Alrighty, sorry bout that, in case any one wanted more. I'm just really lazy... I'll be less lazy if someone other than Deana reviews though! promise!
Okay, wonderfully melo dramatic scene coming up, look for that. Umm, the Trigun and Inuyasha references are on purpose this time... for whatever reason, I wanted Growler to have really cool friends from Japan who missed him, so that explains the random reference to Harajuku(which I'm pretty sure I'm spelling wrong again...) in the last chapter.
Disclaimer: I own nothing except Growler and Aly so far. Naideana owns nothing but Katerina so far. The plot is pretty much non existant at this point in the story so I'm not even gunna go there. Everything else is mainly from JK Rowling, a few things from Tamora Pierce and random stuff from animes... and maybe star trek, but I haven't asked.
Growler made his way down the train again. No other compartments were any quieter. He stopped in between two cars at a screeching noise next to him. His slight body was almost carried away in the slip stream as he stuck his head out on either side of the car. On the left, he saw what had made the noise and grinned broadly. He stuck out his arm, allowing the hawk to dig it's talons into his skin. Growler let himself into the last car, careful not to jostle the bird and it's letter.
"So, they found out where I'm going already," the bird nodded. "I'm not surprised. That Rina is a smart one." He entered the last compartment, carefully pulling the letter from the hawk's beak. Aly gave a slight squeak when she saw the blood dripping from his arm.
"Let go of that thing! It's hurting you!"
"It's alright," Growler said softly, stroking the bird. "Try to be quiet, he's skittish."
"Is he yours?" Victoire asked with interest.
"No, my friend's," he winced as the hawk gave his arm a final squeeze, then leaped onto the luggage rack above his vacated seat. Growler sat again, opening the letter. Several pictures fell out, scattering on the ground. Growler didn't seem to notice, he was too busy reading the letter. Aly picked them up and started to flip through.
The top was of three people, the middle one barely recognizable as the pale boy next to her. In the photo, Growler stood between a girl with pink and green striped pigtails, her outfit similar to Victoire's, and a boy in all black, who's face was painted with Japanese writing. Growler stood, laughing along with them. He was dressed in a dark red T-shirt with a character from a Japanese cartoon on it. He wore ripped blue jeans and combat boots. His hair was spiked, each point dyed a different color. The next picture was of Growler and the girl again, one of their arms around each other's shoulders, the other giving the camera a peace sign. The rest of the pictures where similar, always the same three people. In front of a fountain, a movie theater, in someone's home, on computers. Then the last picture showed the boy and the girl, all alone. They wore gray school uniforms and their faces were painted with blue tears running down them and on their foreheads was written, in English, 'Miss you Vash!' As Aly watched, they pretended to cry, rubbing their eyes dramatically.
"Who's Vash?" she asked, forgetting that Growler might be angry if he knew she had been looking at his things. He jumped at the name.
"How did you-"
"Sorry," she blushed. "These fell out and I picked them up." She held them out and he snatched them back, looking at each one with a huge grin on his face. "That was very nice of your friends to send those. Was Vash your nickname in Japan?"
"Yeah," he mumbled, turning back to the letter and tucking the pictures carefully in a pocket.
Night had long since fallen, the lamps that hung in the corridors magically had lit them selves, and the compartment glowed with warmth. The flickering light of the flames made Victoire's face glow with the merry warmth of her grandmother, Growler just looked more pale then usual.
Katerina had started knitting what looked like a frilly sort of lace, she worked with surprising speed. Weaving delicate floral patterns. The hawk on the luggage rack followed the movement of her hands, it's head bobbing back and fourth. After a few minutes of this the bird alighted from it's perch and with a soft rustling landed on Katerina's shoulder and started nibbling at her wispy hair. Katerina made no move to shoe the bird off, instead she started singing in a low voice to it. The words to the song were barley recognizable. And the Melody slightly haunting.
The was a sound of screeching breaks and the train began to slow down. The hawk let out a shrill cry and flew back to the luggage rack.
"Uhmmm...are we there yet?" Asked Teddy, who had been sleeping. He stood and stretched his arms out.
"Guess so." Growler muttered.
Katerina folded the lace she had been working on and put it neatly into her bag. She stood as well and picked up her silver cane.
The conductor with the Cockney accent came down the corridor rapping on doors and shouting: "Oi! We're there, line up outside the train, leave your bags in 'ere, and us conductors 'll come and take care of them for you." He stopped when he came to the last compartment. "Blie-me! Is that Teddy Lupin!? Godson of the famous 'arry Potter!? Blie-me! It is!" He shook Teddy's hand excitedly. "I'm Stan Shuntpike! I know your godfather! Coarse, 'e told me 'is name was Nevile something...Always jokin', always jokin'..." Stan trailed off.
"I guess we should get going." Said Victoire, more the Stan the to Teddy.
"Oh! Right, right. Just wait outside the train." Stan said. He started taking luggage down from the rack. There was a high pitched squawk and a feathery blur flew from the luggage rack and out into the corridor.
"Heh! Seshy! Come back!" Growler called after the hawk. "Keh, that bird is so unreliable!"
They made their way down the train behind everyone else. Katerina led the way with ease. Teddy and Victoire following. Aly brought up the rear with Growler.
"Firs' years! This way!"
Someone called out and Aly gave a little squeak. The man before her was a veritable giant. His face was bearded and scared but his tiny black eyes sparkled with kindness. "Firs' years! Follow me ter the boats!"
They separated from the older students, suddenly Aly was shivering even though the night was warm. A hand patted her shoulder and she looked up. The only one near her was Growler and he was staring straight ahead. He's sweet. She realized. He tries to hide it but he's very nice by nature. I wonder what makes him so afraid of being nice.
He looked over at her and scowled.
"What's your problem? If there's something on my face, tell me!" she smiled. "What are you grinning about, girl?"
"My name is Aly Aisha!" she snapped, her kind thoughts about him vanishing. "You know it, so use it!"
"Aisha?" he smirked. "Really..."
"What's so funny?" she glared at him.
"Nothing, nothing," he shook his head. "It's just... are you sure that's your real name?"
"Well it's the only name I've known," she said defensively. The giant man spoke up again.
"Now, you'll be able to see the castle in just a mo," they turned a bend in the road and the first years gasped. Even Growler couldn't stifle a small intake of breath.
A huge black lake spread out before the, wrapping the landscape like a blanket. And across the lake was - "A castle" Breathed Aly in awe. Indeed, a grand majestic castle sat, it's windows glowing with golden light.
"But, how do we get to there?" Asked a timid first year boy.
"yer'll be taking these 'ere boats" The giant motioned with a had the size of a trash can lid. The first years looked down over the edge of the cliff to see tiny black boats bobbing - nearly invisible against the dark icy water, slightly reminiscent of Cheere-os in a bowl of milk. "By there way" The giant said. "I'm Rubius Hagrid. Keeper of keys and grounds at 'ogwrats."
Hagrid lead the way down the steep narrow path, the first years after him, struggling and clinging to the walls of the cliff. A group a boisterous boys behind Aly were laughing loudly at a joke one had just told. Then without warning one shouted out: "Look! A thestrill! There in the sky!" Everybody looked up. Even Katerina, out of habit. This was obviously a diversion because once all eyes were turned to the skies one of the boys gave Katerina a sharp push and sent her tumbling off the cliff. There was a shreak. Hagrid looked down.
"Now don't scream, Thistrills are nothin' to -" There was a splash. Then Hagrid realized what had happened. Girls began to scream and shout.
"Hagar!" Victoire was jumping up and down, her robes bounced up and down, and her argyle leggings showed. "Do something!"
"I can't swim!" Hagrid was saying more to himself "I can't swim, giant bones are too heavy!"
All the noise was starting to annoy Growler. He pulled off his shoes and thrust them into Aly's hands. "What on earth?!" She spluttered.
"Shut up!" Growler snapped. And he swan dived gracefully off the cliff.
"Growler!" Aly yelled, leaning over the cliff edge and nearly falling in herself.
Katerina felt the air rushing past her. She seemed to fall forever, there was no up or down. Just the air that seemed to be keeping her up. Then after what felt like an eternity she hit the water, it's freezing arms enveloping her. And she was sinking very fast, Katerina had never learned to swim. Even in the water she continued to fall. She reached the sandy bottom. She tried to fight back, but the kelp growing at the icy depth had ensnared her, it seemed to be dragging her away, away towards the middle of the lake. Just when it seemed that all had been lost, Katerina felt hands grab her around the waist and pull her up. The kelp that had fastened it self around her wrist let go.
The two broke the surface of the lake. Katerina took in mouthfuls of the fresh night air. Growler wiped the water from his eyes, trying to see straight. He pulled her towards the cluster of boats and helped her into the nearest one. Then pulled himself into it as well.
"Thank you Growler..." Katerina said softly. "It was very brave of you to help me..."
"Oh, well..." Growler muttered, trying to think of something cold to say.
The sound of thundering foot steps made Growler look up.
" 're yer' all right?" Asked Hagrid. The first years were standing around him on a thin dock, huddling together against the cold.
I'm fine." Katerina said, as loud as her small voice could carry.
"Then let's get 'yer back to the castle." Hagird said, his beetle black eyes glowing with the hint of a smile.
"Oh Katerina! 'ow 'orrible!" In her distress, Victoire's accent was more pronounced. "Those mean, cruel little cockroaches! Wait-Teddy?" Teddy had, on seeing that neither of them had drowned, turned and approached the boy who had pushed Katerina. His friends edged away from him, not wanting to be involved with the result of their joke. Teddy taped the ringleader on the shoulder and he turned.
"Eh," was all Teddy said before he punched the boy in the face. He fell into a boat to the cheers and applause of the other children.
"Well," Hagrid was trying to hide a grin. "I have a duty as a teacher to discipline both of you trouble makers. But since the year hasn't started yet... I guess we could let this go. I will have to inform the headmistress though."
"Righto Professor!" Teddy saluted him with a smile. The other boy looked as though he was about to say something, then saw Teddy and Growler, who looked even more gaunt and deadly with his hair plastered to his forehead, and thought better of it. The two girls with them looked just as threatening, shooting him filthy looks and with their hands in their pockets, surely gripping their new wands. Katerina herself was more unnerving than threatening, but no less intimidating. The boy's friends clambered into the boat with him, trying to ignore the fact that his eye was swelling rather quickly.
"Alright! Four ta a boat!" Hagrid called over their heads. Aly joined Growler and Katerina in their boat and another quiet looking boy clambered in after her.
"See you when we get there!" Victoire called, and her and Teddy waved as they joined another pair who were obviously their friends.
"Hi," said the boy shyly. "I'm Slater Jockin. Who're you?"
"I'm Aly and this is Growler and Katerina," Aly explained. She continued to shiver but knew that Katerina and Growler were both much colder than she.
"That was pretty brave of you to save her," Slater nodded at Katerina.
"Keh, brave," Growler scoffed. "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. "She was drowning and all I had to do was get wet. Nothing special about getting your robes soaked."
"Theres something special about saving a life," Katerina pointed out.
"Yeah," Aly slapped him bracingly on the back. "Just suck it up and say thank you, ya git." She beamed as he glared at her. She was glad he had saved Katerina, it was just more evidence of his kindness.
Please review? If you tell me the current story you are working on after you give me a nice review, I promise I will return the favor! Yeah, we kinda have like seven chapters writen and I only post them when I feel like, and I will be more inclined to do so if you give me your opinion! Naideans thanks you as well for reading this!