P
A dark moon was visible high in the night sky. Its ghostly hue was a sign that tonight was
not a night to be out. A few people had taken care not to heed its warning. They welcomed
the blackness. Three figures stood all clad in black their faces hidden in the tent of their
hoods. "We are here master." All three of them spoke as one. You couldn't have told the
difference in the tone of their voices.
P
"I expected you would come." Someone stepped out of the shadows. Becoming large from
small with metallic flashes.
P
The four sat down upon near frozen rocks covered by the deadly sweet frost. The figures
clad in black did not wince or complain but awaited their master's speech.
P
"I suppose you would like to know why you are here. You only know that you serve me. I
am your God. But, there must be questions?"
P
"No, sir." They replied simultaneously.
P
"Surely?" He cocked an eyebrow. Wicked grin plastered, waiting, asking, telling them to question him. Wonder.
P
"None at all." The temptation was resisted, if it was even there.
P
"Good." And that was all he said for awhile, after nodding in approval. Watched the faces he couldn't quite see. Stared. "Then, I will tell you this; you are the resurrected three."
P
"Who are they sir? Forgive me for my ignorance." At last one of the strangers had spoken
out of turn. The two others scoffed at her and frowned beneath their hoods. It was not
right to question the master.
P
"They are you, you are they. Three who can tell all fate. Three who know our lives."
P
Harry flinched, and rolled over on his side, he'd felt something brush his shoulder. Tap.
Tap. There it was again. He lazily threw out an arm to his side, swatting at whatever was
there. It didn't stop. Now from his left, someone was tapping him on the shoulder. At this,
he was awakened from his half sleep. Rubbing his eyes, a hazy figure sat perched on the
head post of his bed. I must be dreaming, this can't be real, he thought. Blindly, his hands
fumbled to find his glasses that rested atop the side dresser. As the world came back into
focus he was able to see what, or who in this case, was trying to wake him up.
P
A girl had been sitting on the mantle. She was petite in composure. Her legs swung slowly,
making the floaty white material of her nightgown fly around her like a cloud. A pair of slanted eyes,
framed with colorless lashes, focused on Harry. Unblinking. She wasn't beautiful, strangely, that was all he could remark. Swallowing in everything he saw, and unable to stop staring. Just ethereal. In a way that shouldn't exist.
P
"Hi." The girl made a small wave rustling the quiet air. It didn't occur to her that there was
anything strange about sitting up in the middle of the night in the boy's dormitory, sitting in
a boy's bed, not any boy but the famous Harry Potter at that, wearing nothing but her
nightgown and trying to wake him up. If perhaps, Professor Snape for example, had walked
in on them that moment he would find no reason not to convince Professor McGonagall that
they should both be expelled. Even if he had to resort to the muggle invention of a camera
to provide evidence. Not to say that it would have worked, as that would set off one of the
magic wards placed around the castle, and only one figure would have appeared in the
picture.
P
Her words could have been repeated a thousand times, but Harry lay still. Whether in shock
and disbelief or entrancement it was impossible to tell by the expression his face wore.
Instead, he looked back up into her gaze and met it returning the same degree of intensity.
"Who, who are you?" Harry managed to whisper at last.
P
"A Gryffindor just like you." She replied shortly.
P
"But /I are you exactly? I've never seen you before. And why are you sitting on
my bed?" The way she looked at him made him feel like he was prying by asking questions.
He had every right to ask questions of course, and he knew it. After all, this was his
dormitory not hers. She was the one intruding. Still, it did not feel that way.
P
"Well Harry, maybe you have never noticed me. I have been here alright. I went to classes like
everyone else. And my name's Denia if that was what you were wondering. I'm a fifth
year as well." She jumped down from her perch on top of the bed post, and landed with a
faint thud beside him. Instead of shaking his hand or perhaps talking longer she threw her
arms around Harry in a hug. The scent of flowers and sugar engulfed him for a few fleeting
seconds, when with a rustle of fabric and a trace of a whispered 'good-bye' he found himself
alone again.
P
"Bye Denia." Harry called out softly, blinking several more times to make sure he was
awake, he came to the conclusion that he had been dreaming the past few minutes. "I
never though it was possible to get drunk on butter beer, but that's the only logical
explanation." With a wistful sigh he closed his eyes and waited for sleep to greet him.
P
Blaise heard the mewing of a cat not far away. She quickened her step a few paces while
managing to still walk quite leisurely. It didn't seem a good idea to remain in the halls for
very much longer, and she ducked into the first door that she spotted. The door swung shut
with a loud click. The room was deserted, thank goodness. Not only was it deserted by
people, she noted, but of everything else. One item sat lonely against one wall. A golden
looking glass, /I inscribed in a curving scrawl along the top. Walking slowly
towards it she placed one trembling hand onto the glass her breath coming out in puffs.
This only deepened her curiosity. When she lifted her fingers, no mark or smudge had
marred its surface. Nor was it fogged where her breath had touched it. And looking back at
her was nothing.
P
"Is that truly your deepest desire? To disappear?" A robed figure stepped out from behind
the mirror. Blaise caught one glimpse of pink for an instant before fading. She couldn't
make out who it was. At least the voice had a body this time.
P
"What do you mean?" Her eyes were incredulous, brows furrowing, but her words held
truth.
P
"It's what you wish isn't it? This is the Mirror of Erised. It shows your darkest, most
coveted wish; what your heart wants. And you see nothing. Is that what you want? To be
nothing?" She couldn't see anything except a black cloak. The lighting didn't help. Couldn't make out who she was talking to.
P
"I'm sorry, but should I know you? That's awfully rude of you, just waltzing in like that. And how do you even know that I can't see my reflection? You're standing behind it, apparently. Besides if
it shows /I desires, wouldn't you see what you wanted and not what I want?"
There now she had gotten the stranger back, maybe they would realize that they couldn't trick her
that easily.
P
"Believe me, I can tell, by looking at your eyes. They are too expressive for one who is
as you are. Am I right? They give away your soul. I can read you in an instant." The
sound was that of assurity, and Blaise could not but help almost believing it. Her eyes grew wide as saucers, staring, waiting. Looking frightened, and innocent.
P
Poor kitten.
P
"You have no idea what I am feeling right now! Do you understand? No idea!" Shook
herself out of her near trust.
P
"Is that because you are feeling nothing, if it is what you will become?" The stranger
questioned.
P
"No!" Blaise's answer held emotion, however she didn't seem to realize it was done without
thinking. "What you want, what's good for you, what will actually happen. They're different.
One isn't always the other. When you talk about them all in the same sense, it creates
confusion. S-so you, you could be wrong. You don't know what I'll become. Don't be so
sure of yourself."
P
"Then what are you feeling?" The voice chilled her throughout.
P
"You said you knew, that you could tell by my eyes." This time Blaise had turned the
question around - hit it in the face.
P
"I did, yes." The stranger nodded.
P
"Then what the hell are you asking me for? Why don't you perform your oh-so-magical
powers of analysis wise one?" An echo of her words bounced off the walls of the
hollowed empty room.
P
"Simply because I am. It is cause for much more enjoyment when I make people give me
answers instead of finding them for myself." Didn't that sound familiar?
P
"You can find your enjoyment someplace else." She spoke airily, a clear dismissive
disposition in her speech.
P
"I suppose I can." The figure imitated her parlance.
P
"Why don't you? Go away, and make someone else irritated."
P
"I vex you?" The stranger asked thoroughly surprised.
P
"Yes, you 'vex' me. Everything does." This seemed to be a plain and obvious fact to her.
Shouldn't everyone know that?
P
"Is that why you want to disappear, so you don't have to be bothered?"
P
Blaise stared and didn't reply; she really didn't know the answer.
P
"Well?" The stranger prompted.
P
"I have to leave...now. This 'midnight excursion' ends right here. If you hadn't noticed, I need
my sleep too." Blaise didn't want to talk any longer about that subject. It only confused her
in so many ways. Turning around and heading toward the door she shut herself out, and
turned right back around. She had forgotten something. She had no idea who that person
was. "Sorry, I was wondering. What's your name?"
P
There was no one left in the room to give her a reply, not even her reflection.
P
Stories of what students had done over the Summer bounced from wall to wall of the great
hall, the smells of sizzling bacon and toast danced in the air. A few people though sat
droopy-eyed, and gave an occasional yawn because they hadn't slept well the night before.
P
"Harry! Wake up!" Hermione yelled out, Harry had been nodding off all of breakfast.
That moment however, his head had fallen so far to the side that he was now asleep in his
bowl of cereal.
P
"Huh, what? Where am I?" Harry lifted his now dripping head, milk running in turrets down
his face.
P
"You're at breakfast, and I don't think sticking your face in the bowl will help you eat any
faster, I never knew you liked cereal that much." Ron could barely contain himself. He was
holding his stomach, pointing in mock horror at Harry.
P
Hermione ignored Ron's commentary, and handed a large wad of napkins to Harry. "I think
you need these."
P
"Thanks." Embarrassed and a bit bewildered he managed to wipe off most of the milk, but
he feared he would smell like it all day.
P
"Maybe you should go back to your dorm quickly, and change. We've still got about fifteen
minutes. It shouldn't take you that long." Hermione suggested.
P
"Alright, see you two in Care of Magical Creatures then!" With a wave, Harry hurried out of
the Great Hall, eager to wash the junk out of his hair.
P
"Ginny, I need to tell you something." Draco had caught her in the hallway after
Charms class. "Come on." He took her hand, sending sparks of heat flying through her
fingers. She tried hard to prevent the blush that was no doubt going to spread across her
cheeks.
P
"What? Where are you - " IWhy do I always have to stutter and sound so shaky
whenever I talk to him? I shouldn't even be questioning him, it might ruin whatever he's
going to say.P
"There's no time for questions now, this is important." Draco rushed on almost running
through the crowded halls.
P
Exactly. Ginny thought. Ginny nearly swooned when Draco said that, "...it's important." she
could only hope to think of what he would tell her. He quickly turned the knob of a blue
door, taking them into a deserted looking classroom. The walls were bare, and but a few
desks were scattered around the room. Draco let go of Ginny's hand, and the sparks
stopped flying, but he was still there standing in front of her. She had to keep her hands
gripped into fists to keep from reaching out to touch one of the translucent strands of
silvery-blonde hair that had fallen into his eyes. She tilted her head , looking up from her
shoes. "What is it Draco?"
P
"Ginny, I've been waiting forever to tell you this, and you won't believe it but..."
P
"You can tell me." She moved in closer taking in the perfect picture of his face. Smiling. But
all the same looking nervous. Scared even. "What?"
P
"Ginny! Did I do this right? Did Professor Snape say to shred up the ginger root finely, or
to dice it in small pieces? I think I might have buggered the whole thing. Ginny? Come on,
I don't understand this. Shred or dice?" Colin had woken her up from her much too brief daydream. She
frowned slightly; her dream had been getting to the good part. Draco was about to tell
her how he felt. She never had gotten past that part without either waking up or
someone disturbing her. This was the fifth time she'd had that dream.
P
"I think he said to dice it, or was it shredding? I'm sorry Colin, but I wasn't paying very
much attention."
P
"I thought so. You were staring out with this smile on your face, and you were saying
something. I didn't catch what it was though."
P
"I'm tired I guess, or maybe I'm out of it today. I'll go ask Anna if she knows what we're
supposed to do with the ginger root." Ginny got up, grateful to get away from Colin, he
probably would have liked to steer their conversation back towards Harry. Last May he had
been particularly interested in determining what exact shade of green Harry's eyes were.
He had trouble deciding whether they were bright-rain forest green, or shamrock green.
Ginny liked Harry as much as the next person and in the years before, even more.
Listening to Colin however, though he could be nice at times, was beginning to nauseate
her.
P
A large round glass bowl was cradled in Hagrid's heavy arms. It was filled with a bright
rainbow of color, and dozens of tiny fluttering wings. They were the elemental spirits of air,
sylpha. He'd decided to start out with something easy for their class this year. "Oooooh!
What's in their Hagrid?" Parvati Patil squealed and pointed excitedly to the bowl. "Aww, are
those butterflies? They're so pretty!"
P
"Sylpha actually." Hagrid was beaming, perhaps his class would be a hit today. Despite
even the fact that the Slytherins and Gryffindors were still paired together.
P
"What's the point of studying those? They don't do anything do they? All I can see so far is
that they flap around." Draco eyed the bowl critically.
P
"Now they do quite a bit more than that, I'd reckon. Their wings are a useful ingredient in a number of potions, ye'rd
be good to ask Snape about that one. And...don't ye think they're pretty?" Hagrid frowned
the excitement fleeting.
P
"Of course Hagrid. They're beautiful!" Hermione exclaimed and rushed over trying to cheer
him up.
P
"Yer they are." Hagrid grinned. "Now I better explain to ye how ter approach one. Shy
things they are. You've got ter be real quiet, 'wise they'll right turn and fly away. Don't
even breathe ter hard. Wait 'till they start ter trust ye a bit, then they'll right go and land
in yer palm. Watch here." Hagrid set the bowl down on a bench cautiously and squatted
down on his knees. He placed his hands cupped waiting for the sylpha. After a few
moments one that had pale periwinkle wings dabbed with grey flew out and landed right in
Hagrid's open hands. "See." He whispered. "'Tis easy, ye gots be a bit patient with
'em. Here yer go little feller. " Hagrid positioned his hands over the bowl and let the sylpha
glide back in. "Now line up, we'll best do this one at a time."
P
The students shuffled into a line, Parvati and a few of the other girls fighting to be first in
line. Somehow though, Neville ended up being pushed to the front. He didn't seem to be as
frightened as usual, they were like butterflies after all. Butterflies. That was all. A silly thing to be scared of. They wouldn't do anything to
him. He didn't have to kneel down, Neville was quite short and the table came up to about
his chest. With outstretched hands he waited for one of the Sylpha to fly out. "Sit still
Neville. Ye don't want te scare 'em." Neville tried to stop squirming about. "That's better.
Now wait. One o 'em will come soon enough." A red sylpha this time took its turn to
rise out of the bowl. And landed with a tickling sensation into one of Neville's hands.
P
"I-I did it! I've actually done something right!" Neville laughed.
P
"Shhh, ye don't want ter scare the poor thing." Hagrid whispered.
P
"Oh, sorry about that." Neville turned red.
P
"Now put 'er back. And the next person can come up." Neville was tipping his hands over
the bowl, and the sylpha drifted in...and out of nowhere he was screaming at the top of his
lungs.
P
"Neville! What in the world are ye doing?" Hagrid called.
P
"Look." Neville managed to get out. All the sylpha had flown out of the bowl turning
horrible shades of deep black red and were swarming around him like angry bees. They
were glowing a bright color and emitted a great heat. They were on fire. Every one. And
they spun in huge circles making it look like a huge red ring was around Neville. "Help!" He
squeaked miserably. No sooner the sylpha exploded and all that was left by Neville's feet
were a pile of ashes. The wind picked up and swept them away. Leaving nothing. "I didn't
do it! I didn't do it!" He yelled. "I don't know what went wrong, I really didn't mean to."
P
"Quiet Neville. I dunno what it was either. This ain't 'sposed ter happen. I've never
seen anything- I'll ask Professor Dumbledore about it. He'll know." Hagrid was scratching
his head and began walking in the direction of the castle. "Oh, yer..class is over. Ye all
are dismissed early." He called back to the students.
P
"Everyone, I'd like to welcome the new fifth year prefects! Let's see." The head girl paused,
scanning her eyes over a piece of parchment. "From Ravenclaw, Orla Quirke and Terry Boot. From Slytherin, Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson. Gryffindor, Hermione Granger
and Ronald Weasley. And lastly Eleanor Brandstone and Justin Flinch Fletchley from Hufflepuff." A
small tirade of claps and cheers followed. "I trust, that you all will accept your duties and
set to be prime examples for your fellow peers here at Hogwarts. Now let's get to
business." The speaker was a tall girl who was drastically thin, her knobby wrists could be
seen poking out of her sleeves. She had orange hair pulled back into a pony-tail with large
owl rimmed glasses, which would slip down her nose every so often. Her voice was clear
and distinct; seeming to exert a sense of control and order. "I wonder why Percy didn't go
out with /I instead of that Penelope girl," Ron muttered under his
breath.
P
"This is Percy's doing. I know it. How else would they appoint me to be a prefect? I think
they've made a mistake. Even Fred and George get better marks than I do, and you don't
see them with these," Ron pointed to the badge that was pinned untidily to his cloak. It had
a few smudges here and there, seeing as he hadn't bothered to polish it even once over the Summer.
Percy seemed to think this was an absolute crime. He whispered the words, Cybil had
already launched into a long speech about what their responsibilities would be this year.
P
"Ron, that's nonsense, they picked you for a reason. You obviously have the qualities that
the teachers are looking for, otherwise you wouldn't be here right now." Hermione held
firm, and her own badge gleamed so brightly it could have poked an eye out.
P
"I still say it's a mistake..." Ron grumbled, crossing his arms.
P
Hermione gave him a sharp look. ITeachers didn't make mistakes. Especially if they
were from Hogwarts./I "Shhhh!" she hissed through clenched teeth. "We're supposed to
be listening."
P
"You look an awful lot like Crookshanks when you frown like that."
P
"Is that a bad thing?"
P
Ron was suddenly overthrown by a fit of loud coughing that caused eyes to rise from every
seat in the room.
P
"Mr. Weasley, do you have a problem? Do I need to send you to Madam Pomfrey?" Cybil
had a very tight lipped expression much like the one Professor McGonagall wore when she
was upset.
P
"No." Ron looked down at his feet, but you could tell he really didn't feel much remorse. It
wasn't his idea to be made a prefect.
P
"Good. Well then, since you have volunteered, what is your opinion on the subject of new
uniforms. Do you agree with Miss Quirke?"
P
"I was only just saying that...don't you listen? Really. What kind of first impression is P
"Orla, please just continue. I assure you, there will be no more interruptions."
P
"Very /I." She twirled a piece of hair around her finger, and made something of a loud popping noise with her tongue against her teeth. Much like she was chewing on a large wad of gum. Spit cracking. Quite apparently she wasn't, chewing on gum, that is, for her mouth opened wide every time she spoke. "As I was saying," Her overcrowded teeth were more than visible. Pink tongue. Masses not nearly pearly. Beige, if you were generous.
P
"I was saying..."
P
"Yes, Orla?"
P
"Oh, blimey, you made me forget!" A small wail escaped her lips. It was all that stupid red-head's fault. Stupid, stupid.
P
"Well. We'll just have to come back to you."
I
Black. And Cold. Silent. A small girl sat hunched over at the foot of her bed staring at her
solemn self in her mirror. All she could see was the blur of features and an inky outline.
She couldn't see her own tears that were spilling in hot torrents down her, now blotchy,
cheeks. They were there all the same and she wore them proudly. Her tears were her
battle scars. They were nothing to by ashamed of. It only filled her with more disdain for
whoever had made her upset. She couldn't see the yelling. But she could hear it clear as
anything. The yelling hadn't stopped for what seemed like hours upon minutes upon hours.
There were screams of hate, accusations, and loud screeches of a sob. She hated it. Hated
them for doing this to her.
P
"I don't want to end up like that. Ever. That's why it will never happen to me." She thought
out loud. "That's why I'll die before I ever love anyone. I swear it. I swear it on this." With
a springing of a new idea, she glanced the dagger that hung on her wall. On display. How
stupid was it to display something that could kill you? Loosening its position she freed it and
brought it down gashing through her right palm. Warm blood poured from the cut, and she
brought it to her mouth. "I swear it on my blood."
P
Blaise woke with a start, why had she been brought back to that memory? Why? Up until
that moment she had completely forgot what she had done that night. IBut how could
I?/I She brought her left hand and saw that, yes, there was the scar plain as day. She
hadn't known before how it had happened to get there and accepted it. Why did she
remember it all now?
P
"It's a reminder. So you don't go back on your promise. You have already gone
through with the final acceptance. You gave in." The same hooded figure she had met the
previous night appeared next to her nightstand. Whoever they were, they seemed to like
startling people.
P
"Thanks for scaring me yet again. You're lucky I don't cry out when a mad-person sneaks up and appears out of thin air, like most girls do. Otherwise someone would have found
you out by now."
P
"I see that I am not welcomed." The stranger's face couldn't be seen, and it was impossible
for Blaise to tell whether there was an angry expression there.
P
"No you're not, but what are you talking about? What was the final acceptance? WHY was
there a final acceptance? How did you even bloody well know about that? I didn't even
remember that until now. Have you been stalking me my entire life or something? A
great profession, really." Blaise rolled her eyes. It was not to her liking when she couldn't
understand. Not at all.
P
"I do not stalk people." The stranger seemed to take her comment seriously. "I only know.
That is my duty, and that is all /I must know. There is nothing else to it. Except
that you had made a promise and it must be kept."
P
"Why do you care?" Blaise asked, no one, absolutely no one had ever bothered to get
something out of her this much. What did the promise really have to do with this person?
P
"Because you went through with the final acceptance. As I said before. How many times
must I say it?" The stranger crossed their arms in what must have been an action to indicate
their impatience.
P
"Until you start making some ruddy sense! WHAT IS THE FINAL ACCEPTANCE? I do not
understand. Can-you-please-explain-it-to-me. There, was that simple enough for you? Stop
being so damn mysterious." Blaise was yelling to the point that that the curtains that hung
around her bed rustled. Pansy was snoring so loudly in the next bed that it didn't phase her.
P
"Ah, yet I thrive so on mystery. It is my essence." Her comment seemed to have pleased
the stranger as there was a sudden lifting in their voice.
P
"EXPLAIN!!! RIGHT NOW!! And you are not leaving this room until you do so!" Blaise
reached inside a bag that was slung over one of her bedposts and pulled out her wand.
With a quick swish she jabbed it right into the chest of the hooded guest. It appeared that
she had plans to use it as a physical weapon, for the wood, instead of as a magical one.
P
"Do not threaten me, please. Your efforts are meaningless and hasty. Please calm down. I
will explain all that is necessary." One hooded hand was held out silently commanding her
to stop.
P
And in a very slow response Blaise carefully lowered the wand, all the same never letting
her eyes leave the figure. "Go on then. I'm waiting." She crossed her arms preparing
herself for whatever this daft character might say.
P
"Do you remember yesterday on the moor? In the gathering, to be specific?" The stranger
started.
P
"Yes, but how do you.." Blaise wanted to know how this person knew everything.
P
"As I said I know because that is my duty. Do not question me. Shall I continue? Or must
you further interrogate me?" The stranger sighed deeply in impatience.
P
"Go on. I don't have any questions," Blaise prompted, "yet."
P
"Thank you. As I was saying /I, my dear, was the final acceptance."
P
"WHAT?" She shouted and managed to knock down a glass that had been sitting on her
nightstand. With a sickening crash hundreds of shards bounced across the stone floors.
The water slipping through the cracks. Blaise ignored it. Filch could clean it up tomorrow. A bad habit of restlessness, sleep-walking, that was the cause. It was all one big accident, to be easily forgotten.
P
"The clearing when - " The stranger didn't seem to pleased to go on explaining everything
over quite so many times.
P
"I know /I!" Blaise interrupted in annoyance. "Just what did I do to seal that
promise? I was hardly even in a right state of mind then."
P
"Oh, but you were in a perfect state of mind." This was apparently amusing to the stranger.
P
"And you were there weren't you?!" She accused the stranger. " Were you the one talking to
me...the voice?"
P
"There was no one talking to you that day." The stranger pointed out calmly.
P
"Yes there was!" Blaise yelled. " I know there was. I heard them! If I'm sure about anything
I'm sure there was someone there. They were telling me that it was what I wanted.."
P
"It was. And there was not a single person there but yourself, unless you count that boy as
one." Repeated the fact, thought it did not seem to sink itself into Blaise.
P
"What? You mean Malfoy? No, I wasn't talking about him. There was someone else there,
though. I couldn't see it. I only heard it." Blaise insisted, and her voice faltered
slightly. Maybe, if she hadn't seen them, maybe it really all was in her mind? No! That
couldn't be it. This stranger was telling her that it was the acceptance. She had done
something. It had all happened. She wasn't crazy, it couldn't happen, not to her. Wasn't she thinking now, seeing? Not babbling like an idiot, hopefully. II'm perfectly composed. And I am not crazy.P
"You do not seem to understand do you?" Perhaps sympathy was what the stranger was
feeling for her, or instead trying to cope with someone who was completely unaware of what was happening to them.
P
"No, I do not. Look at me. See my face? This expression - it means I am confused." Blaise
exaggerated her features. "Now who's being oblivious?"
P
"I have told you all that you need. Do not tarry, or go back on your word. I shall see you
when the time comes." With a flourish the cloaked stranger held one hand twirling it as they
came down into an extravagant bow. "One thing more, do not talk of expression it brings
me to sense quite a state of irony. And I do not like that." A burst of light followed as, right
in front of Blaise's eyes, the figure vanished.
P
"So much for dramatic exits." The strange glow that had filled the room vanished once that
strange person had disappeared. Everything was strange. Once again Blaise was left in
darkness.
P
Classes the next day were among all means uneventful. Nothing exploded in Care of
Magical Creatures, and Professor Binns seemed, if possible, even more dead than usual.
Ginny didn't even have her recurring daydream all through class. Daydreams were too
tiring for a day like this. Everyone else would have agreed with her, not that she talked
about liking Draco often. After the incident on the Hogwarts Express two days ago Ginny
wasn't likely to tell a single person about her secrets.
P
That evening Ginny sat quietly in the corner of the Gryffindor Common Room. Hunched
over the pile pf homework she had been given. Their was a particularly long essay she had
to finish for Transfiguration. The teachers had not been easy with them their first few days
at school. It must have been their idea that they should start the year with a Bang! "How
thoughtful of them." Ginny muttered as she moved her aching hand along the piece of
parchment. She'd only filled about two lines so far.
P
"Ginny! Hi!" A familiar face approached, as she saw the little girl she'd talked to the other
night. She had a huge bag full of books slung around her shoulder and it looked like she
would fall down any second, making her look reminiscent of Hermione.
P
"Oh, hi Jeanette. Have you got plenty of homework too?" Ginny looked up, she didn't think
the teachers would be that hard on first years. Perhaps they were putting new teaching
techniques into practice.
P
"We got some, not too much though. I went to work right away and finished it. I
stopped down at the library to get some books. I want to learn everything!" Now she really
sounds like Hermione, Ginny thought.
P
"Well, I umm better get to work. Lots to do you know." Ginny continued to stare at the
empty piece of parchment. "Actually, never mind, I can finish this later." She set her books
to the side, relieved she wouldn't have to look at them for awhile. Procrastination was
welcomed with her.
P
"Are you sure?" Jeanette asked with wide eyes. "You might have to stay up late t--"
P
"No it's perfectly fine. I don't mind. Thinking too much about transfiguration gives me
a headache anyway." Ginny reassured her.
P
"Ok. Oh I forgot why I was here in the first place. I found this in the hall, I think it might be
yours." Jeanette pulled something gold-looking out of her pocket and handed it to Ginny.
P
"Thanks, but I don't think it's--" Ginny looked down at the small locket that Jeanette had
handed her. It must have been an heirloom, because it didn't resemble the make of
anything in that day. Tiny crystals were set around the border of the heart, and with little
effort Ginny managed to pry it open. There was a picture inside. A red-haired girl was
beaming, and beside her was. Draco. No it couldn't be. It positively couldn't.
P
"Where did you get this?" Ginny asked in bewilderment.
P
"Oh, found it in the hall."
P
"Yeah, you told me that, but...how did you know it was mine?" Ginny lied, but she didn't
care.
P
"Aren't you the girl in the picture? I thought she looked an awful lot like you. If she's
not I'm sorry." Jeanette hurried.
P
"No, no don't be sorry. Thanks for finding this. She does look like me doesn't she? I
mean, that is me." Ginny found she was very bad at this lying business.
P
"Ok. I don't mean to be nosy or anything. But who's that?" Jeanette pointed towards the
boy in the picture.
P
"A friend, a very good friend." Ginny said finally, and tucked the locket close to her.
P
Blaise stood on tip toe pressed against the window. She was peering out through the gaps
between the drawn blinds. At this rate their would be indents in her face from standing like
that for too long, but she had to see what was happening. Fingers brushed against the back
of her neck making hairs rise. "Come to tell me of my demise again?" She whipped around
her hair swinging with her. "Oh, it's you."
P
"You sound disappointed." Draco held that all too familiar smirk and was leaning casually
against the wall.
P
"That's because I am." She would have to find somewhere else...no, there wasn't anywhere
else. She had to see what was happening. So she turned around, back to facing the
window trying to ignore that Malfoy was behind her.
P
"What are you looking at?" Blaise heard his cool inquisitive voice; he never
managed to get rid of that sarcasm.
P
"Nothing you would be interested in." She made a shooing motion with her hands, hoping
he would take a hint.
P
"Well, how do you know I'm not interested?" Draco moved closer to her.
P
"That's the worst line I've ever heard, you know that? If you don't keep quiet I'm going to
hurt you, again." Blaise held one hand poised in the air.
P
"Are you, really?" Sighing, she turned to see him with a smirk plastered across his pale
face, and one eyebrow artfully raised. "I'd like that."
P
"Oh God, you're sick."
P
"I'm well aware of that aspect of my personality."
P
"Why are people always following me? Doesn't anyone at this school actually have a life? Ai."
Blaise half whispered under her breath. It was true, it had been happening to her ever
since the first day of school. IIf this goes on I might as well be a celebrity. At least then I could get all the benefits and not only the crazy stalkers. Especially not just the ones who want to kill me.P
"I do have a life, thank you." Draco muttered with a tinge of annoyance.
P
"I'm sure you do." Why did he have to keep talking to her? She squinted to better see
outside. Something was rising in the sky; very faint but still visible. Black smoke began
dancing across the reddened sky making some sort of...figure. Oh that helped. A figure.
But it was all that Blaise could say for the strange thing suspended in midair. It was
impossible to tell.
P
"Whatever you're looking at can't be half as interesting as me." The sound of Draco's
voice was starting to wear at the ends of Blaise's patience.
P
"Really? Actually I get queasy thinking about you. Not that I ever do think about you.
I don't fancy putting myself through such torture. I wouldn't call that interesting. If you say
so. I guess I'll have to take your word on that." Her eyebrows shot to the ceiling, her
words dripping in sweetness further intensified her dislike.
P
Blaise had been strangely interested in looking out of the window for the past few minutes.
It was a wonder seeing her interested in anything. She had a way of being bored no matter
what was going on.
P
The thought of what she was looking at troubled him. And creeping like a cat, he stood
beside her...peering out the same window with the soft cascade of a drifting curtain fluttering
around them.
P
"What are you doing?! Go away! Don't tou--" Draco had his arms wrapped around her
waist, She was gazing at him, what was that in her eyes? He saw
himself leaning forward until their lips barely touched they were within a hair's breath of
each other.
P
Blaise's eyes quickly changed and she jumped back abruptly. "Malfoy, what are you looking
at me like that for?" This time it was noticeable that she wasn't yelling, instead speaking in
a softer tone. She almost didn't have to ask the question. Looking flustered she backed
away forgetting completely what she had seen outside. "I have to go. Now."
P
Snape stood before the class, his eye lit up with a bright malevolent light. "Today our
lesson is on sleeping draughts. Fairly easy, but for you lot I'm not so sure." He sneered
baring his pointed yellowed teeth. Brining his fingertips so the pads rested forming a small
pyramid he spoke, "Now tell me, one of you must know what ingredients are needed for
this?" Hermione as usual thrust up her hand immediately and as usual she was ignored.
Neville had already been sent down to the hospital wing. Instead of transfiguring his pickle
into a shrub, he'd preformed the spell on his hand. Snape had to find other prey. The
Potter boy? He had a feeling her knew the answer. Snape's eyes rested on Blaise, who at
the moment was idly looking at the wall. "Miss Zabini, I suppose you know the answer?"
P
"To what?" She lifted her eyes lazily. Paying attention in class was clearly not one of her
strong points.
P
"Were you not paying attention for the past five minutes? I explained to the class that
we would be studying sleeping draughts today. It's a wonder you're in Slytherin. A
disgrace to the house I'd be glad to say. But I am not permitted to do so." Loud sniggers
resounded from the left side of the room where the Slytherins sat. Pansy in fact was
clapping and her little crowd quickly imitated her.
P
"Well said Professor!" Pansy hooted trying to flash Snape a toothy smile.
P
"Quiet down class." Snape said after the cheers had died down. His enjoyment was not
hard to point out. He loved tormenting others. It was almost a hobby of his. "We have to
get started. I've selected your partners for today. Let's see..." The class waited anxiously
for him to begin. "Granger you are with Morgane." A medium-built girl with dark
hair and light eyes walked to sit beside her, with a slight frown. " Mr. Malfoy you are with Brown. Potter, go over and work with Bulstrode." Harry winced as he glanced the
rather large menacing girl that approached him. "Weasley and Smith." Ron could
have hollered out at that moment as he joined the familiar prefect. "Zabini and
Finnigan." Snape continued to run down the list of pairings until every Gryffindor sat beside
a Slytherin most of them with disappointment written all over their faces.
P
Each student was careful to only place one fine unicorn hair into the potion as they began to
prepare their ingredients. Blaise was doing everything hurriedly, so that it would be over
with as soon as possible. She nearly missed cutting her fingers off at a couple of
instances.
P
"Don't you think you should, umm, slow down a bit?" Seamus eyed her wearily.
P
"No." She didn't pause for one second, let alone look up.
P
"Oh." Seamus looked plainly frightened. He must have thought Blaise was a psycho who
would as soon start hacking /I with the knife, instead of the turtle's tail. It
was reasonable, he told himself. Perfectly logical.
P
Blaise had thrown in all the ingredients into the cauldron at last, and hovered over it beating
it quickly with a large spoon. Her eyes were slitty; the mixture made them tear up. Her
black hair was flying about her face every which way. It would have been expected of her
to cackle at that moment. The scent however managed to let itself creep its vapors into her
nose and mouth. Her eyelids filled with impossibly heavy sand. With a quieted sigh
Blaise felt herself drifting.
I
The light in the room shot away. She was no longer in potions class. A small, mold tinged,
wrought iron bench sat where her chair would have normally been. Seamus wasn't there.
Or anyone else. There was nothing else to do so Blaise sat down, waiting. Instantaneously
Snape appeared with a loud pop in front of her. He held a long pointed bamboo stick
between his hands, he tossed it back and forth, perhaps debating whether to strike her with
it. With a crack he whipped it towards the wall. A map appeared in its place. "You are
here!" The map became a tunnel that sucked Blaise in. Bringing her to that very spot.
Snape was no where to be seen.
P
There were black shadows standing in the distance. The moon was not more visible than a sliver. They spoke of a
fallen angel, fate, and the solution. She head horrible laughter from them. One of the
hooded shadows turned to her. And with one cold sleeve lifted, shouted, it drew back it's
hood. The cloak fell to the ground leaving the mirror of erised standing in its place. Blaise
stepped to touch it and it disappeared. She was too. Her hands, they weren't there
anymore, hardly a translucent glow was all that was left. And all the while the taste of roses
lingered in her mouth. The shadows were gone now. Everything when white. The walls, the
air, everything. She was standing on nothing. She was in nothing. She was alone. She
wasn't scared anymore. She wasn't angry or sad. But she wasn't happy either...
P
"Come on wake up. Class is almost over." the white image shook before her eyes and
began to shift.
P
"No. I want to stay here. It's nice." Blaise murmured.
P
"I like this as much as you, but I've got to get to my next class."
P
"What?" Blaise was awoken from the spell and the pale white pearliness changed to silver.
INo! Not again./I She frowned with disdain. Blinking to adjust to the light, Blaise
brought her hands up and rubbed her eyes. She was practically sprawled in Malfoy's lap.
Her head had been resting on his shoulder. "What the--" She jumped up as fast as she
possibly could. This looked bad. In all aspects.
P
"Miss Zabini, I thank you for offering to be so kind as to take your public display of affection
elsewhere. In other words, as you might put it, 'get a room'." Snape was sneering back at
her. He hadn't done anything to try and wake her up now had he? This must have been a
diabolical plot of his. That must've been how he spent all his time. A sad, sad man.
P
"All the same Snape. I'd like to make it clear that I do not have feelings for Malfoy over
there. I'd thought you'd like to know." Blaise didn't think that anyone would believe
her of course, first off no one ever took her word for anything and secondly... look what
she'd done.
P
"Excuse me, but you are to address me with Professor. Is that clear?" Snape growled.
P
"Ah, well then /I Snape. I give you my greatest apology." Blaise faked a
small curtsy.
P
"You know I am still sitting here." Draco interrupted them, they had been talking like he
wasn't even there.
P
"Well then Malfoy, what exactly happened? You're not even my partner, Seamus is. Why
were you there?" Blaise turned on him.
P
"After you inhaled the potion you started falling back and that stupid git wouldn't have done
anything, I happened to be walking by - so I caught you. Simple as that."
P
"Oh, well thanks then. I think."
P
"This is a perfect example of what can happen when you do not listen in class." Snape
found it the perfect time to give a lecture.
P
"What? I'm sorry but I lost you there."
P
"You obviously did not hear me tell the class distinctively not to inhale the vapors from the
potion. It will not work in full effect as the draught itself but can still work its magic. You
know that now of course," Snape sneered back.
P
"Well you know it's in the air, it's kind of hard to decide what to breathe." Blaise countered.
P
"You know well what I mean Ms. Zabini, I've had enough of you."
P
"All likewise." She said, giving him her most bored expression.
P
"Do you need to be sent to detention?" Snape tried in an effort to keep the girl quiet.
P
"What do you have planned for me this time." Blaise spoke so lightly that it seemed to be
an everyday occasion with her.
P
Snape slammed a fist hard down onto his desk. "I will not tolerate this behavior!"
P
"Fine, then." Blaise turned out and walked to the other side of the room.
P
Meanwhile, Pansy Parkinson was sobbing in the corner making quite a ruckus, "But I though
h-h-he liked meeee!" She wailed in a high pitched voice. "I'm s-supposed to be his
girlfriend! Meeee! I tell you! Meee!"
P
"Pansy, honestly, stop that! It's awfully degrading. We all know how much you fancy
Malfoy. There is no need to stuff it in our ears. Shut up, ok?" Hermione's head was
beginning to hurt from all the commotion. Pansy gaped at her in surprise, her lip
quivered for an instant and she went right on back to sobbing - even louder.
P
"Hermione!" Ron exploded.
P
"What?" She turned tiredly to face him, leaning on one elbow propped onto the table.
P
"That's not like you! Even if that is Pansy Parkinson. You made the noise louder! Louder, and it's already bad enough." He said with a frown.
P
"I guess you don't know me as well as you thought you did. I'm not a little prick who's only
worries are about school and rules like you make me out to be. I also very well have my
own opinions! There are a lot of things you don't know about me Ron Weasley!"
P
"You're sure in a bad mood today." After a long pause Ron added. "Wait until I tell Ginny
this! She's sure to stop liking Malfoy!" He was grinning ear to ear at this new thought.
P
"You will most certainly not do anything of the sort!" Hermione screamed at him. "Don't
you have the tiniest sense of consideration? Don't you care about anyone at all, except
yourself? That would completely upset her! You obviously are clueless about everything!"
Hermione jabbed an angry finger at him. "If you tell Ginny anything about this, I won't
speak to you ever again!"
P
"That would be a relief." Ron spoke out.
P
"You are just the--"
P
"That's enough, Herm. Tell it to someone else." Ron seethed with a half-bothered expression.
P
"Oh!" Hermione screamed back at him, and she walked right out of the classroom. She had
only ever left class early once, and that was in Divination. She sure is changing, Ron
thought. He didn't see however, that a tear had spilled down onto her cheek as she walked
away.
P
"What was that all about?" Harry came over from the other side of the room. For the
moment the whole room was in chaos. It made no difference that they had all abandoned
their work. Besides class would be over in about two minutes.
P
"You mean me and Hermione, or--"
P
"Everything." Harry finished for him, with the remnants of a smile on his face.
P
"I have no idea."
/CENTER
A dark moon was visible high in the night sky. Its ghostly hue was a sign that tonight was
not a night to be out. A few people had taken care not to heed its warning. They welcomed
the blackness. Three figures stood all clad in black their faces hidden in the tent of their
hoods. "We are here master." All three of them spoke as one. You couldn't have told the
difference in the tone of their voices.
P
"I expected you would come." Someone stepped out of the shadows. Becoming large from
small with metallic flashes.
P
The four sat down upon near frozen rocks covered by the deadly sweet frost. The figures
clad in black did not wince or complain but awaited their master's speech.
P
"I suppose you would like to know why you are here. You only know that you serve me. I
am your God. But, there must be questions?"
P
"No, sir." They replied simultaneously.
P
"Surely?" He cocked an eyebrow. Wicked grin plastered, waiting, asking, telling them to question him. Wonder.
P
"None at all." The temptation was resisted, if it was even there.
P
"Good." And that was all he said for awhile, after nodding in approval. Watched the faces he couldn't quite see. Stared. "Then, I will tell you this; you are the resurrected three."
P
"Who are they sir? Forgive me for my ignorance." At last one of the strangers had spoken
out of turn. The two others scoffed at her and frowned beneath their hoods. It was not
right to question the master.
P
"They are you, you are they. Three who can tell all fate. Three who know our lives."
P
Harry flinched, and rolled over on his side, he'd felt something brush his shoulder. Tap.
Tap. There it was again. He lazily threw out an arm to his side, swatting at whatever was
there. It didn't stop. Now from his left, someone was tapping him on the shoulder. At this,
he was awakened from his half sleep. Rubbing his eyes, a hazy figure sat perched on the
head post of his bed. I must be dreaming, this can't be real, he thought. Blindly, his hands
fumbled to find his glasses that rested atop the side dresser. As the world came back into
focus he was able to see what, or who in this case, was trying to wake him up.
P
A girl had been sitting on the mantle. She was petite in composure. Her legs swung slowly,
making the floaty white material of her nightgown fly around her like a cloud. A pair of slanted eyes,
framed with colorless lashes, focused on Harry. Unblinking. She wasn't beautiful, strangely, that was all he could remark. Swallowing in everything he saw, and unable to stop staring. Just ethereal. In a way that shouldn't exist.
P
"Hi." The girl made a small wave rustling the quiet air. It didn't occur to her that there was
anything strange about sitting up in the middle of the night in the boy's dormitory, sitting in
a boy's bed, not any boy but the famous Harry Potter at that, wearing nothing but her
nightgown and trying to wake him up. If perhaps, Professor Snape for example, had walked
in on them that moment he would find no reason not to convince Professor McGonagall that
they should both be expelled. Even if he had to resort to the muggle invention of a camera
to provide evidence. Not to say that it would have worked, as that would set off one of the
magic wards placed around the castle, and only one figure would have appeared in the
picture.
P
Her words could have been repeated a thousand times, but Harry lay still. Whether in shock
and disbelief or entrancement it was impossible to tell by the expression his face wore.
Instead, he looked back up into her gaze and met it returning the same degree of intensity.
"Who, who are you?" Harry managed to whisper at last.
P
"A Gryffindor just like you." She replied shortly.
P
"But /I are you exactly? I've never seen you before. And why are you sitting on
my bed?" The way she looked at him made him feel like he was prying by asking questions.
He had every right to ask questions of course, and he knew it. After all, this was his
dormitory not hers. She was the one intruding. Still, it did not feel that way.
P
"Well Harry, maybe you have never noticed me. I have been here alright. I went to classes like
everyone else. And my name's Denia if that was what you were wondering. I'm a fifth
year as well." She jumped down from her perch on top of the bed post, and landed with a
faint thud beside him. Instead of shaking his hand or perhaps talking longer she threw her
arms around Harry in a hug. The scent of flowers and sugar engulfed him for a few fleeting
seconds, when with a rustle of fabric and a trace of a whispered 'good-bye' he found himself
alone again.
P
"Bye Denia." Harry called out softly, blinking several more times to make sure he was
awake, he came to the conclusion that he had been dreaming the past few minutes. "I
never though it was possible to get drunk on butter beer, but that's the only logical
explanation." With a wistful sigh he closed his eyes and waited for sleep to greet him.
P
Blaise heard the mewing of a cat not far away. She quickened her step a few paces while
managing to still walk quite leisurely. It didn't seem a good idea to remain in the halls for
very much longer, and she ducked into the first door that she spotted. The door swung shut
with a loud click. The room was deserted, thank goodness. Not only was it deserted by
people, she noted, but of everything else. One item sat lonely against one wall. A golden
looking glass, /I inscribed in a curving scrawl along the top. Walking slowly
towards it she placed one trembling hand onto the glass her breath coming out in puffs.
This only deepened her curiosity. When she lifted her fingers, no mark or smudge had
marred its surface. Nor was it fogged where her breath had touched it. And looking back at
her was nothing.
P
"Is that truly your deepest desire? To disappear?" A robed figure stepped out from behind
the mirror. Blaise caught one glimpse of pink for an instant before fading. She couldn't
make out who it was. At least the voice had a body this time.
P
"What do you mean?" Her eyes were incredulous, brows furrowing, but her words held
truth.
P
"It's what you wish isn't it? This is the Mirror of Erised. It shows your darkest, most
coveted wish; what your heart wants. And you see nothing. Is that what you want? To be
nothing?" She couldn't see anything except a black cloak. The lighting didn't help. Couldn't make out who she was talking to.
P
"I'm sorry, but should I know you? That's awfully rude of you, just waltzing in like that. And how do you even know that I can't see my reflection? You're standing behind it, apparently. Besides if
it shows /I desires, wouldn't you see what you wanted and not what I want?"
There now she had gotten the stranger back, maybe they would realize that they couldn't trick her
that easily.
P
"Believe me, I can tell, by looking at your eyes. They are too expressive for one who is
as you are. Am I right? They give away your soul. I can read you in an instant." The
sound was that of assurity, and Blaise could not but help almost believing it. Her eyes grew wide as saucers, staring, waiting. Looking frightened, and innocent.
P
Poor kitten.
P
"You have no idea what I am feeling right now! Do you understand? No idea!" Shook
herself out of her near trust.
P
"Is that because you are feeling nothing, if it is what you will become?" The stranger
questioned.
P
"No!" Blaise's answer held emotion, however she didn't seem to realize it was done without
thinking. "What you want, what's good for you, what will actually happen. They're different.
One isn't always the other. When you talk about them all in the same sense, it creates
confusion. S-so you, you could be wrong. You don't know what I'll become. Don't be so
sure of yourself."
P
"Then what are you feeling?" The voice chilled her throughout.
P
"You said you knew, that you could tell by my eyes." This time Blaise had turned the
question around - hit it in the face.
P
"I did, yes." The stranger nodded.
P
"Then what the hell are you asking me for? Why don't you perform your oh-so-magical
powers of analysis wise one?" An echo of her words bounced off the walls of the
hollowed empty room.
P
"Simply because I am. It is cause for much more enjoyment when I make people give me
answers instead of finding them for myself." Didn't that sound familiar?
P
"You can find your enjoyment someplace else." She spoke airily, a clear dismissive
disposition in her speech.
P
"I suppose I can." The figure imitated her parlance.
P
"Why don't you? Go away, and make someone else irritated."
P
"I vex you?" The stranger asked thoroughly surprised.
P
"Yes, you 'vex' me. Everything does." This seemed to be a plain and obvious fact to her.
Shouldn't everyone know that?
P
"Is that why you want to disappear, so you don't have to be bothered?"
P
Blaise stared and didn't reply; she really didn't know the answer.
P
"Well?" The stranger prompted.
P
"I have to leave...now. This 'midnight excursion' ends right here. If you hadn't noticed, I need
my sleep too." Blaise didn't want to talk any longer about that subject. It only confused her
in so many ways. Turning around and heading toward the door she shut herself out, and
turned right back around. She had forgotten something. She had no idea who that person
was. "Sorry, I was wondering. What's your name?"
P
There was no one left in the room to give her a reply, not even her reflection.
P
Stories of what students had done over the Summer bounced from wall to wall of the great
hall, the smells of sizzling bacon and toast danced in the air. A few people though sat
droopy-eyed, and gave an occasional yawn because they hadn't slept well the night before.
P
"Harry! Wake up!" Hermione yelled out, Harry had been nodding off all of breakfast.
That moment however, his head had fallen so far to the side that he was now asleep in his
bowl of cereal.
P
"Huh, what? Where am I?" Harry lifted his now dripping head, milk running in turrets down
his face.
P
"You're at breakfast, and I don't think sticking your face in the bowl will help you eat any
faster, I never knew you liked cereal that much." Ron could barely contain himself. He was
holding his stomach, pointing in mock horror at Harry.
P
Hermione ignored Ron's commentary, and handed a large wad of napkins to Harry. "I think
you need these."
P
"Thanks." Embarrassed and a bit bewildered he managed to wipe off most of the milk, but
he feared he would smell like it all day.
P
"Maybe you should go back to your dorm quickly, and change. We've still got about fifteen
minutes. It shouldn't take you that long." Hermione suggested.
P
"Alright, see you two in Care of Magical Creatures then!" With a wave, Harry hurried out of
the Great Hall, eager to wash the junk out of his hair.
P
"Ginny, I need to tell you something." Draco had caught her in the hallway after
Charms class. "Come on." He took her hand, sending sparks of heat flying through her
fingers. She tried hard to prevent the blush that was no doubt going to spread across her
cheeks.
P
"What? Where are you - " IWhy do I always have to stutter and sound so shaky
whenever I talk to him? I shouldn't even be questioning him, it might ruin whatever he's
going to say.P
"There's no time for questions now, this is important." Draco rushed on almost running
through the crowded halls.
P
Exactly. Ginny thought. Ginny nearly swooned when Draco said that, "...it's important." she
could only hope to think of what he would tell her. He quickly turned the knob of a blue
door, taking them into a deserted looking classroom. The walls were bare, and but a few
desks were scattered around the room. Draco let go of Ginny's hand, and the sparks
stopped flying, but he was still there standing in front of her. She had to keep her hands
gripped into fists to keep from reaching out to touch one of the translucent strands of
silvery-blonde hair that had fallen into his eyes. She tilted her head , looking up from her
shoes. "What is it Draco?"
P
"Ginny, I've been waiting forever to tell you this, and you won't believe it but..."
P
"You can tell me." She moved in closer taking in the perfect picture of his face. Smiling. But
all the same looking nervous. Scared even. "What?"
P
"Ginny! Did I do this right? Did Professor Snape say to shred up the ginger root finely, or
to dice it in small pieces? I think I might have buggered the whole thing. Ginny? Come on,
I don't understand this. Shred or dice?" Colin had woken her up from her much too brief daydream. She
frowned slightly; her dream had been getting to the good part. Draco was about to tell
her how he felt. She never had gotten past that part without either waking up or
someone disturbing her. This was the fifth time she'd had that dream.
P
"I think he said to dice it, or was it shredding? I'm sorry Colin, but I wasn't paying very
much attention."
P
"I thought so. You were staring out with this smile on your face, and you were saying
something. I didn't catch what it was though."
P
"I'm tired I guess, or maybe I'm out of it today. I'll go ask Anna if she knows what we're
supposed to do with the ginger root." Ginny got up, grateful to get away from Colin, he
probably would have liked to steer their conversation back towards Harry. Last May he had
been particularly interested in determining what exact shade of green Harry's eyes were.
He had trouble deciding whether they were bright-rain forest green, or shamrock green.
Ginny liked Harry as much as the next person and in the years before, even more.
Listening to Colin however, though he could be nice at times, was beginning to nauseate
her.
P
A large round glass bowl was cradled in Hagrid's heavy arms. It was filled with a bright
rainbow of color, and dozens of tiny fluttering wings. They were the elemental spirits of air,
sylpha. He'd decided to start out with something easy for their class this year. "Oooooh!
What's in their Hagrid?" Parvati Patil squealed and pointed excitedly to the bowl. "Aww, are
those butterflies? They're so pretty!"
P
"Sylpha actually." Hagrid was beaming, perhaps his class would be a hit today. Despite
even the fact that the Slytherins and Gryffindors were still paired together.
P
"What's the point of studying those? They don't do anything do they? All I can see so far is
that they flap around." Draco eyed the bowl critically.
P
"Now they do quite a bit more than that, I'd reckon. Their wings are a useful ingredient in a number of potions, ye'rd
be good to ask Snape about that one. And...don't ye think they're pretty?" Hagrid frowned
the excitement fleeting.
P
"Of course Hagrid. They're beautiful!" Hermione exclaimed and rushed over trying to cheer
him up.
P
"Yer they are." Hagrid grinned. "Now I better explain to ye how ter approach one. Shy
things they are. You've got ter be real quiet, 'wise they'll right turn and fly away. Don't
even breathe ter hard. Wait 'till they start ter trust ye a bit, then they'll right go and land
in yer palm. Watch here." Hagrid set the bowl down on a bench cautiously and squatted
down on his knees. He placed his hands cupped waiting for the sylpha. After a few
moments one that had pale periwinkle wings dabbed with grey flew out and landed right in
Hagrid's open hands. "See." He whispered. "'Tis easy, ye gots be a bit patient with
'em. Here yer go little feller. " Hagrid positioned his hands over the bowl and let the sylpha
glide back in. "Now line up, we'll best do this one at a time."
P
The students shuffled into a line, Parvati and a few of the other girls fighting to be first in
line. Somehow though, Neville ended up being pushed to the front. He didn't seem to be as
frightened as usual, they were like butterflies after all. Butterflies. That was all. A silly thing to be scared of. They wouldn't do anything to
him. He didn't have to kneel down, Neville was quite short and the table came up to about
his chest. With outstretched hands he waited for one of the Sylpha to fly out. "Sit still
Neville. Ye don't want te scare 'em." Neville tried to stop squirming about. "That's better.
Now wait. One o 'em will come soon enough." A red sylpha this time took its turn to
rise out of the bowl. And landed with a tickling sensation into one of Neville's hands.
P
"I-I did it! I've actually done something right!" Neville laughed.
P
"Shhh, ye don't want ter scare the poor thing." Hagrid whispered.
P
"Oh, sorry about that." Neville turned red.
P
"Now put 'er back. And the next person can come up." Neville was tipping his hands over
the bowl, and the sylpha drifted in...and out of nowhere he was screaming at the top of his
lungs.
P
"Neville! What in the world are ye doing?" Hagrid called.
P
"Look." Neville managed to get out. All the sylpha had flown out of the bowl turning
horrible shades of deep black red and were swarming around him like angry bees. They
were glowing a bright color and emitted a great heat. They were on fire. Every one. And
they spun in huge circles making it look like a huge red ring was around Neville. "Help!" He
squeaked miserably. No sooner the sylpha exploded and all that was left by Neville's feet
were a pile of ashes. The wind picked up and swept them away. Leaving nothing. "I didn't
do it! I didn't do it!" He yelled. "I don't know what went wrong, I really didn't mean to."
P
"Quiet Neville. I dunno what it was either. This ain't 'sposed ter happen. I've never
seen anything- I'll ask Professor Dumbledore about it. He'll know." Hagrid was scratching
his head and began walking in the direction of the castle. "Oh, yer..class is over. Ye all
are dismissed early." He called back to the students.
P
"Everyone, I'd like to welcome the new fifth year prefects! Let's see." The head girl paused,
scanning her eyes over a piece of parchment. "From Ravenclaw, Orla Quirke and Terry Boot. From Slytherin, Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson. Gryffindor, Hermione Granger
and Ronald Weasley. And lastly Eleanor Brandstone and Justin Flinch Fletchley from Hufflepuff." A
small tirade of claps and cheers followed. "I trust, that you all will accept your duties and
set to be prime examples for your fellow peers here at Hogwarts. Now let's get to
business." The speaker was a tall girl who was drastically thin, her knobby wrists could be
seen poking out of her sleeves. She had orange hair pulled back into a pony-tail with large
owl rimmed glasses, which would slip down her nose every so often. Her voice was clear
and distinct; seeming to exert a sense of control and order. "I wonder why Percy didn't go
out with /I instead of that Penelope girl," Ron muttered under his
breath.
P
"This is Percy's doing. I know it. How else would they appoint me to be a prefect? I think
they've made a mistake. Even Fred and George get better marks than I do, and you don't
see them with these," Ron pointed to the badge that was pinned untidily to his cloak. It had
a few smudges here and there, seeing as he hadn't bothered to polish it even once over the Summer.
Percy seemed to think this was an absolute crime. He whispered the words, Cybil had
already launched into a long speech about what their responsibilities would be this year.
P
"Ron, that's nonsense, they picked you for a reason. You obviously have the qualities that
the teachers are looking for, otherwise you wouldn't be here right now." Hermione held
firm, and her own badge gleamed so brightly it could have poked an eye out.
P
"I still say it's a mistake..." Ron grumbled, crossing his arms.
P
Hermione gave him a sharp look. ITeachers didn't make mistakes. Especially if they
were from Hogwarts./I "Shhhh!" she hissed through clenched teeth. "We're supposed to
be listening."
P
"You look an awful lot like Crookshanks when you frown like that."
P
"Is that a bad thing?"
P
Ron was suddenly overthrown by a fit of loud coughing that caused eyes to rise from every
seat in the room.
P
"Mr. Weasley, do you have a problem? Do I need to send you to Madam Pomfrey?" Cybil
had a very tight lipped expression much like the one Professor McGonagall wore when she
was upset.
P
"No." Ron looked down at his feet, but you could tell he really didn't feel much remorse. It
wasn't his idea to be made a prefect.
P
"Good. Well then, since you have volunteered, what is your opinion on the subject of new
uniforms. Do you agree with Miss Quirke?"
P
"I was only just saying that...don't you listen? Really. What kind of first impression is P
"Orla, please just continue. I assure you, there will be no more interruptions."
P
"Very /I." She twirled a piece of hair around her finger, and made something of a loud popping noise with her tongue against her teeth. Much like she was chewing on a large wad of gum. Spit cracking. Quite apparently she wasn't, chewing on gum, that is, for her mouth opened wide every time she spoke. "As I was saying," Her overcrowded teeth were more than visible. Pink tongue. Masses not nearly pearly. Beige, if you were generous.
P
"I was saying..."
P
"Yes, Orla?"
P
"Oh, blimey, you made me forget!" A small wail escaped her lips. It was all that stupid red-head's fault. Stupid, stupid.
P
"Well. We'll just have to come back to you."
I
Black. And Cold. Silent. A small girl sat hunched over at the foot of her bed staring at her
solemn self in her mirror. All she could see was the blur of features and an inky outline.
She couldn't see her own tears that were spilling in hot torrents down her, now blotchy,
cheeks. They were there all the same and she wore them proudly. Her tears were her
battle scars. They were nothing to by ashamed of. It only filled her with more disdain for
whoever had made her upset. She couldn't see the yelling. But she could hear it clear as
anything. The yelling hadn't stopped for what seemed like hours upon minutes upon hours.
There were screams of hate, accusations, and loud screeches of a sob. She hated it. Hated
them for doing this to her.
P
"I don't want to end up like that. Ever. That's why it will never happen to me." She thought
out loud. "That's why I'll die before I ever love anyone. I swear it. I swear it on this." With
a springing of a new idea, she glanced the dagger that hung on her wall. On display. How
stupid was it to display something that could kill you? Loosening its position she freed it and
brought it down gashing through her right palm. Warm blood poured from the cut, and she
brought it to her mouth. "I swear it on my blood."
P
Blaise woke with a start, why had she been brought back to that memory? Why? Up until
that moment she had completely forgot what she had done that night. IBut how could
I?/I She brought her left hand and saw that, yes, there was the scar plain as day. She
hadn't known before how it had happened to get there and accepted it. Why did she
remember it all now?
P
"It's a reminder. So you don't go back on your promise. You have already gone
through with the final acceptance. You gave in." The same hooded figure she had met the
previous night appeared next to her nightstand. Whoever they were, they seemed to like
startling people.
P
"Thanks for scaring me yet again. You're lucky I don't cry out when a mad-person sneaks up and appears out of thin air, like most girls do. Otherwise someone would have found
you out by now."
P
"I see that I am not welcomed." The stranger's face couldn't be seen, and it was impossible
for Blaise to tell whether there was an angry expression there.
P
"No you're not, but what are you talking about? What was the final acceptance? WHY was
there a final acceptance? How did you even bloody well know about that? I didn't even
remember that until now. Have you been stalking me my entire life or something? A
great profession, really." Blaise rolled her eyes. It was not to her liking when she couldn't
understand. Not at all.
P
"I do not stalk people." The stranger seemed to take her comment seriously. "I only know.
That is my duty, and that is all /I must know. There is nothing else to it. Except
that you had made a promise and it must be kept."
P
"Why do you care?" Blaise asked, no one, absolutely no one had ever bothered to get
something out of her this much. What did the promise really have to do with this person?
P
"Because you went through with the final acceptance. As I said before. How many times
must I say it?" The stranger crossed their arms in what must have been an action to indicate
their impatience.
P
"Until you start making some ruddy sense! WHAT IS THE FINAL ACCEPTANCE? I do not
understand. Can-you-please-explain-it-to-me. There, was that simple enough for you? Stop
being so damn mysterious." Blaise was yelling to the point that that the curtains that hung
around her bed rustled. Pansy was snoring so loudly in the next bed that it didn't phase her.
P
"Ah, yet I thrive so on mystery. It is my essence." Her comment seemed to have pleased
the stranger as there was a sudden lifting in their voice.
P
"EXPLAIN!!! RIGHT NOW!! And you are not leaving this room until you do so!" Blaise
reached inside a bag that was slung over one of her bedposts and pulled out her wand.
With a quick swish she jabbed it right into the chest of the hooded guest. It appeared that
she had plans to use it as a physical weapon, for the wood, instead of as a magical one.
P
"Do not threaten me, please. Your efforts are meaningless and hasty. Please calm down. I
will explain all that is necessary." One hooded hand was held out silently commanding her
to stop.
P
And in a very slow response Blaise carefully lowered the wand, all the same never letting
her eyes leave the figure. "Go on then. I'm waiting." She crossed her arms preparing
herself for whatever this daft character might say.
P
"Do you remember yesterday on the moor? In the gathering, to be specific?" The stranger
started.
P
"Yes, but how do you.." Blaise wanted to know how this person knew everything.
P
"As I said I know because that is my duty. Do not question me. Shall I continue? Or must
you further interrogate me?" The stranger sighed deeply in impatience.
P
"Go on. I don't have any questions," Blaise prompted, "yet."
P
"Thank you. As I was saying /I, my dear, was the final acceptance."
P
"WHAT?" She shouted and managed to knock down a glass that had been sitting on her
nightstand. With a sickening crash hundreds of shards bounced across the stone floors.
The water slipping through the cracks. Blaise ignored it. Filch could clean it up tomorrow. A bad habit of restlessness, sleep-walking, that was the cause. It was all one big accident, to be easily forgotten.
P
"The clearing when - " The stranger didn't seem to pleased to go on explaining everything
over quite so many times.
P
"I know /I!" Blaise interrupted in annoyance. "Just what did I do to seal that
promise? I was hardly even in a right state of mind then."
P
"Oh, but you were in a perfect state of mind." This was apparently amusing to the stranger.
P
"And you were there weren't you?!" She accused the stranger. " Were you the one talking to
me...the voice?"
P
"There was no one talking to you that day." The stranger pointed out calmly.
P
"Yes there was!" Blaise yelled. " I know there was. I heard them! If I'm sure about anything
I'm sure there was someone there. They were telling me that it was what I wanted.."
P
"It was. And there was not a single person there but yourself, unless you count that boy as
one." Repeated the fact, thought it did not seem to sink itself into Blaise.
P
"What? You mean Malfoy? No, I wasn't talking about him. There was someone else there,
though. I couldn't see it. I only heard it." Blaise insisted, and her voice faltered
slightly. Maybe, if she hadn't seen them, maybe it really all was in her mind? No! That
couldn't be it. This stranger was telling her that it was the acceptance. She had done
something. It had all happened. She wasn't crazy, it couldn't happen, not to her. Wasn't she thinking now, seeing? Not babbling like an idiot, hopefully. II'm perfectly composed. And I am not crazy.P
"You do not seem to understand do you?" Perhaps sympathy was what the stranger was
feeling for her, or instead trying to cope with someone who was completely unaware of what was happening to them.
P
"No, I do not. Look at me. See my face? This expression - it means I am confused." Blaise
exaggerated her features. "Now who's being oblivious?"
P
"I have told you all that you need. Do not tarry, or go back on your word. I shall see you
when the time comes." With a flourish the cloaked stranger held one hand twirling it as they
came down into an extravagant bow. "One thing more, do not talk of expression it brings
me to sense quite a state of irony. And I do not like that." A burst of light followed as, right
in front of Blaise's eyes, the figure vanished.
P
"So much for dramatic exits." The strange glow that had filled the room vanished once that
strange person had disappeared. Everything was strange. Once again Blaise was left in
darkness.
P
Classes the next day were among all means uneventful. Nothing exploded in Care of
Magical Creatures, and Professor Binns seemed, if possible, even more dead than usual.
Ginny didn't even have her recurring daydream all through class. Daydreams were too
tiring for a day like this. Everyone else would have agreed with her, not that she talked
about liking Draco often. After the incident on the Hogwarts Express two days ago Ginny
wasn't likely to tell a single person about her secrets.
P
That evening Ginny sat quietly in the corner of the Gryffindor Common Room. Hunched
over the pile pf homework she had been given. Their was a particularly long essay she had
to finish for Transfiguration. The teachers had not been easy with them their first few days
at school. It must have been their idea that they should start the year with a Bang! "How
thoughtful of them." Ginny muttered as she moved her aching hand along the piece of
parchment. She'd only filled about two lines so far.
P
"Ginny! Hi!" A familiar face approached, as she saw the little girl she'd talked to the other
night. She had a huge bag full of books slung around her shoulder and it looked like she
would fall down any second, making her look reminiscent of Hermione.
P
"Oh, hi Jeanette. Have you got plenty of homework too?" Ginny looked up, she didn't think
the teachers would be that hard on first years. Perhaps they were putting new teaching
techniques into practice.
P
"We got some, not too much though. I went to work right away and finished it. I
stopped down at the library to get some books. I want to learn everything!" Now she really
sounds like Hermione, Ginny thought.
P
"Well, I umm better get to work. Lots to do you know." Ginny continued to stare at the
empty piece of parchment. "Actually, never mind, I can finish this later." She set her books
to the side, relieved she wouldn't have to look at them for awhile. Procrastination was
welcomed with her.
P
"Are you sure?" Jeanette asked with wide eyes. "You might have to stay up late t--"
P
"No it's perfectly fine. I don't mind. Thinking too much about transfiguration gives me
a headache anyway." Ginny reassured her.
P
"Ok. Oh I forgot why I was here in the first place. I found this in the hall, I think it might be
yours." Jeanette pulled something gold-looking out of her pocket and handed it to Ginny.
P
"Thanks, but I don't think it's--" Ginny looked down at the small locket that Jeanette had
handed her. It must have been an heirloom, because it didn't resemble the make of
anything in that day. Tiny crystals were set around the border of the heart, and with little
effort Ginny managed to pry it open. There was a picture inside. A red-haired girl was
beaming, and beside her was. Draco. No it couldn't be. It positively couldn't.
P
"Where did you get this?" Ginny asked in bewilderment.
P
"Oh, found it in the hall."
P
"Yeah, you told me that, but...how did you know it was mine?" Ginny lied, but she didn't
care.
P
"Aren't you the girl in the picture? I thought she looked an awful lot like you. If she's
not I'm sorry." Jeanette hurried.
P
"No, no don't be sorry. Thanks for finding this. She does look like me doesn't she? I
mean, that is me." Ginny found she was very bad at this lying business.
P
"Ok. I don't mean to be nosy or anything. But who's that?" Jeanette pointed towards the
boy in the picture.
P
"A friend, a very good friend." Ginny said finally, and tucked the locket close to her.
P
Blaise stood on tip toe pressed against the window. She was peering out through the gaps
between the drawn blinds. At this rate their would be indents in her face from standing like
that for too long, but she had to see what was happening. Fingers brushed against the back
of her neck making hairs rise. "Come to tell me of my demise again?" She whipped around
her hair swinging with her. "Oh, it's you."
P
"You sound disappointed." Draco held that all too familiar smirk and was leaning casually
against the wall.
P
"That's because I am." She would have to find somewhere else...no, there wasn't anywhere
else. She had to see what was happening. So she turned around, back to facing the
window trying to ignore that Malfoy was behind her.
P
"What are you looking at?" Blaise heard his cool inquisitive voice; he never
managed to get rid of that sarcasm.
P
"Nothing you would be interested in." She made a shooing motion with her hands, hoping
he would take a hint.
P
"Well, how do you know I'm not interested?" Draco moved closer to her.
P
"That's the worst line I've ever heard, you know that? If you don't keep quiet I'm going to
hurt you, again." Blaise held one hand poised in the air.
P
"Are you, really?" Sighing, she turned to see him with a smirk plastered across his pale
face, and one eyebrow artfully raised. "I'd like that."
P
"Oh God, you're sick."
P
"I'm well aware of that aspect of my personality."
P
"Why are people always following me? Doesn't anyone at this school actually have a life? Ai."
Blaise half whispered under her breath. It was true, it had been happening to her ever
since the first day of school. IIf this goes on I might as well be a celebrity. At least then I could get all the benefits and not only the crazy stalkers. Especially not just the ones who want to kill me.P
"I do have a life, thank you." Draco muttered with a tinge of annoyance.
P
"I'm sure you do." Why did he have to keep talking to her? She squinted to better see
outside. Something was rising in the sky; very faint but still visible. Black smoke began
dancing across the reddened sky making some sort of...figure. Oh that helped. A figure.
But it was all that Blaise could say for the strange thing suspended in midair. It was
impossible to tell.
P
"Whatever you're looking at can't be half as interesting as me." The sound of Draco's
voice was starting to wear at the ends of Blaise's patience.
P
"Really? Actually I get queasy thinking about you. Not that I ever do think about you.
I don't fancy putting myself through such torture. I wouldn't call that interesting. If you say
so. I guess I'll have to take your word on that." Her eyebrows shot to the ceiling, her
words dripping in sweetness further intensified her dislike.
P
Blaise had been strangely interested in looking out of the window for the past few minutes.
It was a wonder seeing her interested in anything. She had a way of being bored no matter
what was going on.
P
The thought of what she was looking at troubled him. And creeping like a cat, he stood
beside her...peering out the same window with the soft cascade of a drifting curtain fluttering
around them.
P
"What are you doing?! Go away! Don't tou--" Draco had his arms wrapped around her
waist, She was gazing at him, what was that in her eyes? He saw
himself leaning forward until their lips barely touched they were within a hair's breath of
each other.
P
Blaise's eyes quickly changed and she jumped back abruptly. "Malfoy, what are you looking
at me like that for?" This time it was noticeable that she wasn't yelling, instead speaking in
a softer tone. She almost didn't have to ask the question. Looking flustered she backed
away forgetting completely what she had seen outside. "I have to go. Now."
P
Snape stood before the class, his eye lit up with a bright malevolent light. "Today our
lesson is on sleeping draughts. Fairly easy, but for you lot I'm not so sure." He sneered
baring his pointed yellowed teeth. Brining his fingertips so the pads rested forming a small
pyramid he spoke, "Now tell me, one of you must know what ingredients are needed for
this?" Hermione as usual thrust up her hand immediately and as usual she was ignored.
Neville had already been sent down to the hospital wing. Instead of transfiguring his pickle
into a shrub, he'd preformed the spell on his hand. Snape had to find other prey. The
Potter boy? He had a feeling her knew the answer. Snape's eyes rested on Blaise, who at
the moment was idly looking at the wall. "Miss Zabini, I suppose you know the answer?"
P
"To what?" She lifted her eyes lazily. Paying attention in class was clearly not one of her
strong points.
P
"Were you not paying attention for the past five minutes? I explained to the class that
we would be studying sleeping draughts today. It's a wonder you're in Slytherin. A
disgrace to the house I'd be glad to say. But I am not permitted to do so." Loud sniggers
resounded from the left side of the room where the Slytherins sat. Pansy in fact was
clapping and her little crowd quickly imitated her.
P
"Well said Professor!" Pansy hooted trying to flash Snape a toothy smile.
P
"Quiet down class." Snape said after the cheers had died down. His enjoyment was not
hard to point out. He loved tormenting others. It was almost a hobby of his. "We have to
get started. I've selected your partners for today. Let's see..." The class waited anxiously
for him to begin. "Granger you are with Morgane." A medium-built girl with dark
hair and light eyes walked to sit beside her, with a slight frown. " Mr. Malfoy you are with Brown. Potter, go over and work with Bulstrode." Harry winced as he glanced the
rather large menacing girl that approached him. "Weasley and Smith." Ron could
have hollered out at that moment as he joined the familiar prefect. "Zabini and
Finnigan." Snape continued to run down the list of pairings until every Gryffindor sat beside
a Slytherin most of them with disappointment written all over their faces.
P
Each student was careful to only place one fine unicorn hair into the potion as they began to
prepare their ingredients. Blaise was doing everything hurriedly, so that it would be over
with as soon as possible. She nearly missed cutting her fingers off at a couple of
instances.
P
"Don't you think you should, umm, slow down a bit?" Seamus eyed her wearily.
P
"No." She didn't pause for one second, let alone look up.
P
"Oh." Seamus looked plainly frightened. He must have thought Blaise was a psycho who
would as soon start hacking /I with the knife, instead of the turtle's tail. It
was reasonable, he told himself. Perfectly logical.
P
Blaise had thrown in all the ingredients into the cauldron at last, and hovered over it beating
it quickly with a large spoon. Her eyes were slitty; the mixture made them tear up. Her
black hair was flying about her face every which way. It would have been expected of her
to cackle at that moment. The scent however managed to let itself creep its vapors into her
nose and mouth. Her eyelids filled with impossibly heavy sand. With a quieted sigh
Blaise felt herself drifting.
I
The light in the room shot away. She was no longer in potions class. A small, mold tinged,
wrought iron bench sat where her chair would have normally been. Seamus wasn't there.
Or anyone else. There was nothing else to do so Blaise sat down, waiting. Instantaneously
Snape appeared with a loud pop in front of her. He held a long pointed bamboo stick
between his hands, he tossed it back and forth, perhaps debating whether to strike her with
it. With a crack he whipped it towards the wall. A map appeared in its place. "You are
here!" The map became a tunnel that sucked Blaise in. Bringing her to that very spot.
Snape was no where to be seen.
P
There were black shadows standing in the distance. The moon was not more visible than a sliver. They spoke of a
fallen angel, fate, and the solution. She head horrible laughter from them. One of the
hooded shadows turned to her. And with one cold sleeve lifted, shouted, it drew back it's
hood. The cloak fell to the ground leaving the mirror of erised standing in its place. Blaise
stepped to touch it and it disappeared. She was too. Her hands, they weren't there
anymore, hardly a translucent glow was all that was left. And all the while the taste of roses
lingered in her mouth. The shadows were gone now. Everything when white. The walls, the
air, everything. She was standing on nothing. She was in nothing. She was alone. She
wasn't scared anymore. She wasn't angry or sad. But she wasn't happy either...
P
"Come on wake up. Class is almost over." the white image shook before her eyes and
began to shift.
P
"No. I want to stay here. It's nice." Blaise murmured.
P
"I like this as much as you, but I've got to get to my next class."
P
"What?" Blaise was awoken from the spell and the pale white pearliness changed to silver.
INo! Not again./I She frowned with disdain. Blinking to adjust to the light, Blaise
brought her hands up and rubbed her eyes. She was practically sprawled in Malfoy's lap.
Her head had been resting on his shoulder. "What the--" She jumped up as fast as she
possibly could. This looked bad. In all aspects.
P
"Miss Zabini, I thank you for offering to be so kind as to take your public display of affection
elsewhere. In other words, as you might put it, 'get a room'." Snape was sneering back at
her. He hadn't done anything to try and wake her up now had he? This must have been a
diabolical plot of his. That must've been how he spent all his time. A sad, sad man.
P
"All the same Snape. I'd like to make it clear that I do not have feelings for Malfoy over
there. I'd thought you'd like to know." Blaise didn't think that anyone would believe
her of course, first off no one ever took her word for anything and secondly... look what
she'd done.
P
"Excuse me, but you are to address me with Professor. Is that clear?" Snape growled.
P
"Ah, well then /I Snape. I give you my greatest apology." Blaise faked a
small curtsy.
P
"You know I am still sitting here." Draco interrupted them, they had been talking like he
wasn't even there.
P
"Well then Malfoy, what exactly happened? You're not even my partner, Seamus is. Why
were you there?" Blaise turned on him.
P
"After you inhaled the potion you started falling back and that stupid git wouldn't have done
anything, I happened to be walking by - so I caught you. Simple as that."
P
"Oh, well thanks then. I think."
P
"This is a perfect example of what can happen when you do not listen in class." Snape
found it the perfect time to give a lecture.
P
"What? I'm sorry but I lost you there."
P
"You obviously did not hear me tell the class distinctively not to inhale the vapors from the
potion. It will not work in full effect as the draught itself but can still work its magic. You
know that now of course," Snape sneered back.
P
"Well you know it's in the air, it's kind of hard to decide what to breathe." Blaise countered.
P
"You know well what I mean Ms. Zabini, I've had enough of you."
P
"All likewise." She said, giving him her most bored expression.
P
"Do you need to be sent to detention?" Snape tried in an effort to keep the girl quiet.
P
"What do you have planned for me this time." Blaise spoke so lightly that it seemed to be
an everyday occasion with her.
P
Snape slammed a fist hard down onto his desk. "I will not tolerate this behavior!"
P
"Fine, then." Blaise turned out and walked to the other side of the room.
P
Meanwhile, Pansy Parkinson was sobbing in the corner making quite a ruckus, "But I though
h-h-he liked meeee!" She wailed in a high pitched voice. "I'm s-supposed to be his
girlfriend! Meeee! I tell you! Meee!"
P
"Pansy, honestly, stop that! It's awfully degrading. We all know how much you fancy
Malfoy. There is no need to stuff it in our ears. Shut up, ok?" Hermione's head was
beginning to hurt from all the commotion. Pansy gaped at her in surprise, her lip
quivered for an instant and she went right on back to sobbing - even louder.
P
"Hermione!" Ron exploded.
P
"What?" She turned tiredly to face him, leaning on one elbow propped onto the table.
P
"That's not like you! Even if that is Pansy Parkinson. You made the noise louder! Louder, and it's already bad enough." He said with a frown.
P
"I guess you don't know me as well as you thought you did. I'm not a little prick who's only
worries are about school and rules like you make me out to be. I also very well have my
own opinions! There are a lot of things you don't know about me Ron Weasley!"
P
"You're sure in a bad mood today." After a long pause Ron added. "Wait until I tell Ginny
this! She's sure to stop liking Malfoy!" He was grinning ear to ear at this new thought.
P
"You will most certainly not do anything of the sort!" Hermione screamed at him. "Don't
you have the tiniest sense of consideration? Don't you care about anyone at all, except
yourself? That would completely upset her! You obviously are clueless about everything!"
Hermione jabbed an angry finger at him. "If you tell Ginny anything about this, I won't
speak to you ever again!"
P
"That would be a relief." Ron spoke out.
P
"You are just the--"
P
"That's enough, Herm. Tell it to someone else." Ron seethed with a half-bothered expression.
P
"Oh!" Hermione screamed back at him, and she walked right out of the classroom. She had
only ever left class early once, and that was in Divination. She sure is changing, Ron
thought. He didn't see however, that a tear had spilled down onto her cheek as she walked
away.
P
"What was that all about?" Harry came over from the other side of the room. For the
moment the whole room was in chaos. It made no difference that they had all abandoned
their work. Besides class would be over in about two minutes.
P
"You mean me and Hermione, or--"
P
"Everything." Harry finished for him, with the remnants of a smile on his face.
P
"I have no idea."
/CENTER