walked to the cabinets and sat down on the floor before them. She began unpacking jars and boxes. She scattered the items in front of her and began marking them down, labeling them, and putting them in the cabinet in alphabetical order.
She efficiently whittled away at the pile until it was gone. "Frogs eyes...I can't find them anywhere." She dug through the empty crates again.
"Frogs eyes? I bought them. I've seen them some place. Let me see..." He began rummaging around in the piles of things on his desk. He knocked something off with his elbow and the sound of braking glass made him grit his teeth. The bizarre sound of things rolling on the floor told them both the bad news. "I found the eyes it seems."
"I'll pick them up."
"Thank you Fayal." He sounded tired. He began cleaning up the glass.
She got a jar from the shelves and went over to the puddle next to Snape's desk. She began carefully scraping them onto a piece of paper then funnelling the eyes into the jar. She finished cleaning them off the floor and stuck the jar in the hole left for it before closing the doors on her finished work.
"It is late. I will walk you back to your room now." Snape had moved quietly to stand behind her and she looked at him slightly startled. "Come along." He took up a lantern and lit it with his wand. She did the same with her own and they walked back together through the silent halls. They didn't speak until they had reached the door to her room. "I will see you tomorrow at breakfast. Good night." Snape spoke in his softer, seldom-used, voice.
"Sweet dreams Professor." She opened the door with her free hand.
"Oh, hey Fay." Celesta said from the table.
"He...Celesta! Look at the mess you've made."
"I'm a Smurf!" She cackled evilly. Her entire body was covered in a deep blue dirt.
Snape caught a glimpse of her. "I do not have the patience for that. I'll leave you now." He turned and continued down the halls to his room near Slytherin.
"You're an idiot." Fayal watched her teacher disappear before coming into the room and closing the door. "Take a shower."
"I'm not ready yet. Want some?" She held out a piece of slightly blue bread left from dinner. Her fingerprints covered the table and she hadn't even washed her hands to eat.
"That is nasty!" Fayal shrank back from the offering as though it was poisoned. Knowing her it may have been. "Well, you aren't getting in bed until that dirt is off you."
Celesta stuffed the slice of bread into her mouth before climbing to her feet and rummaged around in a nearby box until she retrieved a small jar about the size of a jelly container. Then she began to try and knock the dirt into it. The result was a blue cloud filling the area and a light dusting landed in and around the jar. After about five minutes of this she finally shrugged. "Good enough."
Fayal picked up the jar from the table and summoned the dirt from the blue girl into it. After a moment the air had cleared and the shirt and pants no longer had patches nearly an inch thick with the odd substance on them. The jar was nearly full as she was thanked and her friend hit the shower with lots of energy.
She yawned as she changed into her dressing gown and crawled into bed. Snuggling under her thick blankets she fell asleep almost immediately. Her slumber was only disturbed slightly, as the bathroom door opened, and light fell through her bed curtains to shine on her briefly. Then she slipped back into darkness.
By: Deedlit Magic
Chapter 1 End of Summer
The morning light drifted through the trees of a forest outside Auchtermunchty to dance on the thatched roof of a large stone house. As with any Scottish family a thick brogue was audible as they awoke. "Oliver Matthew Wood get up!" A woman's voice broke the morning calm of birds chirping merrily.
"Aye Aunt Michalea, I'm up." He yawned as the captain and the best Keeper of the Gryffindor Quidditch team rolled out of bed.
"Fayal, put down that book and go feed the chickens." The woman continued.
"Aye Mum, here Ashelie, hold my place." There was banging and then the front door opened and an average height, shapely, and plump woman with skin that was ivory, delicate, and fair came out the into the dapples of sun. Her hair the hues of a fire, while her sparkling eyes decided to be a soft lavender for the time. Her eyes where as Wizard's Silk, changing with her mood from blues to silver, purples to green. She was dressed a long black skirt and a long sleeved purple top.
Her hair hung down her back in wild curls, hinting her self to be unruly as the wind when she wished. She went to the barn and grabbed a pail of feed before heading to the chicken yard and scattering it for the feathery beasts.
"Oliver, your parents have gone off to the ministry for some reason or the other, so you need to go to town and collect the things we need from the hardware store. That barn roof is leaking again." His Aunt shooed him out the door.
"Cousin, could you get me some parchment? I'm fresh out." Fayal looked up as Oliver buttoned up his shirt as he walked up the path.
"Aye...but only if you take Ashelie to school."
"No problem." She waved as she walked back to the barn. She made sure the milking cow was fed and watered before she milked her and took the frothy hot liquid back to her mother.
The woman who looked remarkably like Mrs. Weasley looked up with a smile. "Oh good. As soon as you get back from taking Ashelie to the school house you and Oliver can go get your supplies from Diagon Alley. Floo powder is on the harth. I'm off to the shop." She gave her daughter a little hug before going out the door.
Ashelie was Fayal's little brother of ten. He was as some joked prettier then Fayal. He had the same eyes and curly hair that was kept back in a ponytail with no bangs. His freckles were darker but aside from that and the distinct male /female differences they could not deny relation.
He was studying the last page Fayal had been reading in Magical Herbs and Fungi (2000 More to Learn). "Related to Willow. Used in teas as pain reliever. Attracts lightening." He said aloud.
"Ok, time to get your things together for class. I'll pack your lunch while you eat breakfast." She tasseled his hair before he ran up the stairs to get his book bag.
She made him some toast and eggs and poured some orange juice into glasses and set the table for three before making a lunch parcel for Ashelie. Before she had put it on the table next to the front door he had bolted back down the steps and was sitting at the table. She sat with him and they prayed over the meal before they ate. Oliver came back before they had finished and sat down to eat also. He plunked down a pack of paper as she looked up.
"Thank you, though it's no longer necessary. Oliver, when I get back we have to go to Diagon Alley. I've got my things together already since I haven't unpacked from my summer work." She smiled, giving him some more bacon. "Ok Ash, ready to go?"
"Aye!" He was to the door before she could stand.
She dropped her napkin on the table and raced him down to town. There were other wizarding families who had their children in his class and she told him to go home with Mrs. Dippet if Mum didn't come to fetch him. Then she went back to the house. Oliver was still packing. She cleaned the kitchen and finished reading her book before he was ready. Then they took their things and traveled by Floo Powder to Diagon Alley.
It was a lovely afternoon, dreary and cloudy as they came out of the Leaky Cauldron and parted ways. This was according to very few people mind you. Muggles mostly hated the weather, but it was a wonderful day for shopping out of doors for magic folk. The annual collecting of Hogwarts school supplies had begun.
An average heighted lot gathered hugging each other and greeting one another excitedly in front of the clothing store Fayal being the shortest. A delicately boned, slender, pale skinned beauty with dark mahogany hair and deep blue eyes stood wearing nothing close to the school uniform. She wore a black crushed stretch velvet shirt featuring bell sleeves and a laced bodice as well as a skirt with an embroidered material panel on the right quarter panel in the front and left in the back. Platform shoes made her look more willowy then normal. Her thick dark hair was cropped to her shoulders in several lengths, showing her favor of Japanese life. "Fayal! Oh, Ryn, is your mother better?" Her voice was flat and slightly deep, all though it was full of happiness.
"Celesta, you've put on weight!" Fayal teased her with a loud joyous voice that still made her sound sweet and innocent. She was dressed now in the school uniform except her grey jumper dress had been the uniform nearly one hundred years before.
Ravenclaw coloured stripes matching her silver and blue striped tie decorated the neck, pocket, and sleeve holes as well as the hem that came down past mid-calf. The sleeves of her crisp white shirt hit just at her wrists. "Ryn, Aye, how is your mum?" Her voice was as soft as a feather as she finished though her Scottish accent was still thick.
The girl they spoke to had medium brownish blond hair to her shoulders, flipping up on the end cutely and happy looking blue eyes, kind of crescent moons, twinkling with merriness. She had a solid figure and was a farm girl. "Well, she's ok I guess. She's not dead, though some times I thought of helping her because she is so ugh! And I can't take it some times. It's nice to be back to school, I needed a vacation from her. WOMAN!" The blond highlighted hair was lighter then her skin, which was a nice light toffee color from her long days in the sun of Ireland and New Zealand. "So uh yeah, anyway, how's it been going?" She tried to look cool and calm as she fretted with the front of her sweater. She was dressed in the normal Hogwarts school uniform for girls though the colours where a bit off from being worn and the black robes where to short for her. She was a loyal Hufflepuff through and through.
"Poor Ryn, don't worry, once we get back to our old antics you'll feel better!" Celesta patted her on the head. Her Slytherin style always showed through.
"Bawk meow! Bawk meow!" She clucked like a chicken and meowed like a cat. "So any how...I finally talked them in to letting me have a Griffin. It was so embarrassing to have a parrot. And he was stupid to." Immediately all three girls bobbed their head and began saying "Pickle!" repeatedly as the bird had done for the past seven years. Ryn uncovered a cage that sat near her feet. A small yellow Owl Griffin mix blinked at them. It was the size of a toy poodle. "Everyone meet Bobbleamabingodama, the Owgriff."
"Do what to who?" Fayal cocked her head to the side.
"Bobble-ama-bingo-dama...Fine, Bob for short!" She gave up after they continued to give her strange looks. "Stop looking at me! I didn't name him. I wished his name to be *she grumbled so they couldn't hear*" She whined. "Mom named him, thanks Mom..."
"Merrrooowwww!" A sleek grey tabby cat wound between the girls' legs. She wore a pair of spectacles and had on a golden collar. Someone nearly stepped on her. The cat took a few steps then keeled over. "Zzzzzzz...."
"I see Manic, your cat, is still narcoleptic." Fayal poked the cat with her toe smiling at Celesta.
"Yes..." Celesta picked up the cat and shoved her in the duffel bag she carried. "I see everyone has their books and clothes, so let's drop by the wand shop before we go get a snack so we can sit and talk." Celesta began walking away from Madam Malkin's Robes For All Occasions where they had met as Fayal had left after getting her robes let down. Ryn was probably wishing she could get some new ones and looking in the window and Celesta had dropped by to mock rule followers. She hated being normal. Fayal just wanted to be eccentric.
"Wait a second you need a wand to?" Ryn looked startled.
"So do I!" Fayal grinned as soon as Celesta nodded. "Ollivander's it is."
They soon reached the dusty little old shop that had been selling them wands since they were eleven. It was thanks to customers like them that the shop had been around since 382 B.C.... "Good after noon. I've been expecting you three...again. Do you realize you've gone through twenty-eight wands in nine years between the three of you? What happened this time?" The ancient man asked them in his hazy voice as he walked towards them through the stacks of wands.
"My Griffin ate it." Ryn looked apologetic.
"And it was such a nice wand too...Dragon Heart Strings, You, 6 1/4 inches." He sighed. "And you, Gargoyle Nails, Worm Wood, 12 inches imported from Germany?"
"Um...It got stepped on bay a Centaur when I was in the field last spring." Fayal explained with a grin.
"Let's just say my Phoenix Ash, Cedar, 9 1/3 inch from Gwam got broken." Celesta said ominously.
"Well, Never mind that, things happen...Especially to you three it seems. Try these." He began handing them wands, telling them about the specifics with them ignoring him. They had heard the tales so often they could probably tell him about half of the wands in the shop. "If only you were like Miss MacGahee. She dropped by this morning just to say hello. She has two wands. Never has broken either of them. The one she got from me was willow with a phoenix feather in it. Her other is a solid crystal with stardust in its core that she got on a trip to China with her grandmother."
Ryn and Celesta took wands and began waving them. It was an awful thing to watch the shop's destruction. The card catalog flew apart, the pillow in the window was set on fire, one stack of wands was scattered, and the front window was blown out before the two had their wands. Ryn took her new Dragon Heart-Strings, Golden Oak, 13 and 1/3 inch wand and waved it at the fire speaking the extinguishing spell and the fire went out. Then "Reparo!" the window fixed itself. "Terribly sorry bout the mess."
Celesta waved her Phoenix Feather, Red Mahogany, 9 3/4-inch wand and placed an Unbreakable charm on the window. Then she muttered at the still smoldering pillow. "Reparo." It was as good as new. "Very nice. Now let's go to the junk shop across the street...Fayal, care to find your wand now or are you waiting for an engraved invitation?"
Fayal had stayed well out of the way of them. "Wingardium Leviosa." She spoke softly and all the wands scattered on the floor floated up to hover about waist high. Then she spoke a binding spell and gathered them into a pile on the desk. "Wandardium Selectose Spacificous." She closed her eyes and held out her hand. Two wands rose from the stack and placed themselves in her hand. She separated them, holding one at a time before picking one. "Papel Rinted Assemde." The cards put themselves away. "Thank you sir once again for your assistance." She tucked her new Unicorn hair, Rosewood, 13 and 7/8-inch wand into her robes. She was getting far to good at that.
They all paid and left him sighing. "Perhaps the Unbreakable charm would be best cast on your wands." The door closed, silencing the little bell that rang in the back of the shop when someone arrives or leaves and the girls had left him for the junk shop.
They selected some books on Muggles, by Muggles, and on topics of interest like Runes. Fayal got four books on potions, Ryn got two on Fantastic Creatures, and Celesta got one on Black Magic. They left the shop and headed on past the second-hand robe shop to Gambol and Japes. Ryn and Fayal shrugged as Celesta darted in side. "Meet you at Florean's in a half hour."
The cuddly force pulled Ryn, "Magical Menagerie...They are all so cute..."and into the shop she went. So Fayal stood alone. She passed Gringotts, Knockturn Alley, the ice cream parlor, the robe shop, Flourish and Bott's book store, stationery shop, magical instruments, Owl Emporium, and Quidditch supplies finally reaching her destination, Slug and Jiggers Apothecary.
She took one last breath of fresh air and plunged into the strange store. She sat down her book bag and pulled a wooden box with an ornate scene of a bubbling cauldron carved into the top from the bag before re-shouldering it. She opened the box and walked around looking at the items on the shelves lining the walls. The box had many compartments and had been used often, proof of which was stains covering the lighter inner wood.
Before long she had selected all of the items called for on her list from Professor Snape's potions class. She placed extra items she decided would be wise to have for projects beyond the classes he planned. She paid and hurried down the street to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor. Ryn was all ready waiting impatiently and Celesta was walking up the street towards them, wizards swarming around like gnats when Fayal arrived.
Ryn stood leaning over the case of flavors. "Grape Marmalade with Pixy Dust topping. Sparkly..." The shimmering magical sugar was more then she could resist.
"Frost Covered Pansies 'n Cream." Fayal ordered with a smile.
"Pumpkin Marshmallow." Celesta spoke finally after scowling for a while.
After a minute of fumbling to get them their fancied flavors they received their treats. "Grape Marmalade with Pixy Dust toppings, Frost covered Pansies and Cream, and Pumpkin Marshmallow. That will be one Galleon, twelve Sickles, and four Knuts."
Sixty-eight Knuts came from Celesta's pocket. "I've got the change."
"What a help." Ryn commented.
"Here is a Galleon." Fayal scrounged her pockets.
"Eleven Sickles..." The clerk reminded them.
"Here are five." Fayal found a few.
"And I've got six." Ryn tossed the last few on the counter.
"Hello!" Aurora appeared with a smile, her robes in perfect order. Her ivory skin and rosy face were perfect. The predominantly green wizard silk eyes hinted at her good potential in Divination. Her long curly brunette hair hung down to her waist. They exchanged greetings.
They all flopped down on a bench and ate their ice cream. "I've got to go to the bank. Some body's got a crush I hear." She changed the subject.
"Who?" The other girls asked.
"Fayal, you like Severus, right?" Ryn prodded.
"So?"
"Well, you have a cousin and he's cute, so I'll help you if I can if you hook me up. You will wont you?" She blushed at her ice cream.
"So you only like me for me cousin Oliver? Well, fine. Sure I will set you two up together." She smiled at her friend. "I'm done, I'll go on to Gringotts and grab some money. Me vault is a ways down. Later!" Fayal cleaned her hands off with a simple un-sticky spell and set off leaving Ryn and Celesta talking about Oliver.
She ignored the magical verses that warned thieves away. She wasn't doing anything wrong, why read it yet again?
The other girls finished their ice cream and Celesta went to a shop next to Gringotts that had a tiny creatures exhibit from all over the world. Ryn went to get more money, hurrying past rows of goblins.
Celesta looked at rats, bats, cats, snakes, bugs, lizards, and other creatures. She stopped to examine a particularly sad looking Golden Snidget when her friends returned and distracted her. "Come a long." Ryn called to her. They stood together on the street as she exited the shop. "What else do we need?"
"Hey you guys, let's go down Knockturn Alley!" Celesta begged, trying to look sweet and innocent. "Come on, just for a peek?" "Ok, I have wanted to go there for ever." Fayal grinned with a mischievous glint in her eye.
"Oh gee, look over there, owls!" Ryn wandered down the street quickly, rounding the corner and presumably dashed into Eeylops Owl Emporium.
"I'll take that as a no." The red head giggled. "Ok, let's go now." She took a few steps towards it, before feeling Celesta's hand on her arm. "I can't feel me arm, loosen up would you?"
"Uh, sorry." She unclenched her fingers a bit. "Look over there! Valkyrie feathers, Albatross blood, and werewolf fangs...now that's advertising...Oh shit, run!" Celesta turned and fled the scene.
Fayal looked around, wondering why she was left standing alone. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?" Professor Snape was suddenly looming over her, hissing angrily.
Her heart skipped a beat. "Professor...I was jest curious." She told him the truth with out flinching. In nine years one learns to overcome the urge to turn and run from even him...Well maybe not, but she wasn't his best student for letting him walk on her. "Are you shopping?"
"I am here to pick up some supplies. YOU should leave." He was looking at her in his usual intimidating way. His hair was loose and a piece hung over his eye.
"Might I walk with you? Then I would be safe cause you would be in control." She brushed her hair out of her face and smiled at him.
"Fayal, you really should not venture into such places. Stay close and don't lag behind." He frowned darkly, but nodded curtly. "Come along." He started down the dark streets.
She followed, moving silently over the cobble stone street She glanced in the windows as she followed him. Giant spiders, shrunken heads, venders with fingernails...the place was strange and creepy. If Snape had not been leading her she would have never made it so far down the alley. Borgin and Burkes caught his attention and he veered off into it. She followed closely. He held the door open for her, then shut it solidly behind her.
Glancing around her eyes drifted over cases of strange mummified objects and a large wardrobe. A magical glass eye followed her around as she looked at a noose. "Stay here. And do not touch anything." Snape went into a back room. She could hear him speaking with someone.
A necklace caught her attention. She leaned over and studied it. A tall skinny man appeared from behind a thick curtain. "Why hello dear."
"Good day." She smiled, then continued looking around.
"It suits you, you know."
"Pardon?"
"The necklace." He picked up the opal necklace and walked over to her. "Let me look at it on you." She was startled by his spontaneousness and didn't try and stop him. "Just as I thought. Have a look." He motioned to a mirror on the wall. She looked in it and was surprised to see the jewels had the same brilliant purple and teal sparkling to them as her eyes. "They are only done justice on someone like yourself."
"Just WHAT do you THINK you are doing?" Snape growled from the doorway.
The man turned white. "Severus...I didn't know the lady was with you." He grabbed at the necklace.
"Ow! Hey, let go of me! I'll do it me self." Fayal was being partially strangled by the man.
"Oh no! It is stuck sir!" The man sounded frantic.
"And just what does it do?" Snape's face was unreadable which was twice as scary as being able to tell how mad he was.
"Um is matches the eyes of it's wearer...And it...Um...kills the wearer..." He flinched, the cowered as Snape's eyes grew larger, then narrowed at him.
"If she dies, you die...or worse." His sneer made even Fayal take a few steps back.
"It's all right. In protection against the dark arts they taught us bout cursed jewelry." She tapped the stone in the middle with her left index finger. "I must say it was about the only thing I got out of Quirrell. Unicorn's purity, curse dis-spell, Demansuno Tolast Kimbora."
A dark shadowy vapor came from the jewel with a hiss. It dissipated into nothingness as Snape eyed it. "Miss Wood, preforming magic out side of Hogwarts is strictly forbidden." He didn't sound half as angry as he might have other wise.
"Sorry Sir, but it isn't forbidden. I spent a year doing field study and that classifies as Special Causes, Article B; Any student taking study outside of the normal schooling environment may practice magic until the day regular learning is reestablished." She watched him, wondering how mad he was going to get over her retort.
Robes rustled as the professor turned away with a snort. His fierce eyes fell on the cowering shop owner. "It is lucky for you that it did not kill her. I believe you owe her an apology." His words were harsh and aggressive. She was reminded rather of a Bulldog sneering at a poodle. She stifled a giggle.
"Y-y-yessir. I-I am terribly sorry about this Ma'am." He squeaked as Snape tossed loose Galleons at him.
"Come along. I have other business to attend to." Snape opened the door and went out into the street.
"Please feel free to pick something from the shop as our gift to you." The man waved his hands around.
"The necklace then thank you. Here, I'll take the hand too." She pointed at the mummified hand in the case, then held out her money.
"Do you know what The Hand of Glory does?" He picked up the small withered hand off of the cushion that held it and placed it in a small bag.
"Duh. Place ah candle in its hand and the light is seen only by its holder, blah, blah. Hurry up." She snatched the bag from him and shoved it in her knapsack. Then she hurried after Snape.
"I told you not to dottle." He looked sourly at her from across the street. "I have to get some candles for Trelawney. Stop wasting my time." He pulled the door to the nearest shop open and waved her inside.
"Sorry Professor!" She entered the store that read simply 'Poisonous Candles' and looked around as he closed the door. Rows of candles lined the wall and covered tables. Jar, bucket, tapered, stick, rolled, dipped, scented, toxic, sleep inducing, lover enchanting, and trance enhancing; every candle for any need was visible. "Blimey..."
"Exactly. You may buy some candles if you wish, just keep away from the back wall." He began picking up boxes of candles. Votive Seers' was written on the boxes.
She chose a sleep inducer, trance enhancing, lover enchanting, super illumination, butter cookie, and pumpkin spice. They each had their own box and went into a velvet bag. She reached in her bag for money, but Snape put some coins down on the table. "Why are..?
"I have a request to make of you." He took her to the door by the arm. "The professors all must put away their new supplies and make sure everything is in order for the student arrival in nine days." They walked down the nearly empty street to another small building that read 'Fire and Ice, the magical elements store'. "Your friends and yourself could pick up some extra credits if you are willing to help."
"So we would go today?" Examining the pale features of the tall dark haired man, she nearly tripped over the doorway.
"In about an hour." He nodded to her. Then he looked to an ox like man with dark brown hair behind the counter. "Good morning Windersell. I need a case of wind for Madam Hooch and some instant fire for the hall lamps."
He paid for two wooden boxes, before hoisting them on his shoulder and leading the way back to Diagon Alley. As they came to it he finally spoke again. "Fayal, do you need anything else?"
"I have yet to get my quills, ink, and parchment." Her brilliant now blue eyes fell on Ryn and Celesta sat on a bench hiding behind an addition of 'The Daily Profit' as she nodded to the right, indicating it was on the way out.
"I'll fetch them while you discuss it with your friends." He spoke curtly before setting off in the direction of the stationery shop.
"But..."
"I know, rainbow inks." He sighed. "O'Mearz, Robbins." He simply spoke their names as he passed them, then stifled a smile as the paper they held was ripped in two.
As soon as he had glided out of sight the paper was tossed aside. "Oh my gosh, you actually went shopping with THE one and only sexy yet sinister Severus SNAPE?" Celesta looked at the bag she held.
"Aye. He wants us to go to school today with him and help the teachers with setting up for the new school year. We can get extra credits." Fayal spoke excitedly.
"Sure, I need all the extra credit I can get. I'll owl my parents when we arrive." Ryn nodded, glancing in the direction of Snape's departure. "Is he sitting with us?"
"I don't know...But you said Oliver for Snape, deal with it." His cousin used the poor boy as bait, if only he knew. "Don't you think it will be so worth it?" The Scottish girl continued to encourage Ryn, topping off the words with his picture from her pocket. He was looking bewildered and trying to hide behind a broom.
"Mmmm..." The picture was snatched away as she nodded. "We'll go!"
"Hey, nobody let me say anything!" Celesta cried. "Oh bloody broomsticks! Fine, I'll go." She noticed neither was paying her any attention. "I'm going to seduce both of them and take them away from you." She said it as evilly as possible.
"Whatever." Ryn rolled her eyes. "Wait, where did Professor Snape go?" The nervous girl glanced around as if he might jump out and dock her points for asking such a thing.
"He went to get me ink, quill, and parchment for school so I could ask if you would come with me to Hogwarts now." The not so matter of fact tone she used made her friends laugh.
"How sweet, he's buying her presents all ready." The skinny European teased her. "Ok, I'm ready to go. Are you two?"
"Yes." Nodded the light brown haired girl.
"Aye." Fayal smiled happily. "Let's go!" She set off following the path Snape had taken humming to her self. On the way she spotted Oliver and bid him farewell, telling him to let her mum and da know.
It was less then an hour later that the girls had found themselves in a compartment on the Hogwarts Express with their things all ready stashed away. Snape had chosen a place to settle on the opposite end of the train. The place was crammed with things the school needed like food, new sheets, magic supplies, spell-o tape, and other things. They had been served some treats and before they knew it they had arrived at their destination.
"I did not steel it, she conveniently forgot it in my pocket." Celesta was defending herself as Snape opened the door to their compartment. "That is to say..."
"Miss Robbins, are you starting of the year on the wrong foot?"
"Why which foot would that be Sir?" She used her utmost innocent face.
"I suppose either foot would suffice for you Robbins. I'm not going to have a problem with you this year Miss O'Mearz, am I?" His scowl turned deeper as his attention focused on his second most delightful victim in all of Hogwarts. Neville was his first, but she had been first for years before the boy came to school.
"N-no-o s-sir!" The Irish girl looked about ready to cry.
"Professor, could you take us to the castle now? It looks as if it might rain any second." The curly haired girl stood up and grabbed her bags. She smiled pleasantly at Snape.
"Yes, I suppose that the things should get to the castle before I deal with you." He turned in a great swirl of robes and led them out of the train. They all looked in awe as the castle loomed over them as they came nearer. Finally they reached the entrance hall, feeling quite small in the shadow of the immense building. Snape had dismissed them until the next morning and they had gone to put their things in their room on the staffing hall.
"Is something wrong?" Celesta looked up from placing her things in their places at Ryn spazzing out. "Should I take your circling the bed like a vulture dancing about something dead as a yes?"
"My God, you're starting to sound like him! You are you aren't you...Of coarse you're you, but you aren't Snape to are you?" She looked at her friend in complete panic.
"Chill." Celesta sighed. "I'm hungry!" She turned to the golden platter sitting on the table for four on one side of the room. "Oi plate, I'm hungry! Feed me!" The plate just sat there. Nothing happened... "Oi are you awake?!" She rapped on the plate with her knuckles. It clanged loudly but nothing happened. "Faaayaaallll! The stupid plate isn't enchanted anymore!"
"You have to...Never mind..." Her voice drifted out of the bathroom, sounding strange in the cavernous space. She came out, hair tied back in a bun. She picked up her wand from her desk and tapped the plate gently. "Engorgio Lepata Umfeed." POOF! The platter was heaped with food.
"Yippy! FooD! I don't know why it likes you better." She began stuffing food in her mouth.
Ryn followed suit and they sat together eating while Fayal flitted around putting things up. Finally she sat down with them and they chattered about their vacations. Celesta was just finishing her tale about a particularly hard conquest of a Musician in Japan. "So he wrote his next song about me."
"Beasts of Blood?" Fayal guessed teasingly.
"You are so mean."
"I'm jest truthful." She grinned, ducking as a piece of bread was lobbed at her head. "And you call your self ah chaser?"
"Only when I have to. I'm a seeker!"
"Seek quiet!" Ryn thumped the table between them, making their goblets and silverware rattle on the table. "Geese, I'm only asking for a few minutes of peace. And thanks for asking, yes it was the same old boring farm girl summer. Now, tell us about the Dark Forest." She propped her chin on her palms, elbows resting on the table as she looked at Fayal.
"I stayed with a pack of Unicorns and stargazed with Centaurs. I met a pack of talking spiders the size of Hagrid and ah wild car. Me partner Aurora and I collected one hundred sixty seven different plant samples for research with Sprout and some are also for Snape's potion classes. I spoke with him at the end of last year and he said he would help me make more difficult potions the class would not cover after dinner on Tuesdays..." She blinked, realizing she had gone off topic. "Anyway, I ran into a Werewolf and vampire, but they started fighting over who got to kill me and I got away. That's pretty much it. Lots of bugs, trees, and the likes. Oh oh, I've got ah surprise for you! I got some unicorn blood from some cuts I mended and I put it in some nail polish."
"Bloody nail polish?" Celesta gave her a bewildered look.
"If we paint it on our index finger we can use it as a power channeler in place of our wands. I've done it for nearly two months. It doesn't work for dark magic, but I've yet to have ah problem with it."
"Cool!" Ryn grinned.
"I also have some unicorn hair I'm going to stitch into our house emblems any place that is gold, white, or silver. This will protect us against dark magic and boost our power." She smiled back, holding up a spool of silvery thin yarn and a spool of sparkly white yarn.
"Squee!" Celesta waved her hands in the air. The girls left the table, food forgotten and began working on their new robes. After a while they had their robes finished and went to bed with sore fingers. Ok so they really just lay around and talked about school and things until Ryn was asleep. Then Celesta got an idea. "Hey Fayal, we are the only kids in the castle, right?"
"Aye...So what are you getting at?" Fayal sat up and looked at her mischievous friend.
"Dungeons!" She bolted out of bed and pulled on her clean off white pants and a white shirt. She ran out of the room in her socked feet. Her lantern swung as she went.
"Have fun..." Fayal sighed. "Well, I'm not tired sew maybe Professor Snape has something I can do now." She slipped out of bed and dressed, pulling on her robes before heading out into the hall, her own lantern in her hand. She walked down the silent halls and stairs. After about ten minutes of descending steps and walking halls she made it to the classroom he used for potions. She knocked lightly on the door.
There was a soft clatter, and then she heard his voice. "Come in."
She pushed the door open, it creaked as it swung open to reveal the dimly lit room with its twenty abused desks with stools and Bunsen burners. Snape sat at his desk, unpacking his supplies. He stood, looking surprised to see her. "Is there something I can do for you?"
"Actually I came to see if I could start. May I help you?" She stood in the doorway, tracking one side with her fingers absently.
He nodded, rounding his desk. "Yes, of coarse. I was unable to rest my self. You may unpack the student cabinet supplies and make a list of them, stocking them in the proper places. Make notes of any I missed so Hagrid can get them." He picked up some parchment and a bottle of ink with a quill sticking out of the top as he spoke, then walked across the room to her. "Here is some paper."
She extinguished her light and set it aside before she took the items he offered her with a smile. "Do they need to be alphabetized?" She glanced at the pile of stuff before turning back to meet his dark eyes.
Professor Snape thought for a moment. "I do not have a design on how the cabinet should be set up. I will leave it up to you on how you decide to arrange things. Just so long as they are labeled. I have no desire to see rat spleen added to a potion instead of frog stomach ever again. It took hours to put that boy's nose back properly last year."
"Oh Aye, I remember hearing the fuss when I came to do me weekly check in with Aurora." Fayal nodded. "Well, good luck with your mess!" She walked to the cabinets and sat down on the floor before them. She began unpacking jars and boxes. She scattered the items in front of her and began marking them down, labeling them, and putting them in the cabinet in alphabetical order.
She efficiently whittled away at the pile until it was gone. "Frogs eyes...I can't find them anywhere." She dug through the empty crates again.
"Frogs eyes? I bought them. I've seen them some place. Let me see..." He began rummaging around in the piles of things on his desk. He knocked something off with his elbow and the sound of braking glass made him grit his teeth. The bizarre sound of things rolling on the floor told them both the bad news. "I found the eyes it seems."
"I'll pick them up."
"Thank you Fayal." He sounded tired. He began cleaning up the glass.
She got a jar from the shelves and went over to the puddle next to Snape's desk. She began carefully scraping them onto a piece of paper then funnelling the eyes into the jar. She finished cleaning them off the floor and stuck the jar in the hole left for it before closing the doors on her finished work.
"It is late. I will walk you back to your room now." Snape had moved quietly to stand behind her and she looked at him slightly startled. "Come along." He took up a lantern and lit it with his wand. She did the same with her own and they walked back together through the silent halls. They didn't speak until they had reached the door to her room. "I will see you tomorrow at breakfast. Good night." Snape spoke in his softer, seldom-used, voice.
"Sweet dreams Professor." She opened the door with her free hand.
"Oh, hey Fay." Celesta said from the table.
"He...Celesta! Look at the mess you've made."
"I'm a Smurf!" She cackled evilly. Her entire body was covered in a deep blue dirt.
Snape caught a glimpse of her. "I do not have the patience for that. I'll leave you now." He turned and continued down the halls to his room near Slytherin.
"You're an idiot." Fayal watched her teacher disappear before coming into the room and closing the door. "Take a shower."
"I'm not ready yet. Want some?" She held out a piece of slightly blue bread left from dinner. Her fingerprints covered the table and she hadn't even washed her hands to eat.
"That is nasty!" Fayal shrank back from the offering as though it was poisoned. Knowing her it may have been. "Well, you aren't getting in bed until that dirt is off you."
Celesta stuffed the slice of bread into her mouth before climbing to her feet and rummaged around in a nearby box until she retrieved a small jar about the size of a jelly container. Then she began to try and knock the dirt into it. The result was a blue cloud filling the area and a light dusting landed in and around the jar. After about five minutes of this she finally shrugged. "Good enough."
Fayal picked up the jar from the table and summoned the dirt from the blue girl into it. After a moment the air had cleared and the shirt and pants no longer had patches nearly an inch thick with the odd substance on them. The jar was nearly full as she was thanked and her friend hit the shower with lots of energy.
She yawned as she changed into her dressing gown and crawled into bed. Snuggling under her thick blankets she fell asleep almost immediately. Her slumber was only disturbed slightly, as the bathroom door opened, and light fell through her bed curtains to shine on her briefly. Then she slipped back into darkness.