Author's Note: I'm just going to say this now; oh god I hate this chapter so much! I hate it I hate it I hate it!
...dear Merlin I need to sleep
Onward!
"Are you sure you're alright Zenwae?"
Oryena pursed her lips so the exasperated sigh didn't escape as she, Lily, and Joy made their way into the Gryffindor Common Room. "No, I'm having an aneurysm and am currently waiting to drop dead." She turned around and almost giggled at the fact that the Quidditch player looked like he was ready to have a heart attack. "For the last time Potter, I'm fine. I just stood up too quickly, that is all."
Before he could say anything else, the she-dragon held up a placating hand. "The moment I have another dizzy spell and/or hot flash, I will go to Madam Pomfrey, I promise."
James' ice blue eyes scanned her face silently for a while before smirking half-heartedly. "I'll hold you to that Love."
Before either of them could say anything, Lily and Joy reappeared at her side, linked their arms together and gave James identical blank stares before turning Oryena around and all but marching up the stairs to the Girls Dormitory. After the door closed behind them, Lily turned to her with a slight scowl on her face. "You know that the Marauders," She spoke as if the word left a terrible taste in her mouth. "Don't deserve your kindness, right?"
Oryena waves away her friend's words and made her way over to her trunk. "There is nothing wrong with being civil with James and the others Lily."
Joy snorts as she flops on her bed. "Please, Potter has been wanting to be more than 'civil' with you for years, Ryen."
The Gryffindor dragoness shakes her head as she pulls out her pajamas. "I am going to tell you both what I told Lux earlier, James is just a huge flirt and nothing more."
Lily sets her hands on her hips. "And I am going to tell you what Lux told you; Black is the flirty man-whore of the Marauders, and Potter is the boy who wears his heart on his sleeve."
Oryena dropped her pajamas on her bed before turning to Lily with a small but amused smile on her lips. "How does that support your case?"
"Meaning he's impulsive. Oryena, you are this kind, regal girl who doesn't let anyone tell her what to think or how to feel. Someone like Potter, immature and borderline cruel, could keep you from your true potential."
The dragoness pursed her lips to collect her thoughts. "Lily, I understand you're looking out for me and I appreciate that, but James and I are just friends. It's not that different from your and Malinda's friendship with Remus."
Lily sighed and massaged her forehead. "My point is, you're too good for him and deserve much better than Potter."
Oryena smiled at her friend before walking away from her bed and taking Lily's hands in her own. "And like I said, I really appreciate you looking after me. But if, keyword there being if, something does happen between me and James, you know I'll take your advice and any advice the others might have into consideration."
Lily squeezed her hands before sighing again. "I wish I could stay and talk, but I have patrol with Malinda." She released the she-dragon's hands before walking over to Joy's bed and flopping down next to her. "Are you going to be alright sleeping tonight? You slept the whole train ride..."
Oryena looked over just in time to see her other friend opening her eyes and smirking ever-so-slightly. "Ginger, I adore you but do I look like I'm ready to stay up for the rest of the night?"
The redhead laughed. "Well, when you put it like that." She patted Joy's hand before standing up, stretching, and looking at her two present friends. "I'll see you both in the morning then?"
Oryena smiled at her as she closed her trunk. "You will probably be the one waking us up Lily."
Lily laughed as she walked towards the door and closed it behind her. The she-dragon stared at their bedroom door before sighing. "That girl is going places in the future."
Joy snorted as sat up. "Don't we know it. And she'll drag us all along with her whether we want to or not."
Oryena nodded mutely in agreement before walking towards their shared bathroom. After both girls finished up getting ready and had pajamas on, both were lying on their beds, waiting for sleep. Oryena tapped her fingers against her stomach before looking over in her friend's direction. "Joy, are you sure you're ready to work with kids? Do you even want to?"
From her bed, Joy snorted. "Probably not to both questions, but what other choice do I have?"
Oryena pursed her lips and stared up at the ceiling. "This might sound incredibly bitchy, but might I recommend take an actual break after working all summer and focus on school work?"
Her friend was silent for a while before sighing softly. "You know I can't just stop working. Hospital bills agent cheep... And I feel like I owe it to him after everything he's done for me."
The she-dragon bit at her bottom lip. In all honesty, she could see where her friend was coming from. While her memories of her own father were a bit far and few in between, her mother would sometimes talk about him and the happy memories they had together before his death. "Joy, I really admire you for doing this for your dad. Just remember that there's only so much you can take before you accidentally break yourself."
She heard Joy lightly snort. "If it means that my Dad will live, then it's a risk I'm willing to take."
Knowing that there wasn't anything left to do other than leaving it at that, Oryena sighed and turned on her stomach before closing her eyes, slowly but surely drifting to the relentless clutches of sleep
-Dream-
Oryena watched her mother in confusion as she rushed around their cave home. "Mama?"
Ursa spared her daughter a single look as she kept throwing whatever she could ever get her hands on into a large sack. She was crying, why was she crying?
And where was Baba?
Oryena slowly walked forward and tugged on the skirt of her mother's umbhaco. "Mama, Yintoni engalunganga?"-"Mama, What is wrong?"
This time, Ursa froze in her movement. Crouching down to her daughter's level, she gripped her shoulders and looked her dead in the eye. "Mntanami, uyihlo ufile. Kufuneka sibaleke ngoku."-"Child, your father is dead. We have to flee now."
This time it was little Oryena's turn to freeze. Baba was dead... No... That can't be-
"Mama? Wenzani?"-"Mama? What are you doing?"
Ursa looked up at the fourteen-year-old now standing in the mouth of their cave. "Nomlanga..."
Oryena's older sister looked at Ursa before looking at her. "Uphi uMama ekuthabatha?"-"Where is Mama taking you?"
Oryena loved her sister, and Nomlanga dotted on her. If they were leaving she was coming too, right?
But before she could respond, her mother was standing right next to her. "Nomlanga uyihlo ufile. Simele sihambe."-"Nomlanga your father is dead. We must go."
Nomlanga's eyes darted between her mother and sister. There was something unsettling in her older sister's gaze, something she has taken comfort in before was now chilling her blood. "Ngoba? Ngoku u Utata i fileyo oko ikukuthi oko kuwe-"-"Why? Now that Father is dead that means that you-"
Ursa's gaze snapped Nomlanga's. "Musa! Musa ukuthetha izinto ezinjalo"-"Don't! Don't say such things..."
The fourteen-year-old's now terrifying gaze went to Oryena, who was now clutching her mother's skirt in an almost death grip. "Oryena?"
She turned away from her sister and buried her face against her mother's leg to escape those harsh eyes.
"Oryena?"
The six-year-old shook her head. She won't look, she won't look, she won't look...
"Oryena?"
-End of Dream-
"Oryena?"
Someone was shaking her shoulder and whispering her name. "Oryena?"
She groaned and turned over on her side to escape the offending hands, naturally to no avail.
"Ryen get up!"
The Gryffindor dragoness blinked her blurry eyes open to see Lily standing above her already dressed in a new uniform, at least she hoped it was a new uniform and not the one the redhead had been wearing the night before. "Lily my love, I adore you... but why?"
Lily rolled her eyes amusedly. "Were you or were you not the one to say that I'll probably be the one to wake the two of you up?" At Oryena's whined response, she smirked before lightly patting her friend's shoulder. "Now come on, up up up! I need your help waking up the absolute troll in the morning that is our dear Joy."
Dark eyes blinked up at her blankly. "You know she's going to kill you, right?"
The red-head grinned awkwardly. "That's why I woke you up; so you can A.) Be a witness to my death; and/or B.) Use you as a shield because your reflexes are faster than mine."
The dragoness gave her friend a deadpan expression. "You realize that I am not completely awake, right? My reflexes are not in peak condition."
Lily's grin widened ever-so-slightly. "Did you ever hear me say use your magic as a shield?"
Oryena stared at the prefect in sleepy disbelief before sighing and hauling herself out of herself bed. When she stood up, she grabbed her pillow - just in case - before slowly making her way to her friend's bed with Lily right beside her.
"If she does kill us, I'm coming after you when we are ghosts."
Lily waved Oryena's declaration away as they came to the side of Joy's bed. As per usual, the only thing that was visible of their friend was her curly hair and her feet sticking out from the duvet. The red-head took a deep breath before sitting on the side of the bed and cautiously reaching toward the sleeping occupant's ankle, slowly shaking it. "Joy? Come on Dearie, it's time to wake up."
A noise that, if you asked either Oryena or Lily, sounded like a growl from a demon born in the deepest depths of hell was the only response. Both girls grimaced at each other, and the dragoness placed her pillow in front of Lily as she shook Joy's ankle again, tightening her grip as she did so.
"Come on Joy-"
The shoe that would have hit Lily in the face smacked against Oryena's pillow. She turned to look at her friend with a shaky but still somehow smug smile. "See? You are my shield."
Oryena rolled her eyes as Lily turned back to the bed. With her face now completely visible, the two Gryffindor's could see Joy's dark eyes as hard as stones peeking over her duvet. "Why do the two of you hate me?"
Lily rolled her eyes. "If we hated you we would have purposely let you miss Pancake Breakfast."
After their first year, it became a tradition for the five friends to have a pancake breakfast in the school's kitchens. So for the past four years, without fail, Lily woke them all up and dragged their half-asleep arses down the stairs to the kitchens.
Joy groaned before pulling the duvet over her head. Oryena laughed before walking forward and throwing herself onto the bed with a dramatic sigh. "I know Joy, Lily woke me up too."
Another groan was heard before the she-dragon felt her friend snuggle into her back. "You're sooo warm."
As Oryena laughed, Lily stood up with a groan. "Both of you are terrible."
The dragoness rolled her eyes before grabbing the redhead's hand and pulling her down to the bed. "Oh come now Lily, join the cuddle party!"
Lily yelped when she landed on top of her friends and as both Oryena and Joy wrapped her arms around her. She struggled, but was ultimately laughing too. "No! Let me go you heathens!"
"Never!"
"Cuddles conquer all!"
-Time Skip-
When the three Gryffindors were dressed in their uniform, Lily all but dragged her two friends down from their room and into the common room, carrying most of the conversation as the two non-prefects were still in varying degrees of sleep. Just as they made it to the portrait hole, footsteps and a familiar voice stopped them.
"Zenwae!"
The three girls turn just in time to see James and the rest of the Marauders making their way towards them from the boys' dorm rooms. As per usual, Joy rolled her eyes and walked the rest of the way to the portrait hole. "I'll be outside."
As she walked through the portrait, Lily and Oryena turned just as the Marauders caught up with them. James immediately gives began looking over her with concerned eyes. "How are you feeling? Did you sleep well?"
The Gryffindor dragoness smiled kindly. "I'm fine, thank you. No dizziness, no hot flashes, and I slept perfectly fine."
Peter perked up ever-so-slightly. "My mother makes this herbal tea that always helps me when I'm sick. I can ask her for the recipe if you really are getting sick..."
Oryena smiled at the nervous boy's kindness. "Thank you Peter, that's very sweet of you." She looked at the Marauders individually and noticed they all looked a little exhausted. "Are you all alright? You look exhausted..."
Remus gave James a dry look. "Someone was up half the night worrying about your health and we had to hear about it."
Sirius smirked. "I think he kept talking even after Moony Silencio'd him."
James gives his friends a dry look before turning back towards her. Just as he begins to say something else, but Lily places herself in front of the she-dragon with a scowl on her lips. "She said she was fine Potter. I'll take her to Madam Pomfrey myself if she has another dizzy spell, now if you'll excuse us."
She grabbed Oryena's hand and led her through the portrait door. Once they were outside, the latter frowned at her friend. "Do you have to be that rude to them?"
Joy, true to her word, was leaning against the wall next to the portrait door. She raised an eyebrow as she fell into step besides Oryena's free side, flanking her. "Rude to who?"
Lily huffed lightly. "I will apologize to them when they apologize for being bullies."
A look of understanding crossed Joy's face. "Oh, that's who."
The Gryffindor dragoness frowned. "The people Severus chooses to associates with when he's not with you are very well-known bullies too Lily. And they all are quite intrigued with the Dark Arts."
Joy snorted darkly. "Plus Snape doesn't exactly do anything to stop what Mulciber and Avery do."
The redhead paused and seemed to deflate a bit as she thought of the situation with her Slytherin friend. "He's- I- He's not bullying-" Lily stopped, and sighed sadly. "I don't know what I'm going to do about him."
Oryena smiled at her friend before looping arms with both of her friends. "Just remember that we are with you, and we will always be with you."
Joy grinned almost wickedly. "Ryen's right. Just say the word and I'll have a personal talk with Snape."
Lily rolled her eyes fondly. "Yes, you will definitely ruin all the progress you've made just to beat Severus to a bloody pulp."
"I would not... a bloody pulp would be too obvious."
Oryena smiled as her two friends went back and forth with each other as they made their way to the kitchens. After Lily reached up to tickle the pear, the door swung open to reveal the bustling activity inside. House elves worked at a fast pace, several smiling happily in their directions, welcoming their consistent presence this time of the year.
"Miss Lily, Miss Oryena, and Miss Joy!"
Three house elves bustled over with plates and cups in hand. The plates were stacked with each of the girls' personal preferences of pancakes while the cups were full of their choice of either tea or coffee. After Joy decided on coffee while Lily and Oryena decided to stick to tea this morning, they made their way over to the table they always sat every year for Pancake Breakfast, pleased to see that Lux was already there.
The Hufflepuff boy looked up at them as he took a sip of his coffee, grinning. "Lights of my life."
Joy snorted, Oryena rolled her eyes, and Lily returned his grin as the three of them sat down. "Nuisance who insists on following us everywhere."
Lux set his coffee cup down before clutching at his chest. "Oh how you wound me Lily-flower!" He looked over her shoulder and raised an eyebrow. "No Malinda?"
The redhead wrinkled her nose at him as she began cutting into her pancakes. "Oh please, we've all said worse to each other. And Mal is usually right behind us-"
Turns out the timing was perfect, because no sooner did those words leave her mouth did their Romani friend walk through the kitchen door. The house elves greeted her like they greeted them before handing her a plate of pancakes and a cup of tea. Malinda smiled at her friends as she sat down. "What did I miss?"
Oryena shook her head before smiling. "Not much, just some Lux and Lily banter."
The Roma pouted as she cut a piece from her pancakes. "Aw, and here I was so looking forward to it."
Joy smirked. "I think they're just getting warmed up."
"Oh ha ha." A mischievous grin found it's way to the redhead's lips. "Just like you and Remus on the train, right?"
Immediately, Lux and the girls' eyes snapped to a blushing Malinda. "What's this now?!"
Malinda took a sip of tea. "Remus and I had a pleasant talk while patrolling the train." She stabbed at her pancakes, only to get a faraway look in her eyes, and was talking more to herself than she was to them. "He's such a sweet boy..."
Whatever was said next the Gryffindor dragoness missed as hot pain shot through her head. She hid her wince by taking a bite from her pancakes.
Is it... No. I should have a few more weeks before it starts...
"As soon as you and Lily marry!"
As Oryena laughed along with her friends, She forced herself not to massage her forehead so as not to incur her friends' concern. If what I think is happening is indeed happening, I'll have Lux send a quick owl to Mama during lunch.
After they all finished their pancakes and coffee/tea, they all grabbed their school bags and made their way out of the kitchen, saying goodbye to the house elves and each other as they went their separate ways for class. Oryena hung back ever-so-slightly to watch and smile as Lily and Lux talked back and forth with each other on the way to Transfiguration until a human shadow in the corner of her eye caused her to frown.
Snape.
Despite the Slytherin boy's obvious friendship with Lily, he never really attempted to extend said friendship to the rest of them. Not that it was wanted, of course; a gut feeling told the she-dragon that for the sake of keeping what peace they had, it was probably better that he stayed away.
Especially if the unsettling way he was staring at Lux and Lily was anything to go by.
Thankfully, their shadow broke away from them as they entered the Transfiguration classroom. Like every year, Oryena sat behind Lux and Lily next to a shy girl who has only muttered a few words each year to her. And like every year, James and the rest of the Marauders came in at the last minute as the former sat in the desk across the aisle from the she-dragon, grinning at her as he did.
She had time to briefly smile back before the Head of Gryffindor House, Professor Minerva McGonagall began to speak. "Settle down everyone, settle down."
Because the teacher was so respected in the school, no matter the house, it didn't take long for a hush to settle among the room. Now that she had the attention of the entire room, her powerful voice projected around the room. "This year is important for the fifth year students, as you'll be taking your Ordinary Wizarding Level, usually abbreviated O.W.L.s. It is a standardized subject-specific exam taken during your fifth year and administrated by the Wizarding Examinations Authority. A score you accomplish on a particular O.W.L. determines whether or not you will be allowed to continue taking that subject in subsequent school years. Furthermore-"
Oryena flinched as a now familiar hot pain shot through her head. This one was stronger than the previous one, harsher; the heat was almost consuming. Her hand flew up and pressed itself against her forehead in order to ward away the pain, but to very little effect.
Oh Mother Goddess Oya not now... please not now.
"Miss Zenwae?"
Professor McGonagall looked at her with a concerned face. "Are you alright?"
Oryena took a deep breath before sitting up and smiling as reassuringly as she could. "I'm fine Professor."
The head of Gryffindor House stared at her inquisitively before nodding and continuing. "As I was saying, these results determine whether you might be successful in obtaining a particular job." The Transfiguration professor looked at her students with critical eyes. "I will assist you when I can, but the results of your O.W.L.s are strictly up to you. Now, for today's lesson, we will be attempting to change rabbits into slippers."
As Oryena tried to take notes, a paper crane fluttered over to her and landed on her desk. She quickly glanced up to make sure that Professor McGonagall's back was turned before carefully unfolding the small bird to see that it was blank. She frowned before looking over in the direction the paper crane from to see James looking at her intently. He broke his gaze to take a quick look at McGonagall before turning back to her, mouthing silently. 'Are you alright?'
Oryena stole another glance at the Professor and waited until her back was turned again before looking at James, shrugging and mouthing back. 'Headache.'
Ice blue eyes quickly grew alarmed but followed her example of looking back to the front of the classroom as Professor McGonagall spoke up to answer a question that probably applied to all of them. After she finished talking and began walking around to answer individual questions, James and Oryena turned back towards each other.
'You'll go to the Hospital Wing?'
Oryena pursed her lips to collect her thoughts before mouthing back. 'It's just a headache.'
James frowned and began to mouth something else, but a voice speaking out loud cut him off "Mr. Potter and Ms. Zenwae, please save your silent conversation for another time."
The two Gryffindors look away from each other and towards Professor McGonagall sheepishly. "Sorry Professor."
Oryena saw James steal another glance at her out of the corner of her eye, but ultimately did as their professor said. Throughout the rest of the lesson, the she-dragon alternated between taking notes and wincing randomly as the hot, sharp pain in her head would flare up. Once they were released from their lesson, Oryena very carefully and very slowly stood up from her seat before walking towards where Lux and Lily were waiting by the door.
"Straight to the Hospital Wing then?"
The Gryffindor dragoness sighed before turning to look at James. "I said I'd go if I had another dizzy spell or hot flash, a headache is neither of those."
James' eyebrows furrowed in disbelief. "Are you hearing yourself?! This headache could be the combination of the two!"
Oryena saw Lux and Lily standing up at their desk, the redhead with a look of irritation on her face, and rushed her next words. "I'll go to Madam Pomfrey during lunch."
The Quidditch player pursed his lips before sighing irritably. "I don't care what Evans says or thinks, I am walking you to the Hospital Wing myself."
Oryena smirked as Lily looped their arms together and began pulling her away. "You'll have to catch me first Mr. Potter."
Maybe it was what she said or how she smirked, but James felt his heart stutter as she turned away from him and let herself be led away by Lily and Lux. As his friends came to stand with him, an amazed grin spread across his lips. It took the other Marauders a few moments to snap him out of his dazed stupor.
"Lads, I think there's hope for me."
Meanwhile, Lux raised an almost amused eyebrow at his surrogate sister. "Did I hear that correctly? Were you just flirting with Potter?"
As Lily grimaced, the Gryffindor dragoness rolled her eyes. "How was that different from how you and Lily talk with each other?"
Lux went ridged before glaring at her lightly as Lily blushed. "Touché Sissy, touché."
Oryena grinned victoriously, only to gasp and press her hand against her forehead as it was overpowered by a wave of heat and dizziness. She gritted her teeth against the pain when she felt a gentle hand being placed on her shoulder, followed by Lily's concerned voice. "Ryen? What's wrong?"
The dragoness took several shaky deep breaths before slowly lowering her hand. "These headaches are getting worse."
Lily's eyes widened. "Is this like last night?"
Lux's eyes snapped to his surrogate sister. "What happened last night?!"
"She was dizzy and it felt like she had a fever."
The redhead pressed her hand against her friend's cheek. "It feels like it right now!" She set her face determinedly, leaving no room for nonsense. "Right, no more stalling, we are taking you to Madam Pomfrey now!"
Oryena took a deep breath before nodding. "Alright, but I can walk on my own you know." She started walking down the stairs, only to stop five steps down. The dragoness was hit with a huge wave of heat full force, causing her to sway on her feet briefly before stopping. "Lux?"
"Yeah?"
"Catch me."
The last thing Oryena heard was several screams of her name before falling forward and feeling the sharp pain of her head hitting something hard.
Everything went dark after that.
Author's Note: I promise there will be more Oryena x James interaction that is actually meaningful in the next chapter, pinky promise.
Baba - Father
An Umbhaco is an African dress, the designs vary but I found this one while looking around on Google and it's kind of what I picture Ursa wearing in the dream sequence.
. /products/umbhaco-set - Buy African Xhosa uMbhaco full set of clothing - Wild Coast Trading Co - The Wild Coast Trading Company.
And on a final note, just because I felt like adding this; the African Goddess Oya is a fire goddess, and according to the website I found she brings rapid change and aids in both inner and outer transformation. And with the shapeshifting from dragon to human I'm going for with Oryena, Ursa, and any other dragon shapeshifter I may or may not be including, it kind of makes sense for the Goddess Oya to be their main deity.
Other than that; Thank you so much for reading, tell me what you think, and I'll see you in the next chapter.
